Interesting facts about Sparta. Interesting facts about ancient Sparta and its inhabitants

The popular assembly consisted of Spartans who had reached 30 years of age. They voted with shouts of approval or disapproval, without counting the votes, according to the principle: whoever shouts louder is right.

Children in Sparta were in the undivided property of the state. Immediately after birth, they were subjected to a thorough examination. The weak and crippled were thrown into the abyss from the Taygetskaya rock.

Healthy children were returned to their parents, who raised them until they were 6 years old. After six children were taken away from their parents in favor of the state. The boys were brought up under the supervision of special state guards, who were headed by a pedon. Children were subjected to all kinds of hardships, barely fed bad food, and sometimes deliberately starved. Those who tried to earn their own food on their own were tracked down and severely punished. The children's clothes consisted of a simple piece of cloth, and they always walked barefoot. Every year on the feast of Artemis (Diana, the goddess of the hunt), the boys were flogged to the point of blood, sometimes to death; who survived - became a warrior. Such was the Spartan upbringing.

Contrary to popular belief, the Spartans did not know the art of war, for example, they did not know how to besiege fortified cities and fight at sea. All they were taught was to fight on foot, one-on-one, and in phalanx.

No Spartan had the right to eat at home. Everyone, not excluding the kings, ate in state canteens. One day, King Agis, returning after an exhausting campaign, wished to dine at his home, but this was forbidden to him. The national dish of the Spartans was "black soup" - a soup of blood and vinegar.

Mental studies in Sparta were not encouraged. People who tried to deal with them were declared cowards and expelled. Over the centuries of its existence, Sparta has not given Hellas a single philosopher, orator, historian or poet.

The Spartans did very little manual labor. All the rough work for them was done by public slaves - helots. The oppression of slaves in Sparta was the strongest in all of Greece. The slaves of Sparta were not blacks, they were not strangers at all, they were the same Hellenes-Greeks, but conquered and enslaved by the Spartans.

However, not a single Spartan himself could own a slave (slaves). All helots were the property of the state, and even it transferred the slaves to individuals "for use."

The Spartans often forced the helots to get drunk, sing obscene songs and dance obscene dances. On this example, "free citizens" of Sparta were taught how not to behave. Only the Spartans had the right to sing patriotic songs.

The state encouraged its citizens to spy on slaves. Young Spartans were specially sent to eavesdrop on the speeches of the helots and kill anyone who seemed suspicious. The strongest and most courageous slaves capable of protest were secretly killed. The Spartans made sure that the number of helots did not exceed half a million, since otherwise the slaves could become dangerous for the state. Of course, the helots, that is, the Greeks turned into slaves, fiercely hated their Spartan enslavers.

Lycurgus, the main Spartan legislator, left Sparta towards the end of his life. Before leaving, he took an oath from his compatriots not to change anything in the laws until his return. In order to bind the Spartans tightly with them, Lycurgus did not return to his homeland, but voluntarily starved himself to death in a foreign land.

At the end of its history, Sparta, faithful to the institutions of Lycurgus, became exactly what he wanted to save her from - a society of weak, depraved and incapable idlers.

At the head of Sparta was not one king, but two. These "kings" were not absolute monarchs, but only generals and high priests. The real power was in the hands of the Gerontes, later the ephors.

In general, Sparta was a gerontocracy. State administration was carried out by gerusia - a council of elders of 28 geronts and both kings. Each geront could not be younger than 60 years old. Elections of gerons were held as follows: on the day of elections, candidates, one after another, appeared before the people's assembly. Special persons, “electors”, who were in a separate closed room and did not see the candidates, decided which of them the people greeted with louder greetings - these “worthy ones” became gerons.

However, not a single Spartan himself could own a slave (slaves). All helots were the property of the state, and even it transferred the slaves to individuals "for use."

At the end of its history, Sparta, faithful to the institutions of Lycurgus, became exactly what he wanted to save her from - a society of weak, depraved and incapable loafers.

Friends, do you know why the warriors of Ancient Sparta were considered the most fearless, strong, powerful soldiers in the world? The facts that you will learn in the continuation of the post will give answers to all your questions in the continuation of the post.

From birth, Spartan children were subjected to various tests. If the council of elders found any physical defects in the baby, then he was left to die in the wilderness.

As a rule, babies died there, but sometimes other people saved them.

But even then, weak babies had a hard time. They were bathed not in water, but in wine, to test how healthy and capable of survival they were.

Adults taught babies not to be afraid of the dark and loneliness, their crying was ignored.

At the age of 7, Spartan boys were taken from their home to enter the military service (“agogue”), where they were made fearless warriors and responsible citizens.

Young soldiers were trained in the art of combat, hunting, athletics and lived in common barracks.

Young Spartans were allowed to wear clothes only from the age of 12. They were forced to sleep on the cold ground outside.

The food of the Spartans was deliberately scarce, and theft and robbery were only encouraged. However, if they were caught stealing, they received a fair amount of flogging.

Men in Sparta were required to be skilled warriors, and women were exemplary mothers capable of raising warriors.

Along with the boys who were trained in military tactics and martial arts, the girls also attended training in athletics, wrestling, javelin and discus throwing, and also underwent psychological preparation for the upcoming motherhood. Only a woman from Sparta could give birth to Spartan warriors.

Girls, unlike boys, were allowed to live with their parents.

The agoge educational system involved not only combat, but also writing and reading.

However, hazing and fights among students were encouraged.

The only profession that a Spartan boy could count on in the future was the profession of a warrior. All Spartans were considered liable for military service until the age of 60.

Industrial production and agriculture were carried out by the lower strata of the population and foreigners, many of whom were slaves.

The most brutal test that awaited the youths was an "endurance contest" in which they were beaten and flogged to test their tolerance for pain. Those who died during the check were considered weaklings.

After completing training at the age of 30, men were looking for a life partner. Girls usually got married at 20 years old. Marriage was seen primarily as a means of producing new soldiers.

Surrender for the Spartan meant to cover himself with shame. Hence the special Spartan mentality. The mother of the Spartan, sending her son to war, said: "Come back with a shield or on a shield."

According to the law of those times, only two classes of people deserved the right to perpetuate their names on tombstones - these are women who died in childbirth, and men who laid down their heads in battle.

1. At the head of Sparta was not one king, but two. These "kings" were not absolute monarchs, but only generals and high priests. The real power was in the hands of the Gerontes, later the ephors.

2. In general, Sparta was a gerontocracy. State administration was carried out by gerusia - a council of elders of 28 geronts and both kings. Each geront could not be younger than 60 years old. Elections of gerons were held as follows: on the day of elections, candidates, one after another, appeared before the people's assembly. Special persons, "electors", who were in a separate closed room and did not see the candidates, decided which of them the people greeted with louder greetings - these "worthy ones" became gerons.

3. The popular assembly consisted of Spartans who had reached 30 years of age. They voted with shouts of approval or disapproval, without counting the votes, according to the principle: whoever shouts louder is right.

4. Children in Sparta were the sole property of the state. Immediately after birth, they were subjected to a thorough examination. The weak and crippled were thrown into the abyss from the Taygetskaya rock. Healthy children were returned to their parents, who raised them until they were 6 years old. After six children were taken away from their parents in favor of the state. The boys were brought up under the supervision of special state guards, who were headed by a pedon. Children were subjected to all kinds of hardships, barely fed bad food, and sometimes deliberately starved. Those who tried to earn their own food on their own were tracked down and severely punished. The children's clothes consisted of a simple piece of cloth, and they always walked barefoot. Every year on the feast of Artemis (Diana, the goddess of the hunt), the boys were flogged to the point of blood, sometimes to death; who survived - became a warrior. Such was the Spartan upbringing.

5. Contrary to popular belief, the Spartans did not know the art of war, for example, they did not know how to besiege fortified cities and fight at sea. All they were taught was to fight on foot, one on one, and in phalanx.

6. No Spartan had the right to eat at home. Everyone, not excluding the kings, ate in state canteens. One day, King Agis, returning after an exhausting campaign, wished to dine at his home, but this was forbidden to him. The national dish of the Spartans was the so-called. "black stew" - a soup made from blood and vinegar.

7. Mental studies in Sparta were not encouraged. People who tried to deal with them were declared cowards and expelled. Over the centuries of its existence, Sparta has not given Hellas a single philosopher, orator, historian or poet.

8. The Spartans also did very little manual labor. All the rough work for them was done by public slaves - helots. The oppression of slaves in Sparta was the strongest in all of Greece. The slaves of Sparta were not blacks, they were not strangers at all, they were the same Hellenes-Greeks, but conquered and enslaved by the Spartans.

9. However, not a single Spartan himself could own a slave (slaves). All helots were the property of the state, and even it transferred slaves to individuals "for use."

10. The Spartans often forced the helots to get drunk, sing obscene songs and dance obscene dances. On this example, "free citizens" of Sparta were taught how not to behave. Only the Spartans had the right to sing patriotic songs.

11. The state encouraged its citizens to spy on slaves. Young Spartans were specially sent to eavesdrop on the speeches of the helots and kill anyone who seemed suspicious. The strongest and most courageous slaves capable of protest were secretly killed. The Spartans made sure that the number of helots did not exceed half a million, since otherwise the slaves could become dangerous for the state. Of course, the helots, that is, the Greeks turned into slaves, fiercely hated their Spartan enslavers.

12. Lycurgus, the chief Spartan legislator, left Sparta towards the end of his life. Before leaving, he took an oath from his compatriots not to change anything in the laws until his return. In order to bind the Spartans tightly with them, Lycurgus did not return to his homeland, but voluntarily starved himself to death in a foreign land.

13. At the end of its history, Sparta, faithful to the institutions of Lycurgus, became exactly what he wanted to save her from - a society of weak, depraved and incapable idlers.

2. In general, Sparta was a gerontocracy. State administration was carried out by gerusia - a council of elders of 28 geronts and both kings. Each geront could not be younger than 60 years old.
Elections of gerons were held as follows: on the day of elections, candidates, one after another, appeared before the people's assembly. Special persons, "electors", who were in a separate closed room and did not see the candidates, decided which of them the people greeted with louder greetings - these "worthy ones" became gerons.

4. Children in Sparta were the sole property of the state. Immediately after birth, they were subjected to a thorough examination. The weak and crippled were thrown into the abyss from the Taygetskaya rock. Healthy children were returned to their parents, who raised them until they were 6 years old.
After six children were taken away from their parents in favor of the state. The boys were brought up under the supervision of special state guards, who were headed by a pedon. Children were subjected to all kinds of hardships, barely fed bad food, and sometimes deliberately starved.
Those who tried to earn their own food on their own were tracked down and severely punished. The children's clothes consisted of a simple piece of cloth, and they always walked barefoot. Every year on the feast of Artemis (Diana, the goddess of the hunt), the boys were flogged to the point of blood, sometimes to death; who survived - became a warrior. Such was the Spartan upbringing.

9. However, not a single Spartan himself could own a slave (slaves). All helots were the property of the state, and even it transferred slaves to individuals "for use."

11. The state encouraged its citizens to spy on slaves. Young Spartans were specially sent to eavesdrop on the speeches of the helots and kill anyone who seemed suspicious. The strongest and most courageous slaves capable of protest were secretly killed.
The Spartans made sure that the number of helots did not exceed half a million, since otherwise the slaves could become dangerous for the state. Of course, the helots, that is, the Greeks turned into slaves, fiercely hated their Spartan enslavers.

13. At the end of its history, Sparta, faithful to the institutions of Lycurgus, became exactly what he wanted to save her from - a society of weak, depraved and incapable idlers.

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