Spartan Society To The Battle Of Leuctra 371 BC

ANCIENT HISTORY HSC NOTES- Spartan society to the Battle of Leuctra 371 BC
The geographical setting:
 The geographical setting, natural features and resources of ancient Sparta, significant sites
-Spartans were part of the Greek tribe called the Dorian’s who ruled of the area of Laconia in the southern Peloponnese. It was located at the head of a small but fertile river plain (River Eurotas) which provided fresh water and marine life for them.
-Sparta was surrounded by the mountain Taygetos which provided a source of stone (limestone and marble) and provided a defensive barrier for the Spartan state.
Social Structure and Political Organisation:
 Issue of Lycurgus (the Great Rhetra)
-The Spartan system (Social code, military & land
system and political constitution) was the work of a single great lawgiver named Lycurgus.
The Lycurgus reforms Purpose Effects
Three basic classes in society:
The Spartiati (Spartans) formed the citizen body. It was divided into peers and inferiors. To preserve the Spartans as the elite or superior class. Numbered some 9,000 Spartiati.
The perioikoi (dwellers around) formed townships of loyal Messenians and remnants of unimportant Dorian tribes. Were autonomous within their own communities though were subject to Spartan magistrates. Most without land ownership so they turned to industry and trade/ commerce, especially in woollen goods and iron work; they had a monopoly of trade; they generally were well off despite taxes to Spartiati. Inferior in status to the Spartiati but had considerable freedom within their own social sphere.
The helots, the "slave" under-class, were owned by the state and allotted to Spartans to work the assignment of land given to them at birth. Helots seem to have been Messenians who had been conquered by the Spartans. Helots provided the Spartans with a workforce which would free them for public service. The helots were always a threat to Sparta as they were oppressed, dissatisfied and were often the focus of mistrust and fear on the part of their Spartan masters.
These classes were fixed and immobile. These rules caused dissatisfaction, especially among the helots.
Marriage between Spartiati was encouraged to maintain the population. Bachelorhood was discouraged by the state (even ridiculed in some circumstances).
Intermarriage was forbidden To maintain a declining population.
To preserve the pure Spartiati body of elite. Even in spite of the many provisions to encourage population growth, wars and insignificant population growth played a important part in the demise of Sparta as a great power.

 Roles and privileges of the two kings
-Kings were the supreme commanders of the army, only one of them was selected to lead a campaign while the other remained in Sparta this was due to the argument between 2 kings who went to war (Cleomeres & Demaratus)
-The king came from the 2 ancient tribes of Agiads and Eurypontids
-Two Ephors accompanied the king and kept close supervisions of his leadership during the war
-Kings were regarded as intermediaries (middle men) between the gods and men, and held their office as long as the gods were pleased, every 9th year Ephors looked into the skies for signs of disproval from the gods
-One the 1st and 7th days of every month each king sacrificed a full grown animal to Apollo, with a quart of wine and barely, also this was done before a campaign to Zeus
-The kings had limited judicial duties, though they decided on marriage of orphaned heiresses and had all control on highways, adoption of children and they could keep check on the other king
-Monthly oaths were taken by the kings and Ephors and they were supported by the state
- Kings were give the skins of all sacrificed animals as the spoils of war and given the seats of honour where all would rise (with the exception of the Ephors- stated by Xenophon)
-The King was succeeded by his eldest son, but a son born before the father was king wouldn’t become king, the son during the reign of the father would receive the throne, and if the heir was too young a male relative became the regent until the heir was old enough to become king
 Government: Ephorate, Gerousia and Ekklesia:
Ephorate
-There were 5 magistrate Ephors elected annually one from each oba or territorial origin and it was believed they were instituted as a part of the political system very early in Spartan history and they were originally priests and astrologers
-Any Spartan over 30 could stand for office of the Ephors
-They were chief administrators and executioners of the state, advised the kings and kept a check on royal powers, decided which units would be mobilised in times of war, meetings of the Gerousia and the Ekklesia, were in charge of the training & education system (Agoge), responsible for most civil and criminal cases, could arrest and imprison a king
-They were subjected to certain restrictions, as they were only elected once a year and when citizens could be held accountable for their actions as an Ephor
-Xenophon “they abused their power...the Ephors have the power to find anyone they wish. They exercised their power as they pleased for a full year”
-Aristotle “the ephorate has supreme authority in the most important matters”

Gerousia
-The Gerousia consisted of 28 members plus 2 Spartan kings, they formed an aristocratic elite, based on age within a society that was supposedly equal
-Any male Spartan citizen over the age of 60 (mainly wealthy class) could become a member of the Gerousia
- They held there office for life and were elected by vote of acclamation
-The role of the Gerousia consisted of preparing businesses and agenda for the assembly, it tried cases that involved the kings, and had the right to impose penalties of loss of citizenship rights, death or exile
-Deliberated on public policies
-Aristotle criticise the gerousia, although they were apparently respectable men they were “guilty of taking bribes and have been corrupt enough to give away public property”
-Plutarch ‘The assembly would gather, and choose men whose merits were regarded most outstanding and a vote of acclamation would be done and the most popular would become a member’
Ekklesia
-The Ekklesia were for those who had full citizenship and were male over the age of 30 who met monthly at the time of the full moon
-They were responsibly for passing measures put before it, such as peace & war decisions and kingship
-If the Ephors disproved of a motion passed by the assembly they could just refuse to proclaim it

 Social structure: Spartiates
-To be a Spartan citizen you needed to be of a Spartan descendent (Dorian tribe) and must of completed the educational system of Agoge. Spartiates were members of a military mess who shared common meals, also had ownership of public land (Kleros). This group formed the elite in Spartan society who held all political control and access to this group was exclusive.
-Spartans had to make a monthly contribution from the produce of his Kleros to the military mess failure to do so would result in a loss of citizenship.
-When a young man applied to join a particular mess each member would take a piece of bread in his hand and place it in a bowl, if one flattened their bread then the Spartan would not be accepted into that mess.
-The main purpose if they Syssitia according to Xenophon as Lycurgus intended that all Spartans wouldn’t gorge themselves nor be hungry and drink when only thirsty, this was significant as it was an avenue for training and developing young men who shared political discussions and stories of citizen great deeds.

 Social Structure: Perioikoi
-The perioikoi were scattered throughout Laconia and Messina who had control of their own communities but answered to the greater state of Sparta.
-The Athenian orator Isocrates noted that the land of Sparta was divided into 3 tribes. Victors kept the best land and the defeated were sent to the outlying districts. Ephors believed that the Perioikoi emerged from the conquest of Laconia.
-Duties of the Perioikoi included paying respects if a Spartan king died. A Major obligation would be military service. Most Perioikoi were craftsmen, evidence to suggest this were statues and bronze figures of Hoplites and the god Hermes. The perioikoi served faithfully throughout Spartan society as they had security as members of a powerful and stable state, the system gave them an important job to do and for the most part they were free to do as they wanted.
 Social Structure: helots
-Theopompus tells us that the helots were the enslaved populations of Messina and Laconia who were owned by the state of Sparta. The main difference between Spartan helots and slaves in other Greek societies was that helots were owned by the State not individuals.
-Tyrtaeus compared the helots to “asses exhausted under great loads: under painful necessity to bring their masters half of their produce.”
-The Tasks of helots were mainly agricultural.
-Helots had restricted property rights, some marriage rights; generally they had no legal or political standing in the community. During war the helots accompanied Spartans as aids and Servant, and sometimes took part in lightly armoured skirmishes.
-Spartans feared the helots because they outnumbered them and modern estimates placed them between 170,000 to 224,000.
 Social Structure: inferiors
-Were people that served the army they included those who lost their citizenship or helots who had distinguished themselves in battle and were set free (Neodamodes)
-They wore special clothing to distinguish themselves from the public and were avoided by everyone
-They could not vote or join assembly. They had little roles in Spartan society however they did participate in war

 Control of the helots : The military, Krypteia
-Spartans were used to defend the state against helots, the helots themselves had no military power and laws were imposed to keep the helots in subjection.
-Helots also had to produce food for the Syssitia and had to pay a large proportion to their masters- this kept them occupied
-The Krypteia was an organisation like a secret police force simply to keep the helots in a state of fear and subjection. The Krypteia was formed of young Spartans armed with daggers to murder any helots and/or helots suspected of rebellion or a threat (stated by Plutarch).
-Myron states that each year helots would wear dog skin caps and receive a beating to remind them they were slaves and would kill them as a punishment if any exceeded vigour proper to slaves.
 Role of Spartan Army
-The whole Spartan society was aimed at producing a strong fighting force of great warriors who were willing to die for Sparta. The Spartans developed the militaristic society changing their lifestyle due to their defeat against the Argives.
-The Spartan army was composed by Spartan citizens. Non Spartan citizens began to perform military duties later when the Spartan numbers were declining. The Spartan army was organised according to divisions specified in the agoge. Originally in divisions called the Morai drawn from 5 tribal
regions.
-The Hippeis were the royal knights of the Spartan king of 300 men.
- The Spartan army was trained to fight in formation and not as individuals this was called the phalanx. It was disciplined troops in the massed hoplite formation which is 8 ranks deep; the aim was to break the opposition’s line by deploying a group-and-shove technique.
-Another Strategy used was the Feint which was used in Thermopylae where Spartans would pretend to flee from the enemy army only to turn at the right time and inflict serious losses to the enemy.

 Education system: Agoge
-Agoge is the rigorous education system and discipline code that was designed to make Spartans fierce warriors and instil in the patriotism, loyalty, obedience and comradeship
-When a Spartan child was born he would be inspected by an Ephor for any deformities or signs of weakness and if failed the inspection he would be exposed on the slopes of Mt Taygetos
-Boys would be placed into groups called Agelai
-The boys were taught to steal and not be caught if they were caught they would receive whippings from person they stole from and their teacher.
-Spartans would choose the most capable boy as its Bouagos or their leader and given one cloak only to instil resilience, strengthen them and to replicate what it is like in war.
-The Paidonomos was a government official who was in charge of the agoge who administrated severe whippings to the disobedient (stated by Xenophon).
-The Gymonopaedia was a five day festival of dancing and gymnastics which was held in the honour for the slain at the ancient battle of Thyrea.
Birth Ten days after birth examined by council of elders to determine if they would live or be exposed
0-7 years Under supervision of their mother
7-12 years Taken by state, enrolled in an age group and went to live in a military barracks, learnt fending for themselves, obeying orders, learnt music, dancing and athletics
12-18 years Continued to live in barracks, learnt endurance, skills, stealing, going barefoot, exercising naked having short hair, clothing was limited to on garment and given minimum rations
18-23 years Able to server in army but not in the front line, able to marry
13-30 years Full time soldier
30 years Citizen and solider, able to live at home, ate at barracks and allowed to grow their hair

 Role and status of women: education
-Underwent similar training to their male counterparts. Spartan girls were often part of the rough and tumble games of Spartan boys. Young Spartan women exercised rigorously and were inculcated with the same ideals of duty, loyalty and self-sacrifice as were young men.
-The role of Spartan women as the bearers of children was paramount. Their training taught them to be tough, resilient and supportive of the State. Spartan women had a role in the early education of infants prior to the State taking formal control at age seven.
-If their child was a girl it would be handed over to the mother, if it was a boy it would be taken by the state at the age of 7.
-They would select their male counterpart who portrayed the ideals of courage and obedience and if they were strong and their husband was also they would ultimately create a strong child for the state of Sparta
-Spartan women might be expected to have babies to men other than their husband. Their training had aimed at ridding them of any emotional weakness. Women were expected to deliver their sons, brothers, fathers, and husbands to the service of the state and, if need be, to death in battle. According to Xenophon, it was a great act of friendship to offer one's wife to a comrade-in-arms for the purpose of siring further children.

 Women-land ownership and inheritance
-In Sparta, sons of the family probably received most of the inheritance, but a daughter received a portion as well. This passed into her husband’s family and eventually to her children.
-Spartan women therefore played an important role in the transfer of property. Wealth in Sparta revolved around land ownership and marriage alliance ensured that property remained in the upper class Spartiate families.
-Aristotle and Xenophon noted that women did own and manage estates without male guardians. The king decided who orphaned heiresses should marry.
-Spartan women were an important part of Spartan society. They possessed incredible freedom when compared with their Athenian counterparts. Spartan women came to wield considerable power by virtue of their control of property.

The Economy
 Land ownership- The Kleros, agriculture
-Each Spartiate held a portion of land called Kleros and each had an equal vote in the assembly
-A Spartan could gain estate by being granted allotment from the state or by receiving an inheritance from his father. They concentrated on warfare as they didn’t need to concern themselves with earning a living as they had economic freedom
-Lycurgus instituted this system so they could all live on equal terms with one another, with the same amount of property and seek to be first only in merit. Unfortunately the land was unevenly distributed with some obtaining larger areas of land.
-The Laconia coast became the central trading point, where Sparta’s main exports were wool, wine, oil, pottery and bronze.
-Agriculture was Sparta’s main wealth was its agriculture and its surplus was traded with perioikoi
 Economic roles of the Perioikoi
-They took care of mining, manufacture and commerce; moreover all mineral and marine resources
-They procured metals and manufactured the weaponry and armour for the Spartan Army, took care of fishing marine life &creating sculptures.
-Traded with Greece and overseas
 Economic exchange: use of iron bars, trade,
-According to Plutarch, Lycurgus discouraged the Spartans from trading amongst themselves or with other peoples by forbidding the use of all gold or silver coinage. Gold and silver coinage was substituted with iron bars as they were heavy and useless
-Iron bars restricted the hoarding of money, restricted Spartans ability to by luxuries and imported goods from Sparta. “Greed, envy, and legal disputes all disappeared when coinage disappeared” (Plutarch)
-Stopped accumulation of wealth- society of equals
-According to Brennan, ‘we have not one reference in any source of any person using an iron bar in a transaction
- Sparta was famous for its quality of wool
-Evidence in Greece, the Mediterranean and beyond are numerous examples of plain and decorated Laconia pottery monumental bronze vessels, bronze hand mirrors and statuettes (Brennan)
-Painted Laconian pottery was popular in Greece and beyond. It has been found in Egypt, Italy, Rhodes, France and Cyrene in North Africa, they were decorated with painted motifs or scenes in relief

 Technology: weapons, armoury, pottery
-A hoplite was a heavily armoured infantryman named after his shield he carried- The hoplon. The hoplon was a round wooden shield with a bronze front concave inside and was 1m wide and weighed 7Kg. A Spartan mother would say the words “return with your shield or on it” signifying either die in war and don’t return as a coward. Long thrusting spear (about 3 metres in length)
Helmet in the Corinthian style, while protecting the head, made hearing and vision difficult Distinctive red cape
Protective corselet covering the upper body worn over a cloth tunic A short stabbing sword was worn on the right side attached to a belt around the waist
Greaves protected the lower legs of the hoplite Hoplon (shield) bearing the Greek letter "L"
Religion, death and Burial
 Gods and Goddesses: Artemis Orthia, Poseidon, Apollo
-All citizens were expected that they would play their part in the religious life of the community
-In Spartan society religious, political and cultural matters were intertwined
-Spartan Kings were also priests who performed sacrifices and certain rites
-Meetings of the Spartan assembly were opened with an animal sacrifice and before they went to war they performed rites of divination to find out the will of the gods
-The religion duties of citizens and family members include the performance of animal sacrifice, the singing of religious odes and active participation in religious festivals celebrated by the whole community
-While the Greeks had temples, gods and sacrifices in common there were obviously different cults, festivals and rituals celebrated and observed in different city-states.
-Particularly important to Spartans were the mythical twin Spartan heroes the Dioscuri ‘youths of Zeus’ (Castor & Pollux). Thousands of votive offerings to the Dioscuri have been founds, particularly at Amyclae. Other gods of importance in Sparta were Apollo, Artemis Orthia, Poseidon and Lycurgus.
-Most Spartan gods were armed, At Amyclae there was a statue of Apollo with a spear in one hand and a bow in the other.
-Spartans didn’t worship all the gods who were popular, like Dionysus who was associated with wine and drama in which Spartans shunned the drunken rites.
 Artemis Orthia
-Artemis was the goddess of fertility and childbirth who was believed to be the protector of women and children’s health and well-being.
-Associated with forests and uncultivated and untamed places as a huntress
-Was worshiped specifically as Artemis Orthia
-Artemis Orthia was venerated by Spartans at a sanctuary that stood between the village of Limnai and the river Eurotas at the very edge of town
-At the temple of Artemis Orthia, in which young boys would steal the cheese. Both Plutarch and Xenophon mention it. Modern scholars interpret the ritual as more than a test of endurance. It is believed to be part of a fertility call, as Artemis Orthia was a fertility goddess
‘...Snatch just as many cheeses as possible from Orthia; (Lycurgus) commanded others to whip them, wishing to demonstrate thereby the point that a short period of pain may be compensated by the enjoyment of long-lasting prestige’
 Poseidon
-The god of the sea
-Pausanias does not mention a temple dedicated to this god. Pausanias does however mention a sanctuary of ‘Horse-breeding Poseidon’, her points out a sanctuary dedicated to Poseidon as the ‘Horse God’
-In Sparta he is worshipped as ‘family Poseidon’ and also as the Earth holder
-Thucydides tells us that the Spartans believed the great earthquake of 465 BC as punishment of them for their seizure and killing of helots
-Connection to houses, believed to rode over the sea with a chariot pulled by horses
 Apollo
-The art of divination involves interpreting the will of the gods through such means as oracles, visions, dreams and the behaviour of animals and birds
-Delphi was situated in Central Greece
-Pythia were priestesses
-The Pithioi were Spartan officials whose duty was to consult Delphi about matters concerning Sparta
-Apollo was associated with light and power of the sun and with ideals of harmony, order and reason in the world
-In myth he defeated and killed the dragon python at Delphi, the site then become sacred to him

 Myths and Legends: Lycurgus
-The Spartans themselves worshipped him as a god.
In fact, the archaeological record simply doesn’t support any definite break at any period.
-Their history was ‘oral’ not written and the ‘lawgiver’ was a god like figure who was constantly recreated why things were as they were
-Anything associated with his name become holy
-To Spartans Lycurgus was a god who gave them a way of life which was divinely inspired and divinity sanctioned
-Herodotus tells us that the oracle of Apollo at Delphi was believed to have recognised Lycurgus divinity and notes that after Lycurgus death a temple was built in his
honour
-Plutarch reports that the hero was esteemed for his wisdom and virtue and that after his death he enjoyed the highest honours at Sparta
 The Dioscuri
-The Dioscuri (youths of Zeus) called castor and Pollux were the legendary divine twins who were supposedly brothers of Helen
-Zeus seduced the woman Leda in the form of a swan
-The sons of Zeus took turns in defending Sparta and the 2 kings
-There are a number of descriptions of the Dioscuri from Sparta on marble reliefs depicting them nude signifying their heroic stature and their associations with athletics
-They helped those that fell in battle either in land or sea

 Festivals: Karneia, The Hyakinthia, Gymonopaedia
-Spartans were noted for their serious attitude to religion and their obedience to the gods
- Herodotus states the famous story of Pheiddipides the Athenian runner who sent to Sparta for help, but the Spartans couldn’t due to the 9th day of the month
 Karneia
-It was celebrated in the holy month of August/September and took its name from Apollo Karneios, the god of the herd or the ram god.
-The origins of this festival are obscure. It was a celebration connected with the return of the sons of Hercules
-Two rituals took place, 1 was the procession with model rafts the other was race where a runner would be chased and if he was caught the omen for the city was good
-This was closely associated with the agoge as it was a form of competition for them

 The Hyakinthia
-Hyakinthus son of a Spartan king was loved by the 2 gods Apollo and Zephyr, though he preferred Apollo, Zephyr killed Hyakinthus and he was named after the festival which lasted 3 days celebrated in summer to mourn his death
-It involved choir boys with instruments and songs that praises to the god
-There were dances, chariot races and feast accompanied at the festivals
 Gymnopaedia
-A 5 day festival of dancing and gymnastics (one day for each oba)
-Limited to Spartan training regime
-Held in honour of the slain at the ancient battle of Thyrea
-Included a battle of Champions, and troops of young and old men sang of heroic deeds
 Funeral Customs and Rituals
-Kings were giving elaborate funerals and special burial rites that reflected their semi-divine status. Plutarch tells us that Spartans did this because they treated the king ‘not as mere men, but as heroes’.
-Herodotus notes the following:
1. Horse riders took the news of a kings death all over Laconia
2. Women beat cauldrons as a signal for people, one man and one woman for each household, to put on special mourning clothes
3. There were heavy fines for non-compliance
4. People from all over Laconia were compelled to attend the funeral
5. The crowd of mourners at the funeral included Spartiates and perioikoi
6. The men and women being present together
7. There were communal displays of public grief- men and women stuck their foreheads- there was wailing and praise of the deceased king as ‘the best ever’
8. If the king was killed in war there was a statue made of him and it was carried to the burial on a bier
9. There was a ten day period of mourning during which there were no public meetings or elections
-Ordinary Spartans, information on the burial is sparse
-Appear to have practical and simple burial customs
-Women who died in child birth could also have inscribed monuments
-Eleven days of mourning with the twelfth day of sacrificing to the god of grieving
-Plutarch states Lycurgus didn’t ban the burial of the dead within the city or tomb close to temples. Spartans encouraged viewing deaths as familiar and normal under laws of Lycurgus.
-A tomb was a soldiers reward for valour in battle, Spartan society sought conformity from the cradle to the grave

Cultural Life
-Cultural life included art, architecture, writing and literature and Greek writer’s view of Sparta
 Architecture: Amyklaion, Menelaion, the Sanctuary of Artemis Orthia
-Pausanias wrote that Sparta and the area of Laconia had many fine temples and monuments. He stated that the agora (market place) was ‘worth seeing’ and he mentions man statues and temples to the gods and shrines to heroes e.g. Orestes and Agamemnon
-Thucydides leaves readers with the impression that there was no memorable building in Sparta. He suggested that Sparta was such an insignificant place that there would be no ruins to remind people that it existed
-The Amyklaion was a shrine dedicated to Apollo and Hyakinthus that wasn’t a temple but a throne to Apollo. Sparta spent many resources and expenses on building the throne, indicated the piety in which they held this god
-The Menelaion was a shrine dedicated to Helen and Menelaus, little remains of the shrine
-The Sanctuary of Artemis Orthia had a temple close to an altar 14m away and was the site of a festival held in Artemis Orthia’s honour, also where the ritual of the cheeses took place
 Art
-Spartan sculpture was made from bronze, lead and marble. A large number of lead figurines have been found at Spartan sanctuaries. They were votive offerings to the deity associated with the sanctuary where over 100 000 have been found at Artemis Orthia
-Laconian pottery from the 6th century BC was very popular and has been found throughout world and in Italy, France and Egypt. The vases had painted scenes featuring the activities of Spartan life
-Ivory carving were worked on by skilled carvers, most of them have been found at Artemis Orthia over 200 of them as votive offerings
-Although there were other poets writing in Sparta during the 7th and 6th centuries, the individuals most associated with Spartan poetry and music were: Alcman and Tyrtaeus
-Knowledge of these men is limited because only fragments of their work have been discovered. Sometimes later writers referred to their work but not in any detail
-Alcman was famous for his ‘Maiden Songs’ and wrote in Dorian dialect, his subjects included food, feasts, horses, nature, young girls and love making
-Tyrtaeus was believed either be a native Spartan or foreign but given Spartan citizenship who wrote 5 books of propaganda, military songs and a poem Eunomia (good order. Wrote in local dialect and didn’t glorify war