Writing and Literature Sparta Response
2010 catholic trial – With reference to Source Q and other sources, explain the role of writing and literature in Spartan society during this period
Pre-Lycurgan Sparta has evidence of being a thriving centre for writing and literature but with the introduction of the great Rhetra the focus shifted to a utilitarian militaristic view although writing and literature did not disappear totally. Sparta contains evidence of being a literate society through Greek writers documentations and inscriptions found in temples even after the Lycurgan era.
In the Pre-Lycurgan era the main sources of writing and literature were the poets Alcman and Tyrtaeus who explained different aspects of the Spartan life. Their style of writing represents not just the presence of writing within society but also the nature of it. As well as these authors evidence of literature has been found in both religious aspects and military aspects. Evidence of writings have been found in the forms of archaeological remains containing inscriptions such as the two bronze artefacts found at the Menelaion with dedications to Helen.
Alcman focused on the beauty of the Spartan landscape and a song sung at the festival called The Maidens Song. The maiden’s song was a verse of poetry sung at the religious festivals in Sparta by both the women and the men to praise Artemis Orthia and the high status of child bearing within society. The poem openly praises the women of Sparta and the writings from Alcman are essential in conveying the women’s role within Sparta.
Tyrtaeus’s poems focus on the more utilitarian aspect of Spartan society even pre Lycurgus. The poems enforce the state ethos of military efforts and civic duty. The main events from his preserved poems are that of the Messenian war and with his involvement as a solider shows how literature was maintained for a militaristic purpose and to cement the Spartan ethos within society.
The Code of the Citizen Solider (source Q) enforces the
Pre-Lycurgan Sparta has evidence of being a thriving centre for writing and literature but with the introduction of the great Rhetra the focus shifted to a utilitarian militaristic view although writing and literature did not disappear totally. Sparta contains evidence of being a literate society through Greek writers documentations and inscriptions found in temples even after the Lycurgan era.
In the Pre-Lycurgan era the main sources of writing and literature were the poets Alcman and Tyrtaeus who explained different aspects of the Spartan life. Their style of writing represents not just the presence of writing within society but also the nature of it. As well as these authors evidence of literature has been found in both religious aspects and military aspects. Evidence of writings have been found in the forms of archaeological remains containing inscriptions such as the two bronze artefacts found at the Menelaion with dedications to Helen.
Alcman focused on the beauty of the Spartan landscape and a song sung at the festival called The Maidens Song. The maiden’s song was a verse of poetry sung at the religious festivals in Sparta by both the women and the men to praise Artemis Orthia and the high status of child bearing within society. The poem openly praises the women of Sparta and the writings from Alcman are essential in conveying the women’s role within Sparta.
Tyrtaeus’s poems focus on the more utilitarian aspect of Spartan society even pre Lycurgus. The poems enforce the state ethos of military efforts and civic duty. The main events from his preserved poems are that of the Messenian war and with his involvement as a solider shows how literature was maintained for a militaristic purpose and to cement the Spartan ethos within society.
The Code of the Citizen Solider (source Q) enforces the