5. Cultural Life
5.1 Art: sculpture, painted vases, bone and ivory carving
Statue of hoplitodromus (Running hoplite)
- Known as Leonidas, the Spartan King who led the 300 to a fight to the death at Thermopylae to delay the Persian invasion in 480BC
- Statue is smiling indicating not only pride in Sparta and being a part of the Spartan army, but also reflects the Spartan ideals of courage and being fearless in the face of death
- Armoured with a helmet with a plume and a breast/back plate
- The muscle tone is a reflection on the Spartan physical ideals
- Known as Leonidas, the Spartan King who led the 300 to a fight to the death at Thermopylae to delay the Persian invasion in 480BC
- Statue is smiling indicating not only pride in Sparta and being a part of the Spartan army, but also reflects the Spartan ideals of courage and being fearless in the face of death
- Armoured with a helmet with a plume and a breast/back plate
- The muscle tone is a reflection on the Spartan physical ideals
Laconian Cup
- Depicting two soldiers carrying a fallen comrade on their shoulders (6th c. BC)
- Demonstrates a lack of fear of death typical throughout Greece
- Highlights the belief that death in battle is the most honourable death
- Spears are held by the soldiers, suggesting they're hoplites
- The length of the hair indicates their pride in their position and the state of war they're in
- Depicting two soldiers carrying a fallen comrade on their shoulders (6th c. BC)
- Demonstrates a lack of fear of death typical throughout Greece
- Highlights the belief that death in battle is the most honourable death
- Spears are held by the soldiers, suggesting they're hoplites
- The length of the hair indicates their pride in their position and the state of war they're in
Corinthian Vase
- Two groups of hoplites fighting in phalanx formation c. 640 BC
- From Corinth (Outside Sparta, within Greece)
- Helot horn blower in the background
- Evidence of constant training and unity in the army
- Two groups of hoplites fighting in phalanx formation c. 640 BC
- From Corinth (Outside Sparta, within Greece)
- Helot horn blower in the background
- Evidence of constant training and unity in the army
Bronze Figure of Running Girl
- Believed to be Spartan because of her garment and because of Sparta's strong tradition of women participating in competitive athletics
- 520 - 500 BC
- Provides evidence of women in daily life
- Provides evidence for clothing
- Believed to be Spartan because of her garment and because of Sparta's strong tradition of women participating in competitive athletics
- 520 - 500 BC
- Provides evidence of women in daily life
- Provides evidence for clothing
Laconian Cup
- Provides evidence of hunting activities, depicting two Spartans hunting a wild boar
- Birds and fish also depicted
- Evidence of constant and varied training
- Cup --> Kylix
- Black figure art
- c. 555 BC
- Provides evidence of hunting activities, depicting two Spartans hunting a wild boar
- Birds and fish also depicted
- Evidence of constant and varied training
- Cup --> Kylix
- Black figure art
- c. 555 BC
Votive Reliefs Depicting the Dioscuri
- Idealised physique; muscular and fit
- Related to Sparta's origin, believed to have been Spartan princes who shared their immortality
- Reflect's Sparta's ideals of being expert horseman and spearmen among other discipline
- Idealised physique; muscular and fit
- Related to Sparta's origin, believed to have been Spartan princes who shared their immortality
- Reflect's Sparta's ideals of being expert horseman and spearmen among other discipline
5.2 Architecture: Amyklaion, Menelaion, the Sanctuary of Artemis Orthia
Temple of Artimis Orthia
Purpose – Used to make offerings to the goddess. Site for the ‘cheese-stealing’ to take place. Devoted to Artemis (goddess of fertility and childbirth) Festival: May/June. Rite of passage festival for Spartan youths who live in the wild and then attempt to steal cheese from the sanctuary while being whipped by the crowd. According to Pausanias it became a substitute for human sacrifice.
Structure – Currently in ruins, however it was built with a large alter and sacred space. Stood between Limnos and river Eurotas at edge of town. Simple construction àbricks and wood on a stone foundation. Roof structure gabled (triangular) covered with painted tiles.
Key features – Alter, had been modified several times to expand. Swamped with reeds and willows. Built up above flood level.
Decorations – Written sources indicate there were figurines of the goddess in the temple and the remains of such bronzes as well as terracotta, ivory and bone carvings, and lead figures have been found to support this.
Evidence – Pottery fragments on site indicating that a cult existed à an alter with remains of early sacrifices. Excavations revealed 2 successive temples, an alter and seating for spectators. Ivory objects, brooch plates, statuettes and grotesque masks found pottery fragments on site indicating that a cult existed à an alter with remains of early sacrifices
The Menelaion
Purpose – Votive offerings to Helen, place of worship. Dedicated to Helen and Menelaus
Structure – In the shrine's earliest form, there may not have been a structure at all. In the late 7th century, a monumental structure was constructed at the site of the shrine. The temple was built on a mound, had a square step pyramidal structure in style of hero shrine and stood eight meters tall.
Key features – Triangular. Built on a mound. Backdrop of mountain range
Decorations – Votive offerings and pottery. Parapet (a barrier which is an extension of the wall at the edge of a roof, terrace, balcony, walkway or other structure.) faced with blue limestone and white marble
Evidence – Pottery fragments show that there was continuous settlement here in the late 16th and 15th centuries. A rich deposit of offerings from the late 8th and early 7th century were found NE of the later shrine. Number of votive offerings unearthed à one bronze statuette has been called ‘Lady of the Menelaion’ representing Helen
The Amyklaion
Purpose – Worship and sanctuary. Dedicated to Apollo and Hyakinthos. Location of festival of Hyakinthia.
Structure – Circular alter. Throne atop the temple. Shrine dedicated to Apollo à excavations reveal base of throne and retaining wall. Designed in Ionic style, consisting of slender and intricate spirals mimicking Egyptian architecture. Had a smaller base with a more circular profile that was often more ornate than the Doric style.
Key features – Circular alter, bronze statue of Apollo
Decorations – Votives, statue of Apollo. Carvings show lotus flowers and other sculptures.
Evidence – Figures and figurines. Remains found located on the hill of Agia Kyriaki, . Coins with a likeness of the statue of Apollo found on the site
Purpose – Used to make offerings to the goddess. Site for the ‘cheese-stealing’ to take place. Devoted to Artemis (goddess of fertility and childbirth) Festival: May/June. Rite of passage festival for Spartan youths who live in the wild and then attempt to steal cheese from the sanctuary while being whipped by the crowd. According to Pausanias it became a substitute for human sacrifice.
Structure – Currently in ruins, however it was built with a large alter and sacred space. Stood between Limnos and river Eurotas at edge of town. Simple construction àbricks and wood on a stone foundation. Roof structure gabled (triangular) covered with painted tiles.
Key features – Alter, had been modified several times to expand. Swamped with reeds and willows. Built up above flood level.
Decorations – Written sources indicate there were figurines of the goddess in the temple and the remains of such bronzes as well as terracotta, ivory and bone carvings, and lead figures have been found to support this.
Evidence – Pottery fragments on site indicating that a cult existed à an alter with remains of early sacrifices. Excavations revealed 2 successive temples, an alter and seating for spectators. Ivory objects, brooch plates, statuettes and grotesque masks found pottery fragments on site indicating that a cult existed à an alter with remains of early sacrifices
The Menelaion
Purpose – Votive offerings to Helen, place of worship. Dedicated to Helen and Menelaus
Structure – In the shrine's earliest form, there may not have been a structure at all. In the late 7th century, a monumental structure was constructed at the site of the shrine. The temple was built on a mound, had a square step pyramidal structure in style of hero shrine and stood eight meters tall.
Key features – Triangular. Built on a mound. Backdrop of mountain range
Decorations – Votive offerings and pottery. Parapet (a barrier which is an extension of the wall at the edge of a roof, terrace, balcony, walkway or other structure.) faced with blue limestone and white marble
Evidence – Pottery fragments show that there was continuous settlement here in the late 16th and 15th centuries. A rich deposit of offerings from the late 8th and early 7th century were found NE of the later shrine. Number of votive offerings unearthed à one bronze statuette has been called ‘Lady of the Menelaion’ representing Helen
The Amyklaion
Purpose – Worship and sanctuary. Dedicated to Apollo and Hyakinthos. Location of festival of Hyakinthia.
Structure – Circular alter. Throne atop the temple. Shrine dedicated to Apollo à excavations reveal base of throne and retaining wall. Designed in Ionic style, consisting of slender and intricate spirals mimicking Egyptian architecture. Had a smaller base with a more circular profile that was often more ornate than the Doric style.
Key features – Circular alter, bronze statue of Apollo
Decorations – Votives, statue of Apollo. Carvings show lotus flowers and other sculptures.
Evidence – Figures and figurines. Remains found located on the hill of Agia Kyriaki, . Coins with a likeness of the statue of Apollo found on the site
5.3 Writing and literature: Alcman and Tyrtaeus
Literacy in Sparta
Evidence
- Sacrificial meat hook with a dedication: “to Helen”
- Ovoid Aryballos inscribed with the words “To Helen, wife of Menelaos”
- Epigraphic evidence – suggests kings, ephors, commanders and members of the Gerosia were literate
- Stone inscriptions – periokoi stonemasons may have been literate (Cartledge)
- Aristophanes mentions a Spartan poetess in his writings
Spartan Literature
- Most ancient written sources on Sparta were not written by Spartans
- The period in which Sparta held significant power in the Greek world provides us with our only surviving literary sources:
- Fragments of poetry by Alcman
- Few whole poems by Tyrtaeus
Alcman
- Alcman lived and worked in Sparta around the end of the 7th century BC following the 2nd Messenian War
- Clues in his poems suggest that he might have come from Sardis, the capital of the kingdom known as Lydia in Asia Minor
- His poetry reflects a cultured prosperous society that was open to foreign influences
Alcman’s Poetry – Davies
- Sparta was not yet the military state it later became but a home of music and poetry
- Spartan literature began in the 7th century
- It’s from Sparta that w have our earliest substantial fragments of choral lyric, which are the work of Alcman
- Longest fragment consists of about 100 lines, complete or partial of his Parthenion or Maiden song
- Seems to have been sung by a choir of girls at a religious festival before dawn, competing in music and beauty with another choir
- Contains brilliant imagery, simplicity and melodic beauty. This conveys the grace and gaiety of an archaic world
Maiden Song
- Mentions of religion
- Tells us of a choir
- Depicts emphasis on music and beauty
- Mentions of leisure
Alcman
What impressions does Alcman’s poetry give us of the Spartan way of life?
Alcman’s poetry gives the impression that the Spartans were invested in the love and beauty of life as opposed to the military focused society best known of the Spartans.
What Spartan values does it reflect?
Physical ideals and fitness, which are related to love and allure
Tyrtaeus
- Strabo and other writers have preserved approximately 12 fragments, including at least three complete poems, in books
- They were written to praise the Spartan constitution and to encourage heroism in Spartiates
- Historians date most of Tyrtaeus’ poems to around c. 650 BC
Tyrtaeus – Darlington
- c. Middle of a 7th century BC, Tyrtaeus wrote poetry that encouraged the Spartans to fight bravely during the 2nd Messenian War
- Apart from fragments, four of Tyrtaes’ elegies (song to lament and honour the dead) have survived
- Who he really is remains a mystery
- Ancient Greek stories describe him as a poet sent by Athens to help the Spartans, a lame schoolmaster
Tyrtaeus was another important Spartan poet. His poetry was full of martial spirit. Find out some information about his life and works. Why was his poetry significant?
Tyrtaeus’ poetry describes much of the Spartan’s military practices and armour that provides evidence for other aspects of Sparta’s history. In addition to this, he provides an insight into the Spartan military values and social attitudes.
Evidence
- Sacrificial meat hook with a dedication: “to Helen”
- Ovoid Aryballos inscribed with the words “To Helen, wife of Menelaos”
- Epigraphic evidence – suggests kings, ephors, commanders and members of the Gerosia were literate
- Stone inscriptions – periokoi stonemasons may have been literate (Cartledge)
- Aristophanes mentions a Spartan poetess in his writings
Spartan Literature
- Most ancient written sources on Sparta were not written by Spartans
- The period in which Sparta held significant power in the Greek world provides us with our only surviving literary sources:
- Fragments of poetry by Alcman
- Few whole poems by Tyrtaeus
Alcman
- Alcman lived and worked in Sparta around the end of the 7th century BC following the 2nd Messenian War
- Clues in his poems suggest that he might have come from Sardis, the capital of the kingdom known as Lydia in Asia Minor
- His poetry reflects a cultured prosperous society that was open to foreign influences
Alcman’s Poetry – Davies
- Sparta was not yet the military state it later became but a home of music and poetry
- Spartan literature began in the 7th century
- It’s from Sparta that w have our earliest substantial fragments of choral lyric, which are the work of Alcman
- Longest fragment consists of about 100 lines, complete or partial of his Parthenion or Maiden song
- Seems to have been sung by a choir of girls at a religious festival before dawn, competing in music and beauty with another choir
- Contains brilliant imagery, simplicity and melodic beauty. This conveys the grace and gaiety of an archaic world
Maiden Song
- Mentions of religion
- Tells us of a choir
- Depicts emphasis on music and beauty
- Mentions of leisure
Alcman
What impressions does Alcman’s poetry give us of the Spartan way of life?
Alcman’s poetry gives the impression that the Spartans were invested in the love and beauty of life as opposed to the military focused society best known of the Spartans.
What Spartan values does it reflect?
Physical ideals and fitness, which are related to love and allure
Tyrtaeus
- Strabo and other writers have preserved approximately 12 fragments, including at least three complete poems, in books
- They were written to praise the Spartan constitution and to encourage heroism in Spartiates
- Historians date most of Tyrtaeus’ poems to around c. 650 BC
Tyrtaeus – Darlington
- c. Middle of a 7th century BC, Tyrtaeus wrote poetry that encouraged the Spartans to fight bravely during the 2nd Messenian War
- Apart from fragments, four of Tyrtaes’ elegies (song to lament and honour the dead) have survived
- Who he really is remains a mystery
- Ancient Greek stories describe him as a poet sent by Athens to help the Spartans, a lame schoolmaster
Tyrtaeus was another important Spartan poet. His poetry was full of martial spirit. Find out some information about his life and works. Why was his poetry significant?
Tyrtaeus’ poetry describes much of the Spartan’s military practices and armour that provides evidence for other aspects of Sparta’s history. In addition to this, he provides an insight into the Spartan military values and social attitudes.
5.4 Greek writers’ views of Sparta: Herodotus, Thucydides, Xenophon, Aristotle, Pausanias, Plutarch
Writers
|
Views on Sparta
|
Quotes
|
Herodotus
|
- Wrote mainly about foreign policy.
- Criticises the constitution. - Mentions dual citizenship - Vantage point of (immediate) post-Persian wars - Sees Sparta as a valuable and contrasting partner to Athens in defeat of Persia - Describes many Spartan institutions as being so foreign to his Greek readers they do not associate it with normal Hellenic culture - Somewhat bemused by their non-attendance at marathon - Not really understand depth of their religious convictions |
“ Spartan government was put upon a sound basis”
|
Thucydides
|
- As an Athenian writing about the war between Athens and Sparta, Thucydides is not a neutral observer. His conclusion about the outcome of the war is that it resulted from Athenian errors rather than the skills of the Spartans.
- Information is provided about the constitution, the helots and about Spartan warfare. - The only Spartan general who gets praise from Thucydides is Brasidas who is regarded as “un-Spartan”. There is bias here as Brasidas defeated the army led by Thucydides as general at Amphipolis in 422 BC. It is in Thucydides’ interest to show that an extraordinary Spartan leader defeated him. |
“Suppose the city of Sparta were deserted, distant ages would be very unwilling to believe a great power existed there.”
|
Xenophon
|
- Wrote “the constitution of the Lacedemonians”.
- Gives us information on the military system and insight into social customs and laws. - Admired the Spartan military and the system that produced it. - Praised the Agoge - Many detailed and comprehensive pieces of information on Spartan constitution for the information of the rest of Hells - Sparta was so important that it was essential that other Hellenes understood their priorities and point of view - Even he doubted existence of Lycurgus - An Athenian at a time when Sparta was at the peak of its power in the beginning of the 4th C. BC, Xenophon wrote in praise of Sparta. He had fought with the Spartans in the Battle of Coronea in 394 BC. - Excessive praise of Sparta and neglect of negative aspects of Spartan society affect the reliability of his work. - Sparta is compared with other places and is shown to be superior. |
“willingness to obey, prevailed among them” - Xenophon
“and instead of their clothes to make them delicate, Lycurgus required them to become used to a single garment all year round, the idea being that thereby they would be better prepared for cold and heat.” - Xenophon |
Aristotle
|
- Aristotle is “critical of Spartan institutions and paints a vivid picture of the complete breakdown of Spartan society in his own time - a dwindling citizen body, extreme inequality of property with two-fifths of the land owned by women, and prevailing greed and luxury.” Fitzhardinge.
- Pupil of Plato and influenced by Plato’s ideas of Sparta. - However he criticises the system of land and ownership and the problems of maintaining a number of landholdings within a small elite group. - Approves of the Spartan constitution, describing it as a “mixed constitution” and the cause of Spartan stability |
The Spartans brutalise their children… they go about it completely the wrong way.”
|
Pausanias
|
- Some references to Spartan constitution
- A travel guide for Roman tourists. He describes buildings and sites as they were when he visits them in 2nd C. AD. - A valuable source for archaeologists searching for lost remains. |
N/A
|
Plutarch
|
- Wrote “the life of Lycurgus”.
- Gives a complete account of the Spartan constitution. - Did admit to doubt of Lycurgus - From a distance of 500-600 years saw them as admirable - Tried to parallel them with contemporary Roman personalities values - Plutarch wrote that the Spartans were taught as much reading and writing as was needed. - Wrote biographies to highlight the virtues of individuals. - Had access to many sources, but wrote a long time after the period of Sparta’s greatness. - Drew on an established tradition about Sparta. - Provides much useful detail about aspects of Spartan society. - Attributes much of Spartan society to Lycurgus. - Idealises Sparta’s great past and attributes its fall to corruption and loss of virtue. |
“All the rest of their education made them well-disciplined and steadfast in hardship.”
|