Vocabulary
What is a Helot
Slave population of Sparta, all owned by the state, were the original inhabitant’s of the Peloponnese
Who were Homoioi
They were equals, male Spartan citizens- born of 2 Spartiate parents from Dorian parents. They owned a kleros and were given helots. They had to contribute food from his estate to the syssestia. They were not allowed to participate in public activities eg trade as they were full time soldiers
According to Plutarch what did Lykourgos encourage Spartans to use a currency.
Iron bars
Which Spartans were given tombstones?
What are some of the lesisure activities that Spartans often undertook.
Huntings, Equestrian Riding, Athletics, Wrestling, Cockfighting and boarfighting
Who were Spartiates
Term referring to the upper class of Sparta, full time professional soldiers
Who were the Perioikoi
They were men and women of Dorian origin who lived in approximately one hundred scattered communities in the area controlled by Spartans. They had no rights in the Spartan government system and were considered not citizens but rather outside the social structure.
What evidence do we have that currency was used in Sparta.
- Plutarch writes about the use of Silver Coins
- Silver coins with Spartan King Areus on them
Who was Lycurgus?
He was a law maker in Early Spartan development that help shaped Spartan society. There is conjecture if he existed.
Who were the two main Spartan poets that we know of?
Tyrtaeum and Alcman
What was a Kleros
Piece of land & helots given to Spartan boys on his birth. Land was returned to the state on his death. It provided food for the Sysstia
Who were the Ekklesia and how did one gain membership.
The Assembly included everyone, but it seemed to have been a rather passive role.
What was the name of the Periokoi city and what was its main form of trade.
Gytheum and it was a port with a large fishing industry.
Who were the three main gods worshipped in Sparta
Poseidon
Artemis Orthia
Apollo
What is the name of the social gathering for all Spartiates in which they shared meal.
What were they expected to offer per month
Sysstia - food was provided out of the monthly contributions of mess members themselves. The average was 77L of barley, olive oil, 39L of wine, 3 Kg cheese, 1.5Kg figs
What is a Neoamodes
A type of inferior, helot granted their freedom after performing a courageous/heroic act for the service of the state.
Who were the Gerousia and how did they gain membership.
There were twenty- eight members plus the two kings equalling thirty. It is unclear about why there is thirty members, but it could be that they were advisers to the Kings. Membership was restricted to Spartans over 60 years of age who were no longer liable for military service. Members were elected by the Assembly.
What was the main forms of Spartan Art and where have they been found.
Bronze Sculptures, Painted Vases, Bone and Ivory Carving
What were the main cults
Cult of Lycurgus
Cult of Dioscuri
Cult of Artemis Orthia
What did the Spartan diet consist of
radishes, celery, beans, olives, barley, wine, cheese, different kinds of fruit, and bread and cakes made from wheaten flour
What are the names of the types of inferirors.
Double points if outline the differences between them.
How many Ephors were their and what were their main purposes.
5 Ephors
Lykurgus forbade Spartans from being craftsman, what evidence is there to this not being the case?
Name the Three main festivals of Sparta
Double for a brief summary of each.
Hyakinthia
This festival was named after Hyakinthos, lover of the god Apollo, who died when Apollo accidentally hit him with a discus. The hyacinth flower was believed to have sprung from his blood.
The festival of Hyakinthia took place in the summer. It was celebrated at Amyclae where a huge statue of Apollo and the tomb of Hyakinthos were situated, together with a space for festival dances.
Gymnopaedia
The Gymnopaedia was considered the 'most solemn of all Laconian festivals' according to Pausanias.
This festival was held during midsummer and involved gymnastic displays, athletic competitions and musical events for every age group.
Karneia
The Karneia, an extremely important festival for the Spartans, was a harvest festival held in late summer. It celebrated the early history of Sparta, including the migration of the Doric peoples.
During the Karneia, Spartans could not participate in wars or battles. This was why they arrived late to the Battle of Marathon.
At the Kameia, men were divided into nine groups of three phratries who dined together.
It included a foot-race in which young men chased a man wearing a garland, resembling the chasing of prey.
How many stages of the Agoge and at what age could they join the Kryptiea.
Double points if you can list the activities in different stages.
7 stages
Joing the Krypteia at 18
At 7, Spartan boys entered the agoge and lived in communal barracks where they were organized into agelai, or teams and began their training in sports. Boys were never unsupervised. The paidonomos, aided by older boys called eirens aimed with whips, constantly enforced punishment. According to Xenophon, old men stirred up disputes and quarrels to encourage fighting among the boys.
From the age of 10, boys were taught patriotic and martial music and dances.
Training intensified from 12. Boys were fed minimum rations and were expected to steal food. Punishments were severe if they were caught. This encouraged self-reliance and prepared boys for the p1ivations of war.
Adolescent boys accompanied homoioi on hunting trips to learn hunting skills and to observe men's behaviour.
They attended the syssition to listen to experienced statesmen and to hear of noble deeds in battle, an important means of their enculturation.
Around 18 they could become eirens and join the Krypteia, the Spartan secret police which encouraged them to carry out violence against the helots. They could beat or murder any helots they chose as victims. This helped keep the helot population under control thrnugh intimidation, and desensitised the young men to killing.
At this age they could serve in the army, but not in the front line. They could apply to join asyssition. Voting to admit a new member had to be unanimous.
Once admitted, the Spartan had to contribute his monthly share of food for his mess group, usually 15 men. Members of the syssiteia ate all their meals together for the rest of their lives.
Around 24, these young men were given their hoplite armour and were able to participate in battle in the front line. They were also able to marry, although they had to sleep each night at the barracks.
At 30 they became full citizens with voting rights in the assembly. They were able to live at home but had to have their meals in the barracks.