Education of Boys

Question 1

What did boys not learn?

Answer 1

Much reading or writing, any literature or philosophy,

Question 2

How much did they learn to read?

Answer 2

Only enough to train them for basic literacy.

Question 3

What did they learn?

Answer 3

They spent time developing physical strength and obedience. Musical was also important.

Question 4

What were boys taught to do with music?

Answer 4

They were taught the value of precise movement and teamwork, which would be vital in situations when they were grown up.

Question 5

Who were Eirenes?

Answer 5

19-20 year old Spartans who had recently graduated from the Agoge.

Question 6

He was the paidonomos?

Answer 6

He was the headmaster of the Agoge, he was always a Spartan warrior with a great record.

Question 7

What happened as soon as a baby was born?

Answer 7

It was inspected by a committee of elders and if considered too weak or deformed, it was left to die of exposure on the slopes of Mt Taygetus.

Question 8

What happened if they weren’t left to die as babies?

Answer 8

They had to survive a harsh infancy.

Question 9

Why were babies bathed in wine not water?

Answer 9

It was believed to be a test for epilepsy.

Question 10

What else happened to babies?

Answer 10

They were often left in the dark on their own.

Question 11

As babies grew up what weren’t they allowed to be?

Answer 11

Fussy with their food.

Question 12

Why did Spartans do this to their babies?

Answer 12

They didn’t want weak babies as they wouldn’t be great warrior.

Question 13

What happened to a boy at age seven?

Answer 13

He was sent off to the city’s boarding school known as the Agoge.

Question 14

Where did the boys live?

Answer 14

In communal barracks and were divided into packs, each led by prefects, known as Eirenes.

Question 15

What were boys constantly under?

Answer 15

Supervision.

Question 16

What could the Eirenes do?

Answer 16

They were armed with whips, and could punish boys for any offence.

Question 17

At what age did training become intense?

Answer 17

14.

Question 18

Why did boys train barefoot?

Answer 18

So they could run faster, scale heights more easily and clamber down cliffs.

Question 19

How many cloaks were they allowed per year?

Answer 19

One - whatever the weather.

Question 20

What was boys appearance like?

Answer 20

They cut their hair short and generally played naked.

Question 21

Why was food rationed?

Answer 21

To make them used to doing without as on military campaign it would be like that.

Question 22

What was the result of this rationing?

Answer 22

Forced to steal to get more. If they were caught they were beaten for stealing carelessly.

Question 23

At this age what were boys given?

Answer 23

A male lover who acted as a role model.

Question 24

If the youth cried out, who was punished?

Answer 24

The older lover.

Question 25

At what age was it believed boys would become rebellious?

Answer 25

18-19.

Question 26

How was this rebellion prevented?

Answer 26

Boys were worked even harder, and were kept very busy.

Question 27

How was respect for elders emphasised?

Answer 27

When walking the streets youths had to keep their hands in their cloaks, stay silent and keep their eyes fixed on the ground ahead of them.

Question 28

How did the Spartan education prepare boys for life in the army?

Answer 28

• Barefoot at all times.
• Played naked.
• Food was rationed.
• Had to steal but punished if caught.
• Good survival skills.
• Obedience.
• Love of Sparta.
• Loved each other.
• Teamwork.

Question 29

Describe the duties of the Krypteia?

Answer 29

• Go out in the countryside with minimal rations and live off the land.
• Hide in the day and patrol the countryside at night.
• Kill any helot they see as a threat to Sparta.
• Terrorise helots as an incentive for the others to behave.
• Become efficient killer.

Question 30

Explain why the Spartans treated the helots harshly?

Answer 30

• Keep them in a state of fear and oppression to stop them rebelling because they outnumbered the Spartans.
• They had rebelled before and the Spartans were fearful of further uprisings.
• They were slaves in their own land.
• The Spartans needed the helots to work the land to support the Spartans so that they could concentrate on the military.
• The Spartans needed more land so they took over the fertile soil in Messenia.
• The women were not considered inferior to men and not given menial tasks so the helots had to do them.
• Spartan population was small so they needed the extra labour.

Question 31

Explain how the Eirenes contributed to the education system?

Answer 31

• Acted as pack leaders for the younger members of the agoge.
• Role models for younger boys.
• Set a good example.
• Punished younger boys with whips to instill obedience.
• Got boys to show off their learning by getting them to sing songs.
• Asked the boys questions to make them think about what they had learnt.
• Encourage competition.

Question 32

What activities did boys take part in during the Agoge?

Answer 32

Basic literacy, running, climbing, survival, fighting, dance, team games, hunting, stealing.