Sparta Flashcards
(168 cards)
1
Q
How does the krypteia enforce subservience of helots to citizens?
A
Plut. lyk 28:
They “cut the throats of any helots they found”
customary for boys to target biggest helots - reduces population of viable fighters/ringleaders
2
Q
What did sparta do when they thought helots would revolt after Pylos/sphacteria?
A
Killed the 2000 who had given best military service behind temple after telling them they would be freed - thought this would get rid of most able fighters as threats (Thuc. 4.80)
3
Q
What did Plut. and the school of aristotle agree about actions of krypteia?
A
They would kill helots at night
4
Q
Why were spartans eager to send Brasidas on campaign (domestic)?
A
“the spartans were also glad to have a good excuse for sending some of their helots out of the country [because]… they feared a revolution” (Thuc. 4.80)
5
Q
How did spartans show young boys how not to act?
A
Plut. helots made to drink neat wine, get drunk and sing and dance demeaningly
6
Q
How stop helots using own arms against them at home?
A
“a spartiate at home takes out the handle of his shield” (kritias, on slavery 2.87) - constant paranoia of revolt
7
Q
Who was Kritias?
A
Athenian oligarch, lived 460 - 403. member of the spartan instituted 30 tyrants of athens
8
Q
What do spartans always carry with them on campaign?
Why?
A
Spear - stops helots taking and revolting or if they revolt with other weapons it can be subdued more effectively (Kritias, on slavery 2.87)
9
Q
What is the opinion of helots towards their overlords?
A
“helots would gladly eat their masters raw” (Xen. hell) due to brutal treatment - shows indoctrination of those who lived in sparta that helots were always trying to kill them
10
Q
Collectively, how did spartans stop armed helot insurrection in the field?
A
“by day sentries were stationed by the arms dumps looking inwards, for they watch out for friends not enemies” (Xen. lac pol 12) - note use of “friends” not helots; Xen never uses term in writing because Athenians didn’t like enslaving Greeks
11
Q
What was the proportion of helots to citizens at platea given by herodotus?
A
5000 spartans and 35,000 helots “seven serving each man” (9.28)
12
Q
What became of the helots serving under brasidas?
A
they were freed and settled becoming known as the Brasideans
13
Q
What did the helot population allow women to do?
A
Unintentionally, women were given unrivalled freedom compared to the rest of Greece, not having to work and essentially running the country while the men were away.
Arguably, they had more freedom than men.
14
Q
What does Tyrtaus say about helots?
A
they were forced to work “like asses suffering under heavy loads, by painful force compelled to bring their masters half of all the broduce that the soil brought forth”
15
Q
Why didn’t spartan women work?
A
They would train physically, but “there were enough female slaves [helots] to produce clothing” (Xen lac pol 1)
16
Q
Why did the helots and periokoi have to do all the useful work?
A
“only activities that contributed to the freedom of the state were regarded to be permissible occupations” (Plut. lyk 22) thought to discourage lust for money
17
Q
How did the existence of helots impact Spartan reputation?
A
They were allowed to be the great military leaders since thy devoted all hours to fighting but their stance as “liberators of Hellas” was endangered by the enslavement of fellow Greeks
18
Q
How do helots allow spartan military to flourish?
A
Let them constantly train by not having to farm and by perpetually being at war with them.
For spartans, “war brought relief from training for war” (Plut. lyk 22)
19
Q
How did the helot revolt of 465 contribute to eventual start of the peloponnesian war?
A
Sparta feared that Athens would spread ideas of freedom and democracy among helots and citizens so they sent them away when they came to help after the great earthquake. this deeply offended them (Thuc. 1.102) and worsened tensions - isolationist policy
20
Q
What did the Ephors do to helots as a whole every year and why?
A
Ephors “make a formal declaration of war on the helots, so that their murder would never involve religious pollution” (Plut. lyk 28) allows them to train for killing and keep under control without blood guilt.
21
Q
How is all decision making in sparta helot centric?
A
“most spartan institutions have been designed with a view to security against the helots” (Thuc.) - constantly feared revolt
22
Q
How did Lyk. prevent pollution by foreign ideas and keep helot threat under control?
A
he “did not grant spartiates permission to be away from the city and travel freely” (plut lyk 27) being constantly near let them keep a close hold on uprisings and confinement to the peloponnese maintained the indoctrination of spartan values and political system (Ie. ruled by diarchy, military system, suppression of fellow Hellenes)
23
Q
Why were Perioikoi important to Spartan economy?
A
Since Sparta “banned their [citizens] involvement in any manual craft” (Plut. lyk 24)
Any exports were produced by them and any production/intellectual work was maintained by them
24
Q
A
25
26
What was Agis able to do on campaign?
When agis was a t deceleration with his army, “he had the power to send troops wherever he wished, to raise fresh troops and levy money” (Thuc. 8.5.2)
27
What implies the king is autonomous on campaign?
Xen lac pol 13:
“All decisions stem from the king”
28
How is power of kings and commanders checked in campaign?
Ephors (2) go on campaign to make sure everyone behaves appropriately (Xen lac. Pol 13) - shows decrease in power over period
29
What changed with cleomenes and demaratus?
Both kings used to go on campaign, but since an argument broke out between the two and everyone deserted the battle, now one had to stay in Sparta (Hdt. 5.75)
30
What shows power of kings to dwindle over time?
By Xen. Time, kings had no power over non military matters - “sending out delegations to friends or foes is not his business” apparently as not to distract him but more likely to insure against despotism - no power over non military matters.
Hdt records earlier they would appoint the pythians to visit delphi and select who would entertain foreign visitors
31
What gave the kings the power to make decisions and suggestions?
The great rhetra gave the ‘founder leaders’ the task of making tribes and obes and to create a council of 30 - the gerousia of which they were part and gave them the the ability to vote on matters and lead decisions/polls in the apella
32
An example of king exercising power to put forward motions and not using crooked choice?
Archidamus addressed the Appela in 432 to convince the allies and Spartans not to war with Athens (“we have no public funds” - Thuc. ) because they were poor and navally weaker.
He failed to convince them when sthenelaidas got them to vote by moving to each side of the room rather than acclamation (more democratic later on)
Not using crooked choice to override people suggest kings had the power but possibly feared revolt if it was used
33
What are the privileges of kings that give them control over religion?
"two priesthoods of zeus lacedaemon and zeus urainius" (Hdt 5.56 ) so "no spartan may attempt to oppose their decision under pain of sacrilege"
also keepers of the oracles (Hdt.)
34
What shows the autonomy of kings to decrease over the period?
Hdt. says that when a king does not go to mess, his food will be sent back to his home but by the time of Agis (as recd. by Plut.) when he didn't turn up for dinner "they fined him"
Also, by Xen. time, honours "do not greatly exceed that of a private citizen" - a change from Cleomenes' day
35
In terms of resources, what prerogatives make the kings wealthy?
"to them belong the hides of all animals offered in sacrifice" (Hdt. 5.67)
"right to take one pig from each litter" (Xen. lac. pol. 15)
Had spring of water near house on ample fertile land (Xen.)
36
Which king was xenophon friends with?
Agisilaos II, who did go through the agoge - he was disabled and had a limp on one leg
37
Which spartan king commanded at Mantinea?
Agis II, he did not enter the agoge and his wife was suspected of having an affair with alcibiades
38
What cultural divide separates kings and citizens?
Did not enter the agoge, instead given a more conventional education (hence Archidamus long rhetoric in 432)
"the law exempts boys being raised as future kings from this compulsory practice" (Plut. Agesilaos 1)
39
What shows that kings are always watched for tyranny?
kings and ephors swap monthly oaths - king promised to rule to best of his ability, ephors swear to maintain perks if he does (Xen. )
2 ephors go on campaign "to make sure everyone behaves appropriately" (xen.)
40
example of reduction of powers of kings before mantinea?
Agis II convinced the appella not to fine him for not subduing argos but to send 10 advisors to command with him at mantinea so he couldn't do anything stupid - Not supreme military cmndr
(Thuc. 5.63)
41
example of kings not being above suspicion/ punishment?
Pleistoanax was exiled in 445 for allegedly bribing the delphic priestess (later reinstated in 427) - Thuc.
42
what shows that kings were no longer primary military commanders?
"The navarchy had been established as virtually another kingship" (Aris. pol)
faced competition - even from mothakes
43
how was the influence of kings diminished by 432?
Archidamus proposes peace in a long speech and Sthenelaidas organises a (more democratic than normal) vote for war - Archidamus does not use crooked choice - fear?
(Thuc. 1.87)
44
key limitation of ephors' power?
Can only serve for one year and after this, they are vulnerable to revenge of anyone they annoyed in power (ie. kings, gerousia)
45
when was the ephorate created?
Xen. thinks lyk created it but plut. says that it was introduced in the reign of theopompus (130 yrs after lyk) and polydorus to make the kings' power more sustainable
46
when did Cartledge say the ephorate was created?
first appointed 720-650 bc
47
example of growth of power of the ephorate (432)?
sthenelaidas puts forth vote to appella whether or not sparta should fight athens (thuc) also marked democratic shift in sparta
48
how did the people help control power of kings?
"even the kings had to curry popular favour" (aris. pol.)
spartan loyalty was to the laws, not a person
49
what was the ideological role of the ephorate?
to watch the kings and gerontes and prevent tyrrany
50
What did the establishment of the ephorate do to the aristocracy?
"far from weakening the constitution, the creation of the ephorate strengthened it because it seemed like a democratic measure, but actually made the aristocracy more secure (Plut. lyk 29.6)
theopompus got ribbed by his wife for allowing it still
51
what did the ephorate have the power to do?
"ephors have the rights to inflict punishment at will, to require immediate payment of fines, to depose magistrates during their term of office" (xen. lac pol 8)
52
Who drafts spartans to fight?
"the ephors proclaim the age groups to be called up" (xen. lac pol 11)
53
who can become an ephor?
"ephors come from the whole population" (aris. pol) as such links to spartan equality
54
What is the downside to the diversity of ephors?
"they can be bought as a result of their poverty" (aris. pol) goes against spartan values though
they are also untrained in politics
55
What does the ephorate do for the constitution?
"holds the constitution together, since the people keep quiet through sharing the supreme power" (aris.)
56
What powers did the gerousia have?
"political power over life and death decisions, rights of citizenship and all life's other most important issues" (plut. lyk 26)
Xen also says they're "Judges for trials of capital offences"
57
What happened before the 477 debate and what does this suggest about the gerousia?
Gerousia met first and then the apella which implies that they decided what the appella was to vote on (diodorus 11.50)
58
What was the Gerousia?
A council of 28 elders and 2 kings
59
What is the gerousia exempt from?
Being held to account - so criminal prosecution (aris. pol)
60
who was selected for the geousia and why?
"selection for the gerousia depends on nobility of character" (xen)
supposedly a reward for a noble life but translates to anyone over 60 who was a wealthy aristocrat
Also acted as protection from athletic youth since prized morals is better than physicality (Xen)
61
What is the crooked choice?
"if the people shall adopt a crooked proposal, the elder and founder leaders shall have the power of dissolution" (plut. lyk 6 - great rhetra)
unclear whether this means the appella alters a proposal given of kings can just throw out a decision they dislike
Hetiomaridas not an example, he persuades them
62
What is the association between the kings and the gerousia?
the kings are part of the gerousia (hdt 6.57) and if the king is not present at a meeting his closest member of family votes for him
63
What suggests that gerontes were relatives of kings?
Hetiomaridas was a "descendant of herakles" (diod. 11.50) - as the kings claimed they were
supports gerousia being nepotistic
64
What did plut. suggest the gerousia did for the constitution?
"supported the kings as a counterweight to democratic tendencies, while reinforcing the common people against any royal indication to tyranny"
65
What was the role of spartan women?
to produce children because "there were enough female slaves to produce clothing" (Xen.)
supported by leonidas parting words to gorgo; "marry good men and produce good children" - plut.
66
why did lyk give girls a tough education and what did this achieve?
(Reputation)
"so that the products of their wombs should have a really strong start" (plut.)
they gained a reputation for being the strongest in greece, with "such rippling muscles" (aristophanes, lysistrata)
67
What did education do?
perpetuate spartan values to ensure the safety and culture of the state
68
What did tyrtaeus' poems teach the youth?
their constant recitals indoctrinated kids with values and propaganda so they knew "it is a noble thing for a man to fall in the front line"
69
How did interactions between girls and boys education systems drive excellence?
girls would watch boys compete and praise or mock them to encourage them to do better - usually by singing or chanting (plut, lyk 14)
70
what was the artemis orthia ceremony?
used to instill bravery and relentless attitude to pain for reward and featured pre-pubescent boys doing a cheese heist off an alter while being beaten to death (Xen and plut but by plut's day, this was more extreme)
71
What are the Hippagretai?
3 of the best boys chosen by ephors who each select 100 boys each to join their gang; this is a source of competition (xen lac pol 4)
72
what were the key aims of the education system and what was one of the ways this was done?
"their education was directed towards the habit of instant obedience, endurance of pain and military success" (plut) which was consolidated in "running rather than walking in answer to a summons" (xen)
73
why was the education system so greatly needed?
(Domestic defence)
they would always have a helot threat and as such would always have a viable enemy from whom to defend themselves
74
how did spartans demonstrate 'in loco parentis'?
the state "gave fathers equal authority over all children" (Xen.) because lyk saw children as "common property of the state" (plut) and he wanted them to have the best discipline
75
what does Brasidas' mother say about him and what supports this?
"brasidas was a good man, but sparta has many better man than he" (plut) since everyone was raised to be warriors, then they must all be like brasidas, and the ones who are still alive must be better
76
which other class shares the Agoge?
mothakes can enter the agoge as the slaves of the wealthy who want training partners for their sons (phylarchos)
77
What are boys taught in the agoge?
how to fight, discipline, how to sleep on reeds, how to steal, values, how to be a good spartan and limited reading and writing
78
Who were the Brasidenas?
the Neodamodeis and helots who fought with brasidas in thrace and given their freedom (thuc)
the whole force was helots and "the rest of his army was mercenaries"
79
What is a convention of the spartan mirage regarding fleeing enemies?
they refused to chase fleeing enemies on the grounds it was "un-greek" to slaughter them as they ran (plut) which benefitted them as enemies were more likely to desert and leave them alone
80
How had most spartan institutions been designed?
"Most spartan institutions have always been designed with a view to security against the helots" (plut) which contributed to the protective/militaristic spartan mirage
81
how did lyk get troops used to harsh conditions before campaigns?
he "decreed that they should habitually wear one garment all the year round" (xen.) and in the agoge, boys weren't given sufficient food but were encouraged to steal more (punished if got caught though)
82
what were spartans in regard to conflict?
"lacedaemonians alone are the true proffessionals in the overall conduct of war" (xen) - other states thought this too
83
why did spartans like going to war and why was thid good?
"war brought relief from their training for war" (plut) they were excited for the gong of war and so were better fighters
84
where did the 'spartan mirage' come form?
term coined by francois ollier in the 1930s to explain the idealised image of sparta as a model of simplicity, discipline and virtue
85
What is the no. spartan citizens demaratus estimates to xerxes at thermopylae?
8000 (hdt. 7.234) which is estimated to have fallen to around 1500 in 371 at leuctra showing the extent of oliganthropia
86
what was the downfall of sparta?
(Citizen pop. )
she was "destroyed through her oliganthropia" (aris, pol)
87
why is it so difficult to estimate spartan population and resources?
"the secrecy with which their affairs are conducted meant that no one knew the numbers of the spartans" (thuc) - institutionalised covertness
88
How does oliganthropia **indirectly** influence military and foreign policy issues?
(Inactivity, Corinthian complaint)
is may influence their desire not to fight; "you spartans are the only people in hellas who wait calmly on events, relying for your defence not on action but on making people think you will act" (Thuc.) bullshitting for defence because don't have sufficient resources
89
what was an indicator of oliganthropia in 424?
all brasidas' troops were helots or mercinaries and when he requested reinforcemnts, he was denied partly "Because what they really wanted was to recover the prisoners made on the island" (thuc)
90
Why were spartans (and not allies) happy for the deaths of brasidas and cleon in 424?
this cleared away for peace which the spartans needed due to oliganthropia, dwindling resources and a need to return pylos prisoners
91
How did women contribute to oliganthropia?
they were able to inherit land and as such it was split more ways which decreased the no. spartan male citizens who had the resources to contribute the mess quota - so they were disenfranchised.
Aristotle says that "almost 2/5 of the whole country is owned by women"
92
what does aristotle claim spartan citizenship is reduced to?
"the ancient mark of citizenship for them is that anyone who cannot pay this tax cannot belong" referring to the mess contributions
93
how did the earthquake of 465 contribute to oliganthropia?
"more than 20,000 lakedaimonians died" (diodorus 11.63) a significant portion of the population hence why the helots revolted
94
how is oliganthropia evidenced in the changing of the constitution of the army?
during the persian wars, there were 7 helots to assist each spartiate and there were 5000 spartiates in total (hdt) with 5000 perioikoi
then the no. citizen hoplites began to dwindle until 424 when brasidas only took a force of mercenaries and helots
95
what were the helots under brasidas given for their service?
freedom, and they were settled as a colony of brasideans at lepreum (thuc) these were known as Neodamodeis
96
Why did Sparta initially ask athens help during the helot revolt of 465?
they were extremely effective at siege warfare (thuc) - although this could have been to a loss of manpower due to oliganthropia
97
What archaeological evidence for the activities and stature of spartan women?
the statue of the bronze woman found near the balkans. made by a perioik, it features a strong looking woman engaging in an athletic looking activity (dancing/running?) also suggested trade links out of sparta without citizen interference
dated 520-500, found in british museum
98
What does aristotle believe the downfall of warlike societies?
women control sex so control men, so control war. he says the celts have it right because they openly have passionate friendships with men
99
why did spartan women have power over their men?
Gorgo when asked why spartan women rule their men said "we are the only women who give birth to real men" (Plut) image of coercive control and strength also shown in lysistrata during sex strike (aristophanes)
100
Who was aristophanes and when did he write?
a satirical comic play-write in athens around 411. he was a member of the knight class, despised cleon and liked to take the piss
101
what shows that women had/ liked having the power and influence in decision making?
as part of the communal husbands/wives policy of sparta, "the women wish to rule 2 households and the men to get more brothers for their children" (xen)
aristotle afrees, saying "many things were controlled by women in the time of their empire"
102
What is the thoughts on adultery in sparta?
"adultery was totally unheard of there" (plut) since they thought it ridiculous for the likes of athens to want children being born to a cuckolded feeble man and a fertile woman for the sake of tradition when they practice selective breeding for their animals
See also Garda’s example of giant bull
103
did spartans receive a named headstone?
No, according to plut. spartan men only had a named grave if they died in battle and women if they died in childbirth showing the salient roles for each sex
104
who were the 3 most famous mothakes and why did one get made a citizen?
gyllipus, callicratidas and lysander (aelian)
lysander "became a citizen through courage" (phylarchos) - this was possible because he entered the agoge
105
how did oliganthropia cause the existence of mothakes?
plut. says lysander was a descendant of herakles and since he is a mothake, this may show that spartan population reduced in wealth, not actual people, and unable to pay mess contributions they were stripped of citizenship
106
what does Phylarchos say about mothakes?
"mothakes are foster brothers of the lakedaemonians"
they "are free but not actually lacedaemonians"
and they have the same education as the spartans (bought to be companions for wealthy sons
107
How are women shown to diverge from traditional spartan austerity?
aristotle claims they have a love of money and live wantonly, while the actual spartan poet Alcman says they have lydian headbands (in 7th century) implying they are not as restricted as men
108
what did lyk try to create?
an un-plutocracy (plut where "there was equally no need for them to amass wealth" because they couldn't show it off. this let them concentrate on virtue, fitness and the state
109
What domestic conventions represented spartan austerity?
they were only allowed to build their houses using axes (plut) which compounded with the inability to have flashy things made everyday objects exceptionally well built and it was "decreed that they should habitually wear 1 garment all the year round" (xen.)
110
did spartans drink?
yes, but in a restrained way:
"At Sparta it is custom and established practice to drink from the same wine-cup and not to name people to drink to their health"; just to “joyful optimism”(kritias in athenaios) to ensure they dont drink to the point of weakness and diminished faculties,
to enforce this, "men of military age may not even use a torch" (xen) to walk home - this gets them trained for night maneuvers and discourages them from over drinking
111
what wax the spartan mess system called and how did it contrast with athenian values?
syssitrata, contrasted by kritias with the athenian symposia, where they would nationally drink to excess for 3 days.
the spartan system celebrated moderation and simplicity, still with the communal aspect
112
why were spartans easily corruptible?
( In general)
Lyk "created a city without money but individuals with a love of money" (aristotle) - seen by behaviour of Pausanias
113
What evidence suggests that spartans were greedy and corruptible?
in modern sparta, "leaders of the state are eager to govern foreign cities" (Xen)
Gyllipus tries to embezzle money but is blown up by a slave when the bags didn't add to the totals (plut.)
Plut. and Thuc imply Pleistoanax was bribed to leave attica in 446
114
When does Plut think that spartan greed began?
"with the coming of money, greed and a. desire for wealth developed under the influence of lysander"
115
What advocates for not all spartans being greedy?
Plut. says that lysander died a poor man despite having access to the riches of the ionians and the persians so he must have adhered to spartan austerity - though he was a mothake (and descendant of herakles?)
116
How do the perioikoi contribute militarily?
they make up part of the lacedemonian contingent - eg. the skiriti from skiritos, the elite cavalry unit who fought at mantinea
"no one marches in front of him [king], except the skiriti" (xen)
117
what was the relation between helots and perekoi?
helots could be owned by perioikoi and would live among them - to the extent that some perioikoi (only 2 towns - thuc) joined them in the 465 revolt
118
what could the perioikoi do that citizens couldn't and vice versa?
they could travel freely away from sparta, make things and maintain foreign trade relations, though unlike citizens they could not vote in the apella or hold offices, do agoge etc.
119
What evidence suggest that Plut. used Xen as a source?
both quote the exact sum of 10 minai of currency as being obscenely cumbersome and much of Plut.s passages are verbatim of Xens.
its too coincidental to imagine he didn't use xen, especially with such a vast library.
120
what did lyk do to stop monetary greed?
"lykurgus forbade the free citizens to have anything to do with making money" (xen) so if they were greedy - which they shouldn't be - they'd have no way to act on it
121
what was the spartan currency?
rusty iron bars which were useless and cumbersome with 10 minai requiring a large barn to hold it (plut,Xen)
122
why didn't the spartans need money?
they all went to the same mess, had land, had houses, were soldiers and couldn't show it off - even for gifts it was seen as better to help with building work than give expensive things (xen)
123
What happened to the money that was in sparta?
"the gold and silver previously in lakedaimon was laid up in the temple of apollo at delphi" (athenaios) - weren't as incorruptible as they let on
124
what does Plato theorise about spartan finances?
"there is not in all greece as much gold and silver as in private hands in lakedaemon" since as although money flows in via the perioikoi, it ever leaves... ever - not even for a navy
125
What is the main issue with spartans not having money?
"we have no public funds" (Thuc.) they must rely on persian money for mercenaries/ships since "there is no common state fund for the large scale wars they are forced to fight" (Aris.)
126
What was the idea behind no money and what was the actuality?
total equality. though cartledge argues that the mess system probably had a hierarchy of wealth, Homoioi meant peers not equals and citizenship could be revoked if mess contribution can't be met
127
what is the spartan mirage perception regarding piety?
very pious:
"by the twa gods" - aristophanes, lysistrata
and they don't assist athens at marathon because of the carneia (Hdt.), though this could have been a helot revolt or continued construction in isthmus wall
128
What is the outside perception of sparta and why?
The strong, mysterious, liberating tutors of greece, vaguely emulating hercules. the speculation is more down to "the secrecy with which their affairs are conducted meant that no one knew the numbers of the spartans" (thuc)
129
why is sparta so well respected?
"Sparta enjoyed a way of life more typical of a wise and disciplined individual than of a city bound by a constitution" - plut
130
what is the athenian perception of sparta?
a bit stupid and doddery but very strong as portrayed by the comic aristophanes in lysistrata - represented here is also the strength and power of women which they despised.
despite this, many aristocratic athenians aligned with and admired the oligarchic spartans and had quite close relations
131
what was one of the cornerstones of the spartan mirage regarding bravery?
their military expertise and relentlessness in war:
- "the general impression was that the spartans would never surrender" (thuc)
- "4000 here from pelopps land against 3 million once did stand" (hdt.)
- "the spartans alone were professionals in the general conduct of war" (Xen.)
132
How was the spartan mirage shattered?
during the surrender at sphacteria, oliganthropia was so severe that they surrendered, which completely destroyed the mirage (thuc) and when sparta was invaded, the women "created more panic than the enemy" (aris)
133
What is the real reason for the existence of the spartan mirage?
helots, since they must always subdue them as "the most enslaved and the most free are in lacedaemon" (kritias) which is why "most spartan institutions have been designed with a view to security against the helots" (thuc) and hence why they became the most effective and disciplined fighters
134
how was the constitution of sparta dependent on religion?
the kings are granted their powers from apollo in the great rhetra, lyk would call his speeches 'rhetras' and there was discussion as to whether he was a god
- "two priesthoods of zeus lakedaemon and zeus uranius" (hdt.)
- kings conduct all sacrifices, own all hides of sacrifices.
kings appoint pythians to consult delphic oracle and act as keeper of all oracles and prophecies (Hdt.)
135
What influence does religion have on spartan actions?
(Big issues, foreign policy)
significant, they don't go to marathon because of carneia (Hdt), they ask delphic oracle for permission to go to war in 432 and use as justification (thuc), they annually declare war on helots so that "their murder will never involve religious pollution" (plut)
136
why was the religious backing of spartan laws so important?
so to break them "was not merely illegal but sacreligious" (xen) which discouraged disobedience and cultivated discipline
137
why was the navarchy important?
"The navarchy had been established as virtually another kingship" - (Aristotle) it held almost supreme power and inadvertently allowed a gateway to rule fore even those not belonging to the aristocracy (such as the mothax lysander)
138
how long was a navarch in power for and ho was this jiggled?
like ephors, they could only hold power for one year once a lifetime so to regain hopes of winning the war, "they gave the title of admiral to a man named aracus and sent out lysander nominally to be his deputy but in reality to take command" (plut)
139
how did lysander prove a point?
he returned the money he'd been given by cyrus so that calicratidas would make a fool of himself and have to ask on his own (plut)
140
why was the navarch important to persian relations?
he dealt with them on a personal level and negotiate funds as such; for example cyrus "gave to lysander all the tribute which came from his cities and belonged to him personally" (Xen)
141
Why was the. navarchy important to winning the war?
it was Lysander who secured the 4 obols instead of 3 which "made the ships of his enemies empty" (plut) and he was instrumental in the spartan victory at aegospotimi - other navarchs and kings failed to achieve both
the war "concluded by the foresight and skill of one man" (plut)
142
what does the navarchy represent?
the rise of meritocracy in sparta since both lysander, callicratidas and gylippus (naval commander) were mothakes although a counter to this was that lysander was technically a descendent of herakles
143
Who was captured at spahcteria?
"420 hoplites with helots to attend them" and "about 120 of the prisoners were of the spartan officer class" (thuc) which diminished the spartan's reputations and destroyed the mirage
144
why did the spartans fail at sphacteria?
"the spartans weren't used to this kind of fighting" and so couldn't "reap the advantages of their own specialised training" (thuc.)
145
How did the spartans deal with the defeat at Sphacteria?
they sued for peace several times and tried to get helots to run supplies in but when all hope was lost, "the spartans order you to make your own decision about yourselves so long as you do nothing dishonourable" (thuc.)
146
Why was Amphipolis so significant?
"the two people on each side who were most opposed to peace" were now dead (thuc) which allowed for discussion surrounding the peace of nicias which both sides needed
147
Why was Mantinea significant in counteracting domestic citizen snobbery of sparta and their perception by foreigners?
Both the skiriti and the brasideans fought on the side of the spartans during the battle, showing a move from the citizen prejudice due to oliganthropia (thuc) and the victory itself gave back a little of the spartan respect in military matters - restoring faith of some allies
148
Why does arginusae change the trajectory of the was?
Callicratidas dies which lets lysander become the vice navarch and bring with him the resources and strategy to defeat athens at aegospotimi (xen) and athens kills 6/8 successful generals which incapacitates them for the rest of the war
149
How did lysander win the battle at aegospotimi?
they went out to meet them each day, going only half way and turning back. once the athenians got cocky and ignored alcibiades advice to move to a safe harbour, they turned back to the beach prematurely, beached their ships and went about their day.
here, lysander rushed the beach with his ships and caught them before they could relaunch. lysander took 3,000 prisoners (plut) and the athenian cause was destroyed (xen)
150
What does plut. think happened because of spartan austerity and simplicity?
(Regarding luxury)
"luxury... simply died away of its own accord" - although Gylippus seemed to get away with embezzling money (plut) and plato notices that no money ever leaves sparta when it keeps going in
151
what shows that everyone knows their place in spartan society and accepts the hive?
(Old men, soup + free life)
"the older men do not even ask for the bits of meat to be included" (plut), "no one was permitted to live as he pleased. Instead, just as in a camp, so in the city, they followed a prescribed lifestyle and devoted themselves to communal concerns." (plut), brasidas' mother saying sparta had better men (plut)
152
What shows the importance of laconicism, sneakiness and pain tolerance in sparta?
Plut. account of the boy stealing a fox and dying while having his stomach ripped out but not confessing
153
What was the attitude to mothers sending their sons to war?
With your shield or on it and should they be reluctant, one woman asked if her son wanted to climb back into her womb while hitching up her skirt (plut)
154
what happened to cowards at sparta?
they were socially ostracised:
they were labeled tremblers and had to give up their seats even for younger people (xen) and had songs that "castigates as cowards those who trembled" (xen). notably this happened to a man who fled from thermopylae (atistodemus) but didn't return like another soldier (eurytus) after recieving an eye infection (Hdt)
155
Why were young men forced to have children in sparta?
the state needed more boys to become soldiers so encouraged fit men to marry young. those who were not married were almost regarded as cowards and had to parade around the agora naked singing demeaning songs and were banned from the Gymnopaedei (plut)
156
Why was the mess system supposed to be for equality?
"there was no use for wealth... when the rich man was compelled to dine beside the poor man" although messes were often for certain kinds of people - to be voted into a mess you needed to have a unanimous vote of confidence but some elitism allowed people to be blackballed by throwing crushed bread into a pot - failure to be elected to a mess will result in loss of citizenship (plut)
157
what was the educational value of the messes?
children taught laconic humour, how to behave (how not to by helots), how to keep secrets and "lycurgous mingled the age groups in sparta so that the younger learn from their more experienced elders" (plut)
158
What does an Eiren do after supper?
asks a boy to answer a question, tell a joke or sing a song (plut) to practice spartan humour - would often talk about heroes and gods
159
how are spartan boys punished?
sometimes by punishing an older lover, being bitten on the thumb or just general castigation or physical punishment (plut)
160
Example of helots being trusted by high aristocracy?
Agis’ wife disclosed to her female helots that her son was fathered by Alcibiades (plut)
161
Example of betrayal at marathon in 490?
Hdt:
Alcmaeonids of Athens flash shield after marathon to tell Persians not to attempt landing as Athens were back
162
What construction project shows potential abandonment of Persian wars?
Hdt. Work is begun on isthmus wall at Corinth and by time of salamis, ademantus is ready to run
163
list the spartan kings and the dates they reigned (5 eurypontid, 5 Agiad)
Agiad:
cleomenes I - 520-490
Leonidas - 490-480
Pleistarchus - 480-459
Pleistoanax - 459-445 ; 426-409
Pausanias - 445-426 ; 409-395
Eurypontid:
Demaratus - 515-491
Leotychidas - 491-469
Archidamus II - 469-427
Agis II - 427-401
Agesilaos II - 401-360
164
list (8) reasons for victory over persians:
unity
leaders
quality of troops/equip.
persian failure/natural events
Athenian navy
spartan hegemony/command
terrain issues and supply lines
Greek idealism
165
list reasons (7, short term) for peloponnesian war
Short:
- potidea
- Corcyra (leukimme, sybota)
- Megarian decree
- Pericles
- sparta wants to help samos
- overall corinthian complaint
- Break of 30 yr peace (sparta dec. war)
166
Why does spt. think they take responsibility for starting archidamian war?
they declared war after the thebans, their allies, attacked an Athenian post in platea in **431**, not to be confused with the seige of platea, also by thebans in 429-27
(thuc)
167
list long 6 term causes of peloponnesian war
Long:
- Athenian refortification (478, 458 LW)
- Ath. growth in power + fear in spt.
- Ath. lead DL, emp. (jealous)
- Sptn. need to liberate Ath. empire
(treatment of allies, reputation)
- Persian wars over (boredom)
- Ideological differences
(democracy/oligarchy - Thuc. pres.)
168
list 9 reasons for athenian failure in peloponnesian war:
- Occupation of decelea
- exile of Alc. (Ath loss, spt gain)
- Athenian demagoguey
- leadership of lysander
- Persian gold to Spt.
- plague fallout
- sicilian failure
- internal politics (rad. dem Vs oligs.)
- Ath run out of money/
resources/men/ships
