From the world one by one (Best, selected and exclusive news). Interesting facts about Sparta and the Spartans

Sparta was led by not one king, but two. These “kings” were not sovereign monarchs, but merely generals and high priests. Real power was in the hands of the geronts, and later the ephors.

In general, Sparta was a gerontocracy. Public administration was carried out by the gerusia - a council of elders of 28 geronts and both kings. Each geront could not be younger than 60 years old. The elections of the geronts took place like this: on election day, the candidates, one after another, appeared before people's assembly. Special persons, “electors”, who were in a separate closed room and did not see the candidates, decided which of them the people greeted with louder greetings - these “worthy” ones became geronts.

The national assembly consisted of Spartans who had reached 30 years of age. They voted with shouts of approval or disapproval, without counting votes, according to the principle: whoever shouts louder is right.

Children in Sparta were the undivided property of the state. Immediately after birth, they were subjected to thorough examination. The weak and crippled were thrown into the abyss from the Taygetos rock.

Healthy children were returned to their parents, who raised them until they were 6 years old. After six, children were taken away from their parents in favor of the state. The boys were brought up under the supervision of special state overseers, headed by a pedon. The children were subjected to all kinds of hardships, barely fed bad food, and sometimes deliberately starved. Those who tried to earn their own food were hunted down and severely punished. The children's clothing consisted of a simple piece of cloth, and they always walked barefoot. Every year on the holiday of Artemis (Diana, the goddess-hunter), boys were flogged until they bled, sometimes to death; whoever survived became a warrior. Such was the Spartan upbringing.

Contrary to popular belief, the Spartans did not know the art of war; for example, they did not know how to besiege fortified cities or fight at sea. All they were taught was to fight on foot, one on one, and in a phalanx.

Not a single Spartan had the right to eat at home. Everyone, not excluding the kings, ate in state canteens. One day, King Agis, returning after a grueling campaign, wanted to dine at home, but this was forbidden to him. The national dish of the Spartans was “black soup” - a soup made from blood and vinegar.

Mental pursuits were not encouraged in Sparta. People who tried to engage in them were declared cowards and expelled. Over the centuries of its existence, Sparta did not give Hellas a single philosopher, orator, historian or poet.

The Spartans did very little manual labor. All grunt work public slaves - helots - did the work for them. The oppression of slaves in Sparta was the worst in all of Greece. The slaves of Sparta were not blacks, they were not strangers at all, they were the same Hellenic Greeks, but conquered and enslaved by the Spartans.

However, not a single Spartan himself could own a slave(s). All helots were the property of the state, and it transferred slaves to individuals “for use.”

The Spartans often forced the helots to get drunk, sing obscene songs and dance obscene dances. Using this example, the “free citizens” of Sparta were taught how not to behave. Only Spartans had the right to sing patriotic songs.

The state encouraged its citizens to spy on slaves. Young Spartans were specially sent to eavesdrop on the speeches of the helots and kill anyone who seemed suspicious. The strongest and bravest slaves capable of protest were killed secretly. The Spartans were especially careful that the number of helots did not exceed half a million, since otherwise the slaves could become dangerous to the state. Of course, the helots, that is, the Greeks converted into slaves, fiercely hated their Spartan enslavers.

Lycurgus, the main Spartan legislator, left Sparta at the end of his life. Before leaving, he took an oath from his compatriots not to change anything in the laws until his return. In order to bind the Spartans tightly with them, Lycurgus did not return to his homeland, but voluntarily starved himself to death in a foreign land.

At the end of its history, Sparta, faithful to the establishment of Lycurgus, became exactly what he wanted to save it from - a society of weak, corrupt and incapable idlers.

Friends, do you know why the warriors of Ancient Sparta were considered the most fearless, strong, powerful soldiers in the world? The facts that you will learn in the continuation of the post will give answers to all your questions in the continuation of the post.

From birth, Spartan children were subjected to various tests. If the council of elders found any physical defects in the baby, then he was left to die in the wilderness.

As a rule, babies died there, but sometimes other people saved them.

But even then it was not easy for weak babies. They were bathed not in water, but in wine, to check how healthy they were and how capable they were of survival.

Adults taught babies not to be afraid of darkness and loneliness; their cries were ignored.

At the age of 7, Spartan boys were taken from their homes to enter military service (“agoge”), where they were made into fearless warriors and responsible citizens.

Young soldiers were trained in the art of combat, hunting, athletics and lived in common barracks.

Young Spartans were allowed to wear clothes only from the age of 12. They were forced to sleep on the cold ground outside.

The Spartans' food supply was deliberately meager, and theft and robbery were only encouraged. However, if they were caught stealing, they received a fair spanking.

Men in Sparta were required to be skilled warriors, and women were exemplary mothers capable of raising warriors.

Along with the boys who studied military tactics and martial art, the girls also attended training in athletics, wrestling, javelin and discus throwing, and also underwent psychological preparation for their upcoming motherhood. Only a woman from Sparta could give birth to Spartan warriors.

Girls, unlike boys, were allowed to live with their parents.

The educational system of agoge involved training not only in combat, but also in writing and reading.

Nevertheless, hazing and fights among students were encouraged.

The only profession that a Spartan boy could count on in the future was that of a warrior. All Spartans were considered liable for military service until the age of 60.

Industrial production and agriculture The occupation was carried out by the lower strata of the population and foreigners, many of whom were slaves.

The most brutal test awaiting the young men was an "endurance competition" in which they were beaten and flogged to test their tolerance to pain. Those who died during the test were considered weak.

After completing the training at the age of 30, the men were looking for a life partner. Girls usually got married at 20 years old. Marriage was primarily seen as a means of reproducing new soldiers.

For a Spartan, surrender meant covering himself with shame. Hence the special Spartan mentality. The Spartan's mother, sending her son to war, said: “Come back with a shield or on a shield.”

According to the law of those times, only two classes of people deserved the right to immortalize their names on tombstones - women who died in childbirth, and men who laid down their lives in battle.

Ancient Sparta was the main economic and military rival of Athens. The city-state and its surrounding territory were located on the Peloponnese peninsula, southwest of Athens. Administratively, Sparta (also called Lacedaemon) was the capital of the province of Laconia.

The adjective "Spartan" in modern world came from energetic warriors with an iron heart and steely endurance. The inhabitants of Sparta were famous not for their arts, science or architecture, but for their brave warriors, for whom the concepts of honor, courage and strength were placed above all else. Athens at that time, with its beautiful statues and temples, was a stronghold of poetry, philosophy and politics, and thereby dominated the intellectual life of Greece. However, such dominance had to end someday.

Raising children in Sparta

One of the principles that guided the inhabitants of Sparta was that the life of every person, from birth to death, belongs entirely to the state. The elders of the city were given the right to decide the fate of newborns - healthy and strong were left in the city, and weak or sick children were thrown into the nearest abyss. This is how the Spartans tried to secure physical superiority over their enemies. Children who have passed natural selection", were brought up under conditions of severe discipline. At the age of 7, boys were taken from their parents and raised separately, in small groups. The strongest and bravest young men eventually became captains. The boys slept in common rooms on hard and uncomfortable reed beds. The young Spartans ate simple food - soup made from pork blood, meat and vinegar, lentils and other roughage.

One day, a rich guest who came to Sparta from Sybaris decided to try the “black soup”, after which he said that now he understands why Spartan warriors give up their lives so easily. Boys were often left hungry for several days, thereby inciting them to petty theft in the market. This was not done with the intention of making the young man a skilled thief, but only to develop ingenuity and dexterity - if he was caught stealing, he was severely punished. There are legends about one young Spartan who stole a young fox from the market, and when it was time for lunch, he hid it under his clothes. To prevent the boy from being caught stealing, he endured the pain of the fox gnawing his stomach and died without making a single sound. Over time, discipline only became stricter. All adult men, between the ages of 20 and 60, were required to serve in the Spartan army. They were allowed to marry, but even after that, the Spartans continued to sleep in barracks and eat in common canteens. Warriors were not allowed to own any property, especially gold and silver. Their money looked like iron rods different sizes. Restraint extended not only to everyday life, food and clothing, but also to the speech of the Spartans. In conversation they were very laconic, limiting themselves to extremely concise and specific answers. This style of communication Ancient Greece received the name “laconicism” from the name of the area in which Sparta was located.

Life of the Spartans

In general, as in any other culture, issues of everyday life and nutrition shed light on interesting little things in people’s lives. Spartans, unlike the inhabitants of others Greek cities, did not attach special significance food In their opinion, food should not be used to satisfy, but only to saturate a warrior before battle. The Spartans dined for common table, while food for lunch was handed over to everyone in the same quantity - this is how the equality of all citizens was maintained. The neighbors at the table kept a watchful eye on each other, and if someone did not like the food, he was ridiculed and compared to the spoiled inhabitants of Athens. But when the time came for battle, the Spartans changed radically: they put on their best outfits, and marched towards death with songs and music. From birth, they were taught to perceive each day as their last, not to be afraid and not to retreat. Death in battle was desired and equated to the ideal end to the life of a real man. There were 3 classes of inhabitants in Laconia. The first, most revered, included residents of Sparta who had military training and participated in political life cities. Second class - perieki, or residents of surrounding small towns and villages. They were free, although they did not have any political rights. Engaged in trade and handicrafts, the perieki were a kind of “service personnel” for the Spartan army. Lower class - helots, were serfs, and not much different from slaves. Due to the fact that their marriages were not controlled by the state, the helots were the most numerous category of inhabitants, and were restrained from revolt only by the iron grip of their masters.

Political life of Sparta

One of the peculiarities of Sparta was that the state was headed by two kings at the same time. They ruled together, serving as high priests and military leaders. Each of the kings controlled the activities of the other, which ensured the openness and fairness of government decisions. Subordinate to the kings was a "cabinet of ministers", consisting of five ethers or observers, who exercised general custody of laws and customs. Legislature consisted of a council of elders, which was headed by two kings. The most respected people were elected to the council people of Sparta who have overcome the 60-year age barrier. Army of Sparta, despite its relatively modest numbers, was well trained and disciplined. Each warrior was filled with determination to win or die - returning with a loss was unacceptable, and was an indelible shame for the rest of his life. Wives and mothers, sending their husbands and sons to war, solemnly presented them with a shield with the words: “Come back with a shield or on it.” Over time, the warlike Spartans captured most Peloponnese, significantly expanding the boundaries of its possessions. A clash with Athens was inevitable. The rivalry reached its climax during the Peloponnesian War, and led to the fall of Athens. But the tyranny of the Spartans caused hatred among the inhabitants and mass uprisings, which led to the gradual liberalization of power. The number of specially trained warriors decreased, which allowed the inhabitants of Thebes, after about 30 years of Spartan oppression, to overthrow the rule of the invaders.

History of Sparta interesting not only from the point of view of military achievements, but also factors of political and life structure. The courage, dedication and desire for victory of the Spartan warriors were the qualities that made it possible not only to restrain the constant attacks of enemies, but also to expand the boundaries of influence. The warriors of this small state easily defeated armies of thousands and were a clear threat to their enemies. Sparta and its inhabitants, brought up on the principles of restraint and the rule of force, were the antipode of the educated and pampered Athens, which in the end led to a clash between these two civilizations.

About this city ancient civilization The Greeks are known more from the legends of Homer. He mentions this polis in his Illiad. However, archaeological excavations confirm the existence of a once powerful city-state on the territory of Greece. However, some sources refute these claims. It is officially known that Troy (Ilion) was a small settlement on the territory of Asia Minor. It is located on the coast of the Aegean Sea, on the Troas Peninsula. It was just a stone's throw from the Dardanelles Strait. Nowadays it is the Turkish province of Canakkale.

Rosary “Tears of the Virgin Mary” - a gift of salvation from Greece

How often do we evaluate our actions and look to the future by looking back at the past? According to statistics, every third inhabitant of the Earth, who has always condemned the cult of something, after a certain time, returns to spirituality. The atheists ask the Lord God for enlightenment, those who did not believe in holy attributes, over time began to understand that healing power faith helps to recover from illnesses and improves well-being.

Temple of Zeus

Zeus is the Olympic god, the thunderstorm of all, the thunderer, to whom statues, bas-reliefs, temples are dedicated, he is one of the most wrathful Greek deities. It was in his honor that the largest temple throughout the country was erected. In ancient times, the Temple of Olympian Zeus was more majestic than the Parthenon itself. It was in it that gilded sculptures from Ivory, which emphasized the status of Zeus and his divine origin.

Themistocles

One of the most gifted politicians Ancient Greece. Themistocles was the leader of the democratic party and one of the best generals on a pan-Greek scale. Thanks to his talents, making the right decisions and ability to correctly assess the situation, Themistocles managed to win a number of significant victories over the Persians, and also make a significant contribution to the transformation of Athens into the most powerful maritime and trading state in Greece.

Sparta was led by not one king, but two. These “kings” were not sovereign monarchs, but merely generals and high priests. Real power was in the hands of the geronts, and later the ephors.

In general, Sparta was a gerontocracy. State administration was carried out by the gerusia - a council of elders of 28 geronts and both kings. Each geront could not be younger than 60 years old. The elections of the geronts took place like this: on election day, the candidates, one after another, appeared before the people's assembly. Special persons, “electors”, who were in a separate closed room and did not see the candidates, decided which of them the people greeted with louder greetings - these “worthy” ones became geronts.

The national assembly consisted of Spartans who had reached 30 years of age. They voted with shouts of approval or disapproval, without counting votes, according to the principle: whoever shouts louder is right.

Children in Sparta were the undivided property of the state. Immediately after birth, they were subjected to thorough examination. The weak and crippled were thrown into the abyss from the Taygetos rock.

Healthy children were returned to their parents, who raised them until they were 6 years old. After six, children were taken away from their parents in favor of the state. The boys were brought up under the supervision of special state overseers, headed by a pedon. The children were subjected to all kinds of hardships, barely fed bad food, and sometimes deliberately starved. Those who tried to earn their own food were hunted down and severely punished. The children's clothing consisted of a simple piece of cloth, and they always walked barefoot. Every year on the holiday of Artemis (Diana, the goddess-hunter), boys were flogged until they bled, sometimes to death; whoever survived became a warrior. Such was the Spartan upbringing.

Contrary to popular belief, the Spartans did not know the art of war; for example, they did not know how to besiege fortified cities or fight at sea. All they were taught was to fight on foot, one on one, and in a phalanx.

Not a single Spartan had the right to eat at home. Everyone, not excluding the kings, ate in state canteens. One day, King Agis, returning after a grueling campaign, wanted to dine at home, but this was forbidden to him. The national dish of the Spartans was “black soup” - a soup made from blood and vinegar.

Mental pursuits were not encouraged in Sparta. People who tried to engage in them were declared cowards and expelled. Over the centuries of its existence, Sparta did not give Hellas a single philosopher, orator, historian or poet.

The Spartans did very little manual labor. All the grunt work was done for them by public slaves - helots. The oppression of slaves in Sparta was the worst in all of Greece. The slaves of Sparta were not blacks, they were not strangers at all, they were the same Hellenic Greeks, but conquered and enslaved by the Spartans.

However, not a single Spartan himself could own a slave(s). All helots were the property of the state, and it transferred slaves to individuals “for use.”

The Spartans often forced the helots to get drunk, sing obscene songs and dance obscene dances. Using this example, the “free citizens” of Sparta were taught how not to behave. Only Spartans had the right to sing patriotic songs.

The state encouraged its citizens to spy on slaves. Young Spartans were specially sent to eavesdrop on the speeches of the helots and kill anyone who seemed suspicious. The strongest and bravest slaves capable of protest were killed secretly. The Spartans were especially careful that the number of helots did not exceed half a million, since otherwise the slaves could become dangerous to the state. Of course, the helots, that is, the Greeks converted into slaves, fiercely hated their Spartan enslavers.

Lycurgus, the main Spartan legislator, left Sparta at the end of his life. Before leaving, he took an oath from his compatriots not to change anything in the laws until his return. In order to bind the Spartans tightly with them, Lycurgus did not return to his homeland, but voluntarily starved himself to death in a foreign land.

At the end of its history, Sparta, faithful to the establishment of Lycurgus, became exactly what he wanted to save it from - a society of weak, corrupt and incapable idlers

What is a "laconic expression"? This is the ability to express your thoughts briefly and clearly. Probably not everyone knows that this concept originates from Sparta, which was located in Laconia, one of the regions of Ancient Greece. In Sparta they did not like long speeches; it was necessary to speak briefly and to the point.

By the way, the expression “with a shield or on a shield” also appeared in Ancient Sparta. This is exactly how mothers advised their sons who were going on a military campaign. Dead warriors were brought on shields, and death in battle was honorable. According to the laws of that time, names were written on tombstones only for men who died in battle or for women who died during childbirth.

The ancient historian Plutarch wrote that the Spartans were very harsh and cruel, therefore, newborn children were carried to the elders so that they could determine how healthy the child was. The weak and sick were thrown off the cliff. WITH light hand Plutarch, this version has survived to this day. But Greek historians refute this myth. Archaeologists from the University of Athens conducted excavations in the gorge where, according to legend, unfortunate children were thrown.

Scientists, indeed, found many bones there, but they belonged to adult men from 18 to 35 years old. It turns out that either the rumors about the cruelty of the Spartans were exaggerated, or they were looking in the wrong place.

The Spartans had to eat from a common cauldron. Warlord Agis, returning from a campaign, decided to break this rule and ordered dinner to be served home. He was refused, in addition, Agis was punished with a fine.

The only craft that the Spartans mastered perfectly was the art of war. But physical labor was considered a humiliating occupation in Sparta. For this purpose, slaves were used - helots. In addition, the helots were forced to drink wine to show the youth what a drunken person turns into.

Children were considered property of the state. At the age of seven, boys were taken from their families and sent to military schools. The conditions here were truly Spartan - the students had to undergo harsh training and become fearless warriors. They were fed sparingly, encouraging food theft. But if anyone got caught, he was punished twice: for stealing and for getting caught. Military service a Spartan carried for up to 60 years.

The famous Spartan legislator Lycurgus decided that what he created government system must be observed forever. To do this, he took a desperate step - he went on a trip to the city of Delphi, taking an oath from the inhabitants of Sparta that until his return they would not change any of the existing laws. To bind the Spartans with this oath forever, Lycurgus starved himself to death at Delphi.

About the collapse of Sparta there is interesting legend. In 404, the Spartans captured the untold treasures of the Persian king. What to do with this wealth? The Persians advised to divide it all among themselves. This is where it all started. The Spartans turned into greedy and weak-willed people. By the beginning of our era, Sparta was already part of the Roman Empire.