Sparta

The city of Sparta

The ancient Greek city of Sparta was the greatest military power in ancient Greece and played an important role in history.
Ancient Sparta was not as sophisticated as Athens, with its arts and crafts, but it is a historically significant city because of its citizens' courage and its major role in the Persian Wars. Sparta stands in contrast to Athens and the other major cities of ancient Greece, and everyone will come away admiring the virtue and courage of its citizens.

History of ancient Sparta

According to legend, Sparta was founded by Lacedaemon, the son of Zeus and husband of a woman named Sparta. It is known in history for the strength of its disciplined soldiers, its courage and its large number of slaves. It is also well known in Greek mythology, especially because of the legend of Helen of Troy, which led to the famous Trojan War.

Military power

Sparta's military power came from an education system set out by the laws of Lycurgus, which was unique in ancient Greece. Its recorded history begins in Sparta after the arrival of the Dorians around 1,100 BCE and lasts into the Roman period, although there are clear signs of Mycenaean influence in the region long before the Dorians arrived, which makes up much of ancient Sparta's early history. During the Archaic period, Sparta was one of the two most powerful states in ancient Greece, together with Athens.
Sparta began to emerge as a political and military power in Greece in the early Archaic period, after the dark years that preceded it, and reached its peak after winning the Peloponnesian War against Athens and its allies, when it succeeded in establishing its power and influence in the ancient world. Its rule did not last long, and after its defeat by Thebes in 371 BCE and at Leuctra in 362 BCE, it lost its former power.

With the rise of the Kingdom of Macedonia, Sparta came to play only a minor role in Greek affairs. Its brief revival in the third century did not prevent its decline, and it shared the fate of the rest of the Greek world, which was taken over by the Romans. Even so, during the Roman Empire Sparta remained a place of continuing appeal because of its long history.

Spartan education

Education was at the heart of the Spartan system, in which children were raised according to the policies recommended by Lycurgus, the legendary lawgiver. Only boys were entitled to an education, starting at the age of seven. The exceptions were the future kings, the firstborn sons of the two royal houses, the Eurypontids and the Agiads.
The education system was designed to produce the ideal Spartan. This meant young men who were physically strong enough to survive harsh conditions, who were calm, loyal to their fellow Spartans and relentless toward the enemies of the state, and who were skilled warriors with special knowledge of weapons and battle tactics. Team spirit among the schoolboys was inspired by their trainers and was a cornerstone of the Spartan hoplite groups.

A well-known Spartan saying embodies this ideal of an honest, frugal life: "Return with your shield or on it." With this phrase, a Spartan mother would bid farewell to her son, reminding him that his duty was to fight bravely for his country and honor his arms, even if he had to die for it. The phrase means "come back carrying your shield, or carried upon it in death."
This idea is clearly reflected in the famous Battle of Thermopylae, where 300 Spartans died alongside King Leonidas, defending all of Greece and their own beliefs.

Sparta today

Its glorious past attracts many visitors. Ruins from ancient Sparta are still preserved, such as the Sanctuary of Artemis Orthia, the Chalkioikos of Athena, Apollo Karneios and the Roman theater.

Today Sparta is the financial and commercial center of the prefecture. It has an outstanding Archaeological Museum and the Museum of the Olive. The plain stretching around it is covered with olive trees, orange trees, mulberry trees and other trees, and to the southwest stands Mount Taygetos, with its towering peaks and natural beauty.

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