Cultural Life

- CHANGES: Spartan cultural life underwent significant change over the centuries corresponding to political changes in the Spartan state

- RICH CULTURAL LIFE DECLINED: Sparta enjoyed a rich cultural life in the 7th to 6th centuries BC but this gradually declined into the 5th century BC especially after Messinian wars

- EARLY SPARTA: had a lively culture and produced fine painted pottery, beautifully carved ivories, magnificent bronzes and everyday items of value and beauty

ArtSculpture - SHRINES: many examples of sculpture can be found at the shrines of the Spartans, such

as the Amyklaion and the Sanctuary of Athena - BRONZE SCULPTURES: surviving bronzes in Sparta tend to be small figurines massive

bronze vessels have also been found in Europe they generally contained mythology and military motifs: Statue of Zeus: bronze statue of Zeus on a bronze base 5.5 metres high from the 6th century Vix Krater: is from the 6th century and was used for mixing water and wine the relief depicts hoplites

with armour and shields Spartan Girl: A bronze statuette of a Spartan running girl. The maiden is running the foot-race of Heraea

from around 520BC Bronze Statue of Soldier: around 500BC

- LEAD FIGURINES: an interesting find at Orthia, was 100,000 lead votive reliefs these figurines are only 2.5-8cm high and were cast in shallow lead moulds that produced many at a time Mass Produced: it is believed they were mass produced by a factory workshop near the temple Subjects: the subjects for these varied, the most common being sphinxes, the winged goddess orthia,

animals such as lions and horses and armed foot soldiers

- MARBLE BUST: a marble bust of a helmeted hoplite, found on the acropolis at Sparta, said to be Leonardis the defender of Thermopylae

Painted Vases- LACONIAN POTTERY: are valued for the richness of their decoration and

their technical achievement in the 7th and 6th centuries BC the main styles include: First Style (Geometric): Occasionally animal or human figures are depicted but they are always part

of a larger decorative scheme.

Bronze Statue of Soldier

Bronze Statue Spartan Girl

Marble Bust of Leonardis

Arkesilias Cup

Second Style: is characterised by the predominance of friezes, decorative bands, made of animals or birds, or a decorative patterning made of fish and dolphins

Third Style: is characterised by a scene or narrative story taken from life of mythology important for historians as they show aspects of life including, hunting, riding, fighting and religious worship

- EXPORTED: was exported throughout the Mediterranean and has been found throughout Greece, Italy , France and Egypt

- MAIN EXAMPLES: of painted vases/pottery include: Arkesilias Cup: Arkesilaos, king of Cyrene in North Africa, supervises the weighting of merchandise.

Spartan cup of mid sixth century BC. Laconian Cup (Pegasus): Bellerophon and Pegasos killing the Chimaera 570BC-565BC Laconian Cup (Hunting): hunters killing a boar 555BC

Bone & Ivory Carving - IMMIGRANT CRAFTSMEN: it is believed that immigrant craftsmen

brought the skill of carving in bone or ivory to Sparta from north Syria believed they worked over 3 generations

- IMPORTED: ivory was imported into Sparta- SUBJECTS: the most popular subjects were small statues of

crouching animals on a decorated rectangular base they are believed to have some religious meaning

- ARTEMIS ORTHIA: there were over 200 ivory carvings at Orthia some items included: Three carving plaques: on ivory bones 600BC two Spartan

warriors/woman in mourning Ship: the figure of Artemis orthia welcoming soldiers home in a ship Aristatos: an ivory plaque showing Aristalos

Architecture - LACK OF PUBLIC BUILDINGS: the town lacked major public buildings and temples found in

Athens the town itself resembled little more than a group of rural villages - INFLUENCES: details of buildings from the 6th century BC suggest that Sparta was in contact with

trends from earlier parts of Greece Ionian influence can be seen in some architectural features such as column capitals

Amyklaion (Apollo) - AMYKLAION TEMPLE: being built in the 6th century, it was the most important temple in

Lacedaemon it was a shrine dedicated to Apollo and Hyakinthos Throne for Apollo (function): it’s primary function was a throne to Apollo as

excavations convey Statue: the building housed a huge bronze statue of Apollo Colonnades: the temple was surrounded by colonnades and stoas Lotus carvings: there were carvings of lotus flowers and other sculptures

- IONIC STYLE: Designed by Bathykles in the Ionic style.- RESOURCES/EXPENSE: Sparta spent many resources and expense

building the throne, indicating the piety in which they held this god

Laconian Cup: Pegasus

Laconian Cup hunting

Three Plaque carvings

ShipAristatos

Menelaion (Helen and Menelaus) - MENELAION: this was a shrine 5km north east of Sparta which dated back to

c.700BC it was dedicated to Helen and Menelaus and overlooks mount Taygetus and the Eurotas river Step pyramid Structure: it had a square step-pyramidal structure in the style of a hero shrine Terracotta Tiles: a pedimental roof with terracotta tiling

- CULT OBJECTS: cult objects have been found onsite that suggest the peak of the hill was a place or worship

The Sanctuary of Artemis Orthia - ARTEMIS ORTHIA: the temple dedicated to the goddess dates back to the 6th

century (c.700BC) and was situated close to the Eurotas river Foundations: it has the foundations of an archaic temple and measures 17x60m Altars: the remains of successive altars have been found the earliest dating back to the 9th

century Smaller Finds: excavations have also uncovered smaller finds e.g. terracottas, ivory carvings ,

bronze carvings, bronze, lead figurines

- REPAIRS: it shows signs of repairs and alterations as late as the 3rd century BC (Roman times)

- ANNUAL FESTIVAL: Was the site of a festival held in Artemis Orthia’s honour.

Writing & Literature- ORAL TRADITIONS: Sparta was a society with strong oral traditions its history was recorded

in songs and epic poems - MUSIC & POETRY: were an important part of Sparta’s education the syssition provided an

ideal environment for the retelling of stories - FRAGMENTS OF POEMS: most surviving written sources of Sparta were produced by non-

Spartans however fragments of the poems of Tyrtaeus and Alcman survive

Alcman (latter 7 th century BC) - LIVED: who lived later in the 7th century BC, wrote romantic choral odes he was the first

Greek chloral poet whose works are known to us - CHORAL PIECES: reveal aspects of the vital social life of Spartans and including:

Festivals/Religious Bridal Hymns: and poems in praise of love and wine Themes: the beauty of nature, love and marriage

- RELIGIOUS CEREMONIES: his poems have been used as evidence of Spartan religious ceremonies, particularly the Parthenion, a hymn sung by a choir of women

Tyrtaeus (7 th century BC) - LIVED: lived in the early 7th century BC and wrote around the time of the second Messinian War- WHO WAS HE: this remains a mystery ancient Greek stories describe him as a poet sent by

Athens to help Spartans, a lame schoolmaster and composer, and a Spartan general - POETRY: he wrote poetry that was sung by Spartan men especially the army it covered:

Warfare Marital Spirit: clearly designed to inspire fellow Spartans Ideal Warrior: he praises the qualities of an ideal warrior, courage in battle, physical strength, speed, beauty and

eloquence

Subjugated Helots: his poems also refer to the subjugated helots Other themes: included bravery, courage and honour

- PURPOSE: was didactic designed to teach boys the correct attitudes which were endorsed by the state

- VALUABLE INSIGHTS: His poetry is valuable for the insights it gives us to the mentality of Spartan soldiers and the descriptions of formations and armour.

Greek Writers’ views of Sparta Views Evidence

Herodotus (480-425BC) -SPARTAN ARMY: admires the Spartan army and leadership records great deeds e.g. Persian wars

-MISSING DETAILS: leaves out details to glorify the Athenians role

-NO INFO ON SOCIETY/WOMEN: doesn’t provide a lot of detail on Spartan society or women

“The Spartans had escaped from great evil and mastered the Trojans in war’ When Xerxes says that Persian arrows will block out the sun – Leonidas ‘we will fight in the shade”

Thucydides(460-400BC)He was an Athenian general ostracized from Athens

-ADMIRED: admire their way of life but was glad not to be part of it

-FIGHTING METHODS: were outdated -PELOPONNESIAN WAR: wrote about the war which Sparta

had one from the personal observations of a general’s point of view

“We are so greatly different from our opponents (Sparta)in our training for war. ’‘thigh displayers’ (Spartan women)”

Xenophon(428-354BC) -EYE WITNESS (lived): as he lived in Sparta for a period of time -ADMIRED: what he believed to be Spartan traditions and the

Spartan way of life-EDUCATION SYSTEM: respected the education system

especially the agoge process -BIASED: towards Sparta

“The agoge ‘cultivated their war like instincts”

Aristotle(384-322BC) -SPARTAN CONSTITUTION: wrote about the Spartan constitution especially what he considered to be its defects, a system doomed for failure

-NEGATIVE VIEW: viewed some aspects as childish -BLAMES WOMEN (land): ownership of land for the downfall critical of the rights of women

‘The Spartans concerned with war left them with nothing after battle.’‘ Women had too much freedom: they dominated their men’

Plutarch ( 46-120AD) -BACKGROUND/EXPLANATIONS: he drew on many sources which we do not have now and his historical material often provides background and explanations of early Sparta e.g. intuitions and mechanism

-LYCURGUS (questions existence): questions his existence -ADMIRES MOST THINGS: except the Krypteia -SOCIETY: writes about society, structure and laws of Sparta -BIOGRAPHIES: he wrote biographies of important Spartan

individuals e.g. Lysander, Agis, Lycurgus

‘All the Greeks know what is right but only the Spartans do it properly.’‘ Come back with your shield, or on it.’

Pausanias(2nd century AD)

-BUILDINGS/TEMPLES: describes the temples and buildings before his time e.g. Agora and Temple of Apollo

-NO DISTINGUISHMENT: the problem with his description is

that it often fails to distinguish between Roman and Spartan remains