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15 Fascinating Facts about Sparta in Ancient Greece

Sparta was a prominent city-state in Laconia in ancient Greece. In the ancient past the city–state was known as Lacedaemon and the name Sparta referred to its main settlement on the banks of the Eurotas River in Laconia in south-eastern Peloponnese. At around 650 BC it rose to become the dominant military land power in ancient Greece.

Spartans fought the battle of Thermopylae during the Persian War.  Sparta was the leading force of the unified Greek military during the Greco- Persian Wars in rivalry with the rising naval power of Athens. Sparta was ruled by two kings and their form of education was referred to as agoge. They were well known for their military discipline and great dedication to the state.

1. Sparta was the Leading Force of the Unified Greek

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Sparta was the leading force of the unified Greek military during the Greco- Persian Wars in rivalry with the rising naval power of Athens. Sparta was the principal enemy of Athens during the Peloponnesian War and from that war, it emerged victorious after the battle of Aegospotami.

The decisive battle of Leuctra in 371 BCE ended the Spartan hegemony and the city-state maintained its political independence until the Roman conquest of Greece in 146 BCE.

Immediately after the division of the Roman Empire Sparta was affected as it underwent a long period of decline as most of the people moved to Mystras. However, it remained an independent city-state until Greece was conquered by the Roman Empire in 146 BC.

2. Sparta was Unique in Ancient Greece for its Social System and Constitution

Sparta had a special uniqueness in ancient Greece due to its Social system and Constitution. The social system and constitution were introduced by the semi-mythical legislator Lycurgus. The law composed the Spartan society to maximize military proficiency at all costs by focusing on all social institutions on military training and physical development.

The social system of Sparta was classified into different categories Periokoi (free non- spartiate) Helots (state-owned enslaved non-Spartan locals) Mothakes (free non- spartiate people descended from Spartans) and Spartiates (citizens with full rights).

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3. Spartan Women Enjoyed Considerably More Rights than Elsewhere

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Spartan women had more rights and privileges compared to any other women in any other Greek city-state of the Classical period.

They had the right to inherit property-owned lands and could make business transactions and among many others, they were better educated than women in ancient Greece in general. Spartan women could rule their men, unlike in Athens where women were considered second-class citizens.

4. Sparta was Ruled by two Kings who had Equal Power

Sparta was an Oligarchy. It was ruled by two hereditary kings of the Agiad and Eurypontid families. Both families were supposed to be descendants of Heracles and had equal authority.

The reason for having equal authority was that the two kings no of them would act against the power and political enactments of his colleague. The duties of the two kings were religious judicial and military.

5. The First Female Olympic Victor was Spartan

The first female Olympic victor called Cynisca was from Sparta. The Olympic game she won was the four-horse chariot race. This race was a very aristocratic and highly praised event.

It is said that only the wealthiest of men could race women were not allowed within the field of Olympia when the games were on. For Cynisca it was a real hassle she worked hard for it and she got the crown of being the first Olympia female.

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6. Sparta’s Education System

The Sparta system of education was known as the Agoge and it focused so much on physical strength and obedience to the state. Boys were taught how to survive as soldiers while girls were educated so that they could produce strong offspring.

In general, children were taught to have great respect for their elders. Every individual in that society was taught to have respect for every individual.

7. Spartan Men were Required to Serve in the Military Until the Age of 60

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From age 7 boys from Spartan were already into military training at a military academy called an agoge. At age 20 they were already full-time soldiers and they remained on active duty until they were 60 years old when they could retire from the military.

The training was done in a “Phalanx’ formation. The Spartans’ military training and discipline made them skilled at the ancient Greek style of fighting.

8. Laws in Sparta were Made by a Council of 30 Elders

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Sparta had a special Lawmaker called the Gerousia a council that consisted of 28 elders and the two kings making it a total of 30. The 28 elders were supposed to be of age 60 years and above.

They were elected for life and they were usually part of the royal households. High state policy decisions were discussed by this council which could then propose action alternatives to the demos.

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9. Spartan Army was Divided into Units Called Phalanxes

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The Spartan army was divided into units called Phalanxes. A phalanx was a rectangular mass military formation which usually composed of heavy infantry armed with pole weapons spears and pikes. The unit could hold up to 8000 strong men.

10. Spartans Enslaved the Helots

Spartans enslaved the entire population of the Helots. They used them as agricultural slaves so they could cultivate their land and provide food for the Spartan state. Helots were also recruited to fight for the Spartans when needed.

However, the Spartans and fear that one day the Helots would rise against them and as a result each year the Spartans ritually waged war on the Helots.

11. Sparta was Known for Music and Poetry

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Sparta was not only famous for the military but also for music. It is said that the majority of the poet-musicians traveled from far afield to work in Sparta. The Spartans were defensive of their musical heritage.

They banned all Helots from performing the works of their artists and they were forced to sing low and baseless songs instead. Some of the renowned musicians include Terpander, Alcman, and Tyrtaeus.

12. Spartan’s Mode of Currency

Sparta’s mode of currency was called Pelanor and was used during the reign of the semi-mythical Lycurgus. According to Plutarch’s life of Lycurgus, Lycurgus banned the use of gold and silver currency and advocated the use of iron.

The use of iron reduced the crimes of robbery and theft in Sparta since the currency was difficult to transport and it lacked any intrinsic value as scrap metal.

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13. In Sparta Boys were Encouraged to Steal Food

It is shocking that in Sparta once a boy was 12 years old he has deprived of some basic needs such as being deprived of all clothing save for a red cloak and was forced to sleep outside and make their beds from reeds.

Other than that they were also made ready for life as the boy’s soldiers were encouraged to steal food but they were highly punished with floggings if they were found stealing.

14. In Sparta Fighting was Encouraged among the Children

Spartan education which was referred to as agoge not only taught subjects such as writing,  reading rhetoric,  and poetry but also trained the children on the military to toughen the young warriors and encourage their growth as soldiers instructors or even older men who would instigate fights and arguments between trainees.

The education was designed to help make the youths resistant to hardships like cold hunger and pain. Not only boys but girls too were encouraged to participate in hazing and fighting.

15. Sparta Men Could Only Live with their Wives when They Turn Age 30

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Sparta men were not allowed to live with their wives until they turned 30 years old. Men were allowed to marry once they turned 30 years since they were all required to live in military barracks until 30.

Those who married before they turned the ideal age were forced to live separately until the husband completed his active duty military service. For them, marriage was seen as a means for conceiving new soldiers.