Ancient Sparta very popular today. The Spartans are considered great warriors who could bring even the most powerful enemy to their knees. At the same time, they were smart and gave Greece a large number of philosophers and scientists. But, were they as severe and stoic as the myths about Sparta are imposed on us? Today we will figure it all out and know what it was Ancient Sparta.

Ancient Sparta "uncut"

In general, the name Sparta is not original. It was invented and spread by the ancient Romans. The Spartans themselves called themselves the Lacedaemonians, and their country Lacedaemon. But it so happened that the original name did not take root in historical documents, but the name Ancient Sparta has come down to our days.

Ancient Sparta, like most states of its time, was distinguished by a rather complex social structure. All the inhabitants of Sparta were divided into three groups:

• Full citizens;
• Incompetent citizens;
• Dependents.

At the same time, each of the groups was divided into subgroups. So, for example, helots were slaves, but in the unique understanding of the Spartans. They had their families, their villages, and even received cash reward for your work. But, they were always tied to their land plot, they pledged to fight on the side Ancient Sparta and belonged, interestingly, not to anyone alone, but to all full-fledged citizens of Sparta at once. In addition to the helots, in the Spartan state there were hypomeions - handicapped children of full-fledged citizens of Sparta. They were considered incomplete citizens of the state, but at the same time they were significantly higher in the social ladder of all other segments of the population, such as helots or dependents.

Note that the presence in social structure The ancient Sparta of such a class as hypomeions hits quite hard on the most famous legend about the Spartans, according to which they threw all handicapped children into the abyss immediately after birth.

The myth of cast children was first mentioned by Plutarch. He wrote that weak children at the behest of the government Ancient Sparta were thrown into one of the gorges of the Taygetov mountains. At the moment, scientists are more and more inclined to believe that this is just a legend that played the role of a “horror story” among contemporaries, but did not have a serious substantiated basis. Among other things, the Spartans themselves, who loved a separate way of life, could spread such myths about their people.

Ancient Sparta and the army

Popular legend has it that the Spartan army was virtually invincible. It should be noted that at that time Ancient Sparta could really put the best warriors of Greece on the battlefield, but, as we all know very well, they were often defeated. Moreover, due to the isolation policy, the Spartan army was in many ways inferior to the armies of other states. The Spartans were considered excellent foot soldiers, capable of defeating any enemy in the field or steppe, as well as mountain gorges, with the help of tough discipline, training and a dense phalanx. On the other side, Ancient Sparta she was practically not interested in engineering, and therefore was simply not capable of waging effective wars of conquest, since it was not possible to besiege large cities of opponents. Trouble came to the Spartans along with the Romans. Although the ancient Romans admired in many ways the army of Sparta, the mobile and flexible maniples in the ranks quickly dealt with the linear phalanx of Sparta, which ultimately led to the complete conquest of the Greek state by the Romans.

Each Spartan man considered it his duty to be disciplined in battle, courageous and show his valor. Modesty was highly valued, but feasts and orgies, including homosexual ones, were also very loved by the Spartans. In the late period at the decline of the state Ancient Sparta was already associated with completely different qualities - deceit and treachery.

Ancient Sparta and Society

Ancient Sparta had the same political system as most of the policies of ancient Greece - democracy. Of course, the democracy of Sparta was different from that of Athens. For example, if the majority of decisions were still decided by the general meeting of citizens, then this is especially important questions discussed and considered the Areopagus - the supreme authority, consisting of elders.

The home life of the Spartans was the same as that of everyone else. Products traditional for the ancient Greeks were grown, and the Spartans bred sheep. Agricultural work was assigned to helots, dependent and incomplete citizens Ancient Sparta.

Sparta did not particularly like to strain their brains, but there were still thinkers and poets. Particularly outstanding were Terpander and Alkman, who, however, were also excellent athletes. Tisamen of Elea, who predicts the future, was also famous among his contemporaries as a discus thrower, and not as a priest-soothsayer. So, the physical data of a Spartan man was more valued than mental abilities.

Breakfast and dinner at Ancient Sparta only at group meetings. There is an opinion that despite the high position, even the Areopagus was forced to eat with the rest. This equalized the citizens and prevented the influential Spartans from forgetting that they were also part of the people.

The Spartans are the inhabitants of one of ancient Greek policies(cities - states) on the territory of Ancient Greece, which existed from the 8th century. BC. Sparta ceased to exist after the Roman conquest of Greece in the 2nd half of the 2nd century BC. BC, but the decline of Sparta began already in the 3rd century. BC. The Spartans created an original and original civilization, strikingly different from the civilization of other ancient Greek policies, and still attracting the attention of researchers. The basis of the Spartan state was the laws of Lycurgus, the Spartan king who lived in the 7th century BC.

Nature

The Spartan state was located in the southern part Greek peninsula Peloponnese. Geographical position Sparta was isolated. Sparta was located in a valley sandwiched between a river and mountains. In the valley there was a large amount of fertile land, and the foothills abounded in wild fruit trees, rivers and streams.

Classes

The main occupation of the Spartans was military affairs. Craft and trade were engaged in perieks - personally free, but deprived political rights inhabitants of Sparta. Helots were engaged in agriculture - the inhabitants of the lands conquered by the Spartans, turned into state slaves. In connection with the focus of the Sparatan state on the equality of all free citizens (moreover, equality not in the legal, but in the literal - everyday sense), only the manufacture of the most necessary items - clothes, utensils and other household utensils - was distributed from crafts. In connection with the military orientation of Sparta, only the manufacture of weapons and armor was at a high technical level.

Means of transport

The Spartans used horses, wagons and chariots. According to the laws of Lycurgus, the Spartans did not have the right to be sailors and fight at sea. However, in later periods, the Spartans had a navy.

Architecture

The Spartans did not recognize excesses and therefore their architecture (both external and internal decoration of buildings) was extremely functional. Naturally, with this approach, the Spartans did not create outstanding architectural structures.

Warfare

The Spartan army was tough organizational structure, which evolved and differed in different time periods. Heavily armed foot soldiers - hoplites were recruited from the citizens of Sparta and formed the basis of the army. Each Spartan went to war with his own weapon. The set of weapons was clearly regulated, and consisted of a spear, a short sword, a round shield and armor (bronze helmet, armor and greaves). Each hoplite had a helot squire. The army also served perieks, armed with bows and slings. The Spartans did not know fortification and siege work. In the later periods of history, Sparta had a navy and won a number of naval victories, but the Spartans never paid much attention to military affairs at sea.

Sport

Spartans have been preparing for war since childhood. From the age of 7, the child was taken away from the mother, and a long and difficult process training lasting 13 years. This made it possible to bring up a strong, skillful and experienced warrior by the age of 20. Spartan warriors were the best in Ancient Greece. In Sparta, many types of athletic activities and competitions were practiced. Spartan girls also underwent military and athletic training, which included such sections as running, jumping, wrestling, discus and javelin throwing.

Art and literature

The Spartans despised art and literature, recognizing only music and singing. Spartan dances had a military rather than an aesthetic focus.

The science

The Spartans studied only the basics of literacy - reading, writing, military and religious songs; history, religion and traditions of Sparta. All other types of science and education (including people involved in them) were expelled from the country and banned.

Religion

In general, the Spartans adhered to the ancient Greek polytheistic religion, with the difference that fewer religious holidays were celebrated in Sparta, and they celebrated with less fanfare. To a certain extent, the role of religion in Sparta was taken over by Spartan morality.

In the southeast of the largest Greek peninsula - the Peloponnese - the powerful Sparta was once located. This state was located in the region of Laconia, in the picturesque valley of the Evros River. His official name which was most often mentioned in international treaties, - Lacedaemon. It was from this state that such concepts as "Spartan" and "Spartan" came. Everyone has also heard about the cruel custom that has developed in this ancient policy: to kill weak newborns in order to maintain the gene pool of their nation.

History of occurrence

Officially, Sparta, which was called Lacedaemon (the name of the nome, Laconia, also came from this word), arose in the eleventh century BC. After some time, the entire area on which this city-state was located was captured by the Dorian tribes. Those, having assimilated with the local Achaeans, became Spartakiates in the sense known today, and the former inhabitants were turned into slaves, called helots.

The most Doric of all the states that Ancient Greece once knew, Sparta, was located on the western bank of the Eurotas, on the site of the modern city of the same name. Its name can be translated as "scattered". It consisted of estates and estates that were scattered across Laconia. And the center was a low hill, which later became known as the acropolis. Initially, Sparta had no walls and remained true to this principle until the second century BC.

Government of Sparta

It was based on the principle of unity of all full-fledged citizens of the policy. For this, the state and law of Sparta strictly regulated the life and life of its subjects, restraining their property stratification. The foundations of such a social system were laid by the agreement of the legendary Lycurgus. According to him, the duties of the Spartans were only sports or military art, and crafts, agriculture and trade were the work of helots and perieks.

As a result, the system established by Lycurgus transformed the Spartan military democracy into an oligarchic-slave-owning republic, which at the same time still retained some signs of a tribal system. Here it was not allowed to the land, which was divided into equal plots, considered the property of the community and not subject to sale. Helot slaves also, as historians suggest, belonged to the state, and not to wealthy citizens.

Sparta is one of the few states headed by two kings at the same time, who were called archagetes. Their power was hereditary. The powers that each king of Sparta possessed were limited not only to military power, but also to the organization of sacrifices, as well as participation in the council of elders.

The latter was called gerousia and consisted of two archagetes and twenty-eight gerontes. The elders were elected by the people's assembly for life only from the Spartan nobility who had reached sixty years of age. Gerusia in Sparta performed the functions of a certain government body. She prepared issues that needed to be discussed at public meetings, and also led foreign policy. In addition, the council of elders considered criminal cases, as well as state crimes directed, among other things, against the archagets.

Court

Litigation and law ancient Sparta regulated by the college of ephors. This organ first appeared in the eighth century BC. It consisted of the five most worthy citizens of the state, who were elected by the people's assembly for only one year. At first, the powers of the ephors were limited only to litigation of property disputes. But already in the sixth century BC, their power and authority are growing. Gradually, they begin to displace gerusia. The ephors were given the right to convene a popular assembly and gerousia, to regulate foreign policy, to carry out the internal management of Sparta and its legal proceedings. This body was so important in the social structure of the state that its powers included control officials, including the archaeta.

People's Assembly

Sparta is an example of an aristocratic state. In order to suppress the forced population, whose representatives were called helots, the development of private property was artificially restrained in order to maintain equality among the Spartans themselves.

Apella, or popular assembly, in Sparta was distinguished by passivity. Only full-fledged male citizens who had reached the age of thirty had the right to participate in this body. At first, the people's assembly was convened by the archaget, but later its leadership also passed to the college of ephors. Apella could not discuss the issues put forward, she only rejected or accepted the decision she proposed. Members of the people's assembly voted in a very primitive way: by shouting or dividing the participants according to different parties, after which the majority was determined by eye.

Population

The inhabitants of the Lacedaemonian state have always been class unequal. This situation was created by the social system of Sparta, which provided for three estates: the elite, perieks - free residents from nearby cities who did not have the right to vote, as well as state slaves - helots.

The Spartans, who were in privileged conditions, were engaged exclusively in war. They were far from trade, crafts and agriculture, all this was given as a right to be farmed out to the perieks. At the same time, the estates of the elite Spartans were processed by the helots, whom the latter rented from the state. During the heyday of the state, the nobility was five times less than the perieks, and ten times less than the helots.

All periods of existence of this one of the most ancient states can be divided into prehistoric, ancient, classical, Roman and Each of them left its mark not only in the formation ancient state Sparta. Greece borrowed a lot from this history in the process of its formation.

prehistoric era

Lelegs originally lived on the Laconian lands, but after the capture of the Peloponnese by the Dorians, this area, which was always considered the most infertile and generally insignificant, as a result of deceit went to the two minor sons of the legendary king Aristodem - Eurysthenes and Proclus.

Soon Sparta became the main city of Lacedaemon, the system of which for a long time did not stand out among the rest of the Doric states. She kept constant foreign wars with neighboring Argive or Arcadian cities. The most significant rise occurred during the reign of Lycurgus, the ancient Spartan legislator, to whom ancient historians unanimously attribute the political structure that subsequently dominated Sparta for several centuries.

ancient era

After winning the wars lasting from 743 to 723 and from 685 to 668. BC, Sparta was able to finally defeat and capture Messenia. As a result, its ancient inhabitants were deprived of their lands and turned into helots. Six years later, Sparta, at the cost of incredible efforts, defeated the Arcadians, and in 660 BC. e. forced Tegea to recognize her hegemony. According to the contract, stored on a column placed near Alfea, she forced her to conclude a military alliance. It was from this time that Sparta in the eyes of the peoples began to be considered the first state of Greece.

The history of Sparta at this stage boils down to the fact that its inhabitants began to make attempts to overthrow the tyrants that appeared from the seventh millennium BC. e. in almost all Greek states. It was the Spartans who helped drive the Kypselids from Corinth, the Peisistrati from Athens, they contributed to the liberation of Sicyon and Phokis, as well as several islands in the Aegean Sea, thereby gaining grateful supporters in different states.

History of Sparta in the classical era

Having entered into an alliance with Tegea and Elis, the Spartans began to attract the rest of the cities of Laconia and neighboring regions to their side. As a result, the Peloponnesian Union was formed, in which Sparta assumed hegemony. These were wonderful times for her: she led the wars, was the center of meetings and all meetings of the Union, without encroaching on the independence of individual states that retained autonomy.

Sparta never tried to extend its own power to the Peloponnese, but the threat of danger prompted all other states, with the exception of Argos, during the Greco-Persian wars to come under its protection. Having eliminated the danger directly, the Spartans, realizing that they were unable to wage war with the Persians far from their own borders, did not object when Athens assumed further leadership in the war, limiting itself only to the peninsula.

Since that time, signs of rivalry between these two states began to appear, which subsequently resulted in the First, ending with the Thirty Years' Peace. The fighting not only broke the power of Athens and established the hegemony of Sparta, but also led to a gradual violation of its foundations - the legislation of Lycurgus.

As a result, in 397 BC, there was an uprising of Cinadon, which, however, was not crowned with success. However, after certain setbacks, especially the defeat at the battle of Knidos in 394 BC. e, Sparta ceded Asia Minor, but became a judge and mediator in Greek affairs, thus motivating its policy with the freedom of all states, and was able to secure primacy in alliance with Persia. And only Thebes did not obey the conditions set, thereby depriving Sparta of the advantages of such a shameful world for her.

Hellenistic and Roman era

Starting from these years, the state began to decline rather quickly. Impoverished and burdened with the debts of its citizens, Sparta, whose system was based on the legislation of Lycurgus, turned into an empty form of government. An alliance was made with the Phocians. And although the Spartans sent them help, they did not provide real support. In the absence of King Agis, with the help of money received from Darius, an attempt was made to get rid of the Macedonian yoke. But he, having failed in the battles of Megapolis, was killed. Gradually began to disappear and became a household spirit, which was so famous for Sparta.

Rise of an empire

Sparta is a state that for three centuries was the envy of all Ancient Greece. Between the eighth and fifth centuries BC, it was a collection of hundreds of cities, often at war with each other. One of the key figures for the formation of Sparta as a powerful and strong state was Lycurgus. Before its appearance, it was not much different from the rest of the ancient Greek policies-states. But with the advent of Lycurgus, the situation changed, and priorities in development were given to the art of war. From that moment on, Lacedaemon began to transform. And it was during this period that he flourished.

From the eighth century B.C. e. Sparta began to wage aggressive wars, conquering one by one its neighbors in the Peloponnese. After a series of successful military operations, Sparta moved on to establishing diplomatic ties with its most powerful opponents. Having concluded several treaties, Lacedaemon stood at the head of the union of the Peloponnesian states, which was considered one of the most powerful formations of ancient Greece. The creation of this alliance by Sparta was to serve to repel the Persian invasion.

The state of Sparta has been a mystery to historians. The Greeks not only admired its citizens, but feared them. One type of bronze shields and scarlet cloaks worn by the warriors of Sparta put opponents to flight, forcing them to capitulate.

Not only the enemies, but the Greeks themselves did not really like it when an army, even a small one, was located next to them. Everything was explained very simply: the warriors of Sparta had a reputation for being invincible. The sight of their phalanxes caused even the worldly-wise to panic. And although only a small number of fighters participated in the battles in those days, nevertheless, they never lasted long.

The beginning of the decline of the empire

But at the beginning of the fifth century BC. e. a massive invasion, undertaken from the East, was the beginning of the decline of the power of Sparta. The huge Persian empire, always dreaming of expanding its territories, sent a large army to Greece. Two hundred thousand people stood at the borders of Hellas. But the Greeks, led by the Spartans, accepted the challenge.

King Leonidas

Being the son of Anaxandrides, this king belonged to the Agiad dynasty. After the death of his older brothers, Dorieus and Klemen the First, it was Leonidas who took over the reign. Sparta in 480 years before our era was at war with Persia. And the name of Leonid is associated with the immortal feat of the Spartans, when a battle took place in the Thermopylae Gorge, which has remained in history for centuries.

It happened in 480 BC. e., when the hordes of the Persian king Xerxes tried to capture the narrow passage connecting Central Greece with Thessaly. At the head of the troops, including the allied ones, was Tsar Leonid. Sparta at that time occupied a leading position among friendly states. But Xerxes, taking advantage of the betrayal of the dissatisfied, bypassed the Thermopylae Gorge and went into the rear of the Greeks.

Upon learning of this, Leonid, who fought on a par with his soldiers, disbanded the allied detachments, sending them home. And he himself, with a handful of warriors, whose number was only three hundred people, stood in the way of the twenty thousandth Persian army. The Thermopylae Gorge was strategic for the Greeks. In the event of a defeat, they would be cut off from Central Greece, and their fate would be sealed.

For four days, the Persians were unable to break the incomparably smaller enemy forces. The heroes of Sparta fought like lions. But the forces were unequal.

The fearless warriors of Sparta died one and all. Together with them, their king Leonid fought to the end, who did not want to abandon his comrades.

The name of Leonid has gone down in history forever. Chroniclers, including Herodotus, wrote: “Many kings have died and have long been forgotten. But Leonid is known and honored by everyone. His name will always be remembered by Sparta, Greece. And not because he was a king, but because he fulfilled his duty to his homeland to the end and died like a hero. Films have been made and books written about this episode in the life of the heroic Hellenes.

The feat of the Spartans

The Persian king Xerxes, who did not leave the dream of capturing Hellas, invaded Greece in 480 BC. At this time, the Hellenes held the Olympic Games. The Spartans were preparing to celebrate Carnei.

Both of these holidays obligated the Greeks to observe a sacred truce. This was one of the main reasons why only a small detachment opposed the Persians in the Thermopylae Gorge.

A detachment of three hundred Spartans, led by King Leonidas, headed towards the army of Xerxes with thousands of men. Warriors were selected on the basis of having children. On the way, a thousand Tegeans, Arcadians and Mantineans, as well as one hundred and twenty from Orchomenus, joined the militias of Leonidas. Four hundred soldiers were sent from Corinth, three hundred from Phlius and Mycenae.

When this small army approached the Thermopylae Pass and saw the number of Persians, many soldiers became frightened and began to talk about retreat. Part of the allies proposed to withdraw to the peninsula in order to guard Isthm. Others, however, were outraged by the decision. Leonid, ordered the army to remain in place, sent messengers to all the cities asking for help, since they had too few soldiers to successfully repel the attack of the Persians.

For four whole days, King Xerxes, hoping that the Greeks would take flight, did not start hostilities. But seeing that this was not happening, he sent the Cassians and Medes against them with orders to take Leonidas alive and bring him to him. They quickly attacked the Hellenes. Each attack of the Medes ended in huge losses, but others came to replace the fallen. It was then that it became clear to both the Spartans and the Persians that Xerxes had many people, but there were few warriors among them. The fight lasted all day.

Having received a decisive rebuff, the Medes were forced to retreat. But they were replaced by the Persians, led by Gidarn. Xerxes called them the "immortal" detachment and hoped that they would easily finish off the Spartans. But in hand-to-hand combat, they did not succeed, just like the Medes, to achieve great success.

The Persians had to fight in tight quarters, and with shorter spears, while the Hellenes had longer ones, which in this fight gave a certain advantage.

At night, the Spartans again attacked the Persian camp. They managed to kill many enemies, but their main goal there was a defeat in the general turmoil of Xerxes himself. And only when dawn broke, the Persians saw the small number of the detachment of King Leonidas. They threw spears at the Spartans and finished off with arrows.

The road to Central Greece was open to the Persians. Xerxes personally inspected the battlefield. Finding the deceased Spartan king, he ordered him to cut off his head and put it on a stake.

There is a legend that Tsar Leonid, going to Thermopylae, clearly understood that he would die, so when his wife asked him what the orders would be, he ordered to find himself good husband and give birth to sons. This was the life position of the Spartans, who were ready to die for their Motherland on the battlefield in order to receive a crown of glory.

Beginning of the Peloponnesian War

After some time, the Greek policies that were at war with each other united and were able to repulse Xerxes. But, despite the joint victory over the Persians, the alliance between Sparta and Athens did not last long. In 431 BC. e. The Peloponnesian War broke out. And only a few decades later, the Spartan state was able to win.

But not everyone in ancient Greece liked the supremacy of Lacedaemon. Therefore, half a century later, new hostilities broke out. This time, Thebes became his rivals, who, together with their allies, managed to inflict a serious defeat on Sparta. As a result, the power of the state was lost.

Conclusion

This is what ancient Sparta was like. She was one of the main contenders for primacy and supremacy in the ancient Greek picture of the world. Some milestones in Spartan history are sung in the works of the great Homer. A special place among them is occupied by the outstanding Iliad.

And now from this glorious policy now there are only the ruins of some of its buildings and unfading glory. Legends about the heroism of its warriors, as well as a small town of the same name in the south of the Peloponnese peninsula, have reached contemporaries.

The glory of Sparta - the Peloponnesian city in Laconia - is very loud in historical chronicles and in the world. It was one of the most famous policies of ancient Greece, which did not know unrest and civil upheavals, and its army never retreated from enemies.

Sparta was founded by Lacedaemon, who reigned in Laconia one and a half thousand years before the birth of Christ and named the city after his wife. In the first centuries of the existence of the city, there were no walls around it: they were erected only under the tyrant Naviz. True, they were later destroyed, but Appius Claudius soon erected new ones.

The ancient Greeks considered the legislator Lycurgus to be the creator of the Spartan state, whose life time falls approximately in the first half of the 7th century BC. e. The population of ancient Sparta in its composition was divided in those days into three groups: Spartans, perieks and helots. The Spartans lived in Sparta itself and enjoyed all the rights of citizenship of their city-state: they had to fulfill all the requirements of the law and they were admitted to all honorary public positions. The occupation of agriculture and handicrafts, although it was not forbidden to this class, did not correspond to the image of the upbringing of the Spartans and therefore was despised by them.

Most of the lands of Laconia were at their disposal and cultivated for them by the helots. In order to own a plot of land, a Spartan had to fulfill two requirements: to follow all the rules of discipline exactly and to provide a certain part of the income for a sissitium - a public table: barley flour, wine, cheese, etc.

Game was obtained by hunting in state forests; moreover, everyone who sacrificed to the gods sent a part of the carcass of the sacrificial animal to the sissitium. Violation or failure to comply with these rules (for any reason) led to the loss of citizenship rights. All full citizens of ancient Sparta, young and old, had to participate in these dinners, while no one had any advantages and privileges.

The circle of perieks was also made up of free people, but they were not full citizens of Sparta. Perieki inhabited all the cities of Laconia, except for Sparta, which belonged exclusively to the Spartans. They did not constitute a politically whole city-state, since they received control in their cities only from Sparta. The periaeci of the various cities were independent of each other, and at the same time each of them was dependent on Sparta.

Helots made up the rural population of Laconia: they were slaves of those lands that were cultivated in favor of the Spartans and perieks. Helots also lived in cities, but urban life was not typical for helots. They were allowed to have a house, a wife and a family, it was forbidden to sell the helot outside the possessions. Some scholars believe that the sale of helots was generally impossible, since they were the property of the state, and not of individuals. Some information has come down to our times about the cruel treatment of the Helots by the Spartans, although again some of the scientists believe that contempt was more visible in this respect.

Plutarch reports that every year (by virtue of the decrees of Lycurgus) the ephors solemnly declared war against the helots. Young Spartans, armed with daggers, went all over Laconia and exterminated the unfortunate helots. But over time, scientists found that this method of exterminating the helots was not legalized during Lycurgus, but only after the First Messenian War, when the helots became dangerous for the state.

Plutarch, the author of biographies of prominent Greeks and Romans, starting his story about the life and laws of Lycurgus, warned the reader that nothing reliable could be reported about them. And yet he had no doubt that this politician was a historical figure.

Most modern scholars consider Lycurgus to be a legendary person: one of the first to doubt his historical existence back in the 1820s was the well-known German historian of antiquity K.O. Muller. He suggested that the so-called "laws of Lycurgus" are much older than their legislator, since these are not so much laws as ancient ones. folk customs, rooted in the distant past of the Dorians and all other Hellenes.

Many of the scientists (W. Wilamowitz, E. Meyer and others) consider the biography of the Spartan legislator, preserved in several versions, as a late revision of the myth of the ancient Laconian deity Lycurgus. Adherents of this trend questioned the very existence of "legislation" in ancient Sparta. customs and rules that govern everyday life E. Meyer classified the Spartans as “the everyday way of the Dorian tribal community”, from which classical Sparta grew almost without any changes.

But the results of archaeological excavations, which were carried out in 1906-1910 by the English archaeological expedition in Sparta, served as a pretext for the partial rehabilitation of the ancient legend about the legislation of Lycurgus. The British explored the sanctuary of Artemis Orthia, one of the most ancient temples of Sparta, and discovered many works of art of local production: wonderful examples of painted ceramics, unique terracotta masks (not found anywhere else), objects made of bronze, gold, amber and ivory.

For the most part, these finds somehow did not fit in with the ideas of the harsh and ascetic life of the Spartans, of the almost complete isolation of their city from the rest of the world. And then scientists suggested that the laws of Lycurgus in the 7th century BC. e. were not yet put into action and the economic and cultural development of Sparta proceeded in the same way as the development of other Greek states. Only towards the end of the 6th century BC. e. Sparta closes in on itself and turns into the city-state as ancient writers knew it.

Because of the threats of a rebellion by the helots, the situation was then restless, and therefore the “initiators of reforms” could resort (as was often the case in ancient times) to the authority of some hero or deity. In Sparta, Lycurgus was chosen for this role, who gradually began to turn from a deity into a historical legislator, although ideas about his divine origin persisted until the time of Herodotus.

Lycurgus had a chance to put in order a cruel and outrageous people, therefore it was necessary to teach him to resist the onslaught of other states, and for this to make everyone skillful warriors. One of the first reforms of Lycurgus was the organization of the management of the Spartan community. Ancient writers claimed that he created the Council of Elders (gerousia) of 28 people. The elders (geronts) were elected by the apella - the people's assembly; The Gerousia also included two kings, one of whose main duties was to command the army during the war.

From the descriptions of Pausanias we know that the period of the most intensive building activity in the history of Sparta was the 6th century BC. e. At that time, the temple of Athena Mednodomnaya on the acropolis, the portico of Skiada, the so-called "throne of Apollo" and other buildings were erected in the city. But on Thucydides, who saw Sparta in the last quarter of the 5th century BC. e., the city made the most bleak impression.

Against the backdrop of the luxury and grandeur of Athenian architecture from the time of Pericles, Sparta already seemed a nondescript provincial town. The Spartans themselves, not being afraid to be considered old-fashioned, did not stop worshiping archaic stone and wooden idols at a time when Phidias, Myron, Praxiteles and other outstanding sculptors of Ancient Greece created their masterpieces in other Hellenic cities.

In the second half of the VI century BC. e. there was a noticeable cooling of the Spartans to Olympic Games. Prior to that, they took an active part in them and accounted for more than half of the winners, and in all major types of competitions. Subsequently, for all the time from 548 to 480 BC. e., only one representative of Sparta, King Demarat, won the victory, and only in one type of competition - horse racing at the hippodrome.

In order to achieve harmony and peace in Sparta, Lycurgus decided to permanently eradicate wealth and poverty in his state. He forbade the use of gold and silver coins, which were used throughout Greece, and instead introduced iron money in the form of obols. They bought only what was produced in Sparta itself; in addition, they were so heavy that even a small amount had to be transported on a wagon.

Lycurgus prescribed and way home life: all Spartans, from a simple citizen to a king, had to live in exactly the same conditions. A special order indicated what houses could be built, what clothes to wear: it had to be so simple that there was no place for any luxury. Even the food had to be the same for everyone.

Thus, in Sparta, wealth gradually lost all meaning, since it was impossible to use it: citizens began to think less about their own good, and more about the state. Nowhere in Sparta did poverty coexist with wealth, as a result, there was no envy, rivalry and other selfish passions that exhausted a person. There was also no greed that opposes private benefit to the public good and arms one citizen against another.

One of the Spartan youths, who bought land for nothing, was put on trial. The accusation said that he was still very young, and had already been tempted by profit, while self-interest is the enemy of every inhabitant of Sparta.

The upbringing of children was considered in Sparta one of the main duties of a citizen. The Spartan, who had three sons, was exempted from guard duty, and the father of five from all existing duties.

From the age of 7, the Spartan no longer belonged to his family: the children were separated from their parents and began public life. From that moment on, they were brought up in special detachments (agels), where they were supervised not only by fellow citizens, but also by specially appointed censors. Children were taught to read and write, taught to be silent for a long time, and to speak concisely - briefly and clearly.

Gymnastic and sports exercises were supposed to develop dexterity and strength in them; so that there was harmony in the movements, the young men were obliged to participate in choral dances; hunting in the forests of Laconia developed patience for hard trials. They fed the children rather poorly, because they made up for the lack of food not only by hunting, but also by theft, since they were also taught to steal; however, if someone came across, they beat them mercilessly - not for theft, but for awkwardness.

Young men who reached the age of 16 were subjected to a very severe test at the altar of the goddess Artemis: they were cruelly flogged, but they had to be silent. Even the smallest cry or groan contributed to the continuation of the punishment: some did not stand the test and died.

In Sparta, there was a law according to which no one was supposed to be more complete than necessary. According to this law, all young men who have not yet reached civil rights were shown to ephors - members of the election commission. If the young men were strong and strong, then they were honored with praise; young men, whose body was considered too flabby and loose, were beaten with sticks, as their appearance dishonored Sparta and its laws.

Plutarch and Xenophon wrote that Lycurgus legitimized that women also perform the same exercises as men, and through that they became strong and could give birth to strong and healthy offspring. Thus, Spartan women were worthy of their husbands, as they were also subject to a harsh upbringing.

The women of ancient Sparta, whose sons died, went to the battlefield and looked where they were wounded. If in the chest, then the women proudly looked at those around them and honorably buried their children in their father's tombs. If they saw wounds on their backs, then, weeping with shame, they hurried to hide, leaving others to bury the dead.

Marriage in Sparta was also subject to the law: personal feelings did not matter, because it was all a matter of state. Boys and girls could enter into marriage, whose physiological development corresponded to each other and from whom healthy children could be expected: marriage between persons of unequal builds was not allowed.

But Aristotle speaks of the position of Spartan women in a completely different way: while the Spartans led a strict, almost ascetic life, their wives indulged in extraordinary luxury in their home. This circumstance forced men to get money often in dishonest ways, because direct funds were forbidden to them. Aristotle wrote that Lycurgus tried to subject Spartan women to the same strict discipline, but met with a decisive rebuff from their side.

Left to themselves, women became self-willed, indulged in luxury and licentiousness, they even began to interfere in state affairs, which eventually led to a real gynecocracy in Sparta. “And what difference does it make,” Aristotle asks bitterly, “whether the women themselves rule or whether the ruling persons are under their power?” The blame for the Spartans was that they behaved boldly and impudently and allowed themselves luxury, which challenged the strict norms of state discipline and morality.

To protect his legislation from foreign influence, Lycurgus limited Sparta's ties with foreigners. Without permission, which was given only in cases of special importance, the Spartan could not leave the cities and travel abroad. Foreigners were also forbidden from entering Sparta. The inhospitality of Sparta was the most famous phenomenon in ancient world.

The citizens of ancient Sparta were something like a military garrison, constantly exercising and always ready for war either with the helots or with an external enemy. The legislation of Lycurgus took on an exclusively military character also because those were the times when there was no public and personal security, there were no general principles on which state tranquility is based. In addition, the Dorians in a very small number settled in the country of the helots they conquered and were surrounded by half-subdued or not subdued Achaeans at all, therefore they could hold on only by battles and victories.

Such a harsh upbringing, at first glance, could make the life of ancient Sparta very boring, and the people themselves unhappy. But from the writings of ancient Greek authors it is clear that such unusual laws made the Spartans the most prosperous people in the ancient world, because everywhere only rivalry in the acquisition of virtues dominated.

There was a prediction according to which Sparta would remain a strong and powerful state as long as it followed the laws of Lycurgus and remained indifferent to gold and silver. After the war with Athens, the Spartans brought money to their city, which seduced the inhabitants of Sparta and forced them to retreat from the laws of Lycurgus. And from that moment on, their prowess began to gradually fade away ...

Aristotle, on the other hand, believes that it was the abnormal position of women in Spartan society that led to the fact that Sparta in the second half of the 4th century BC. e. terribly depopulated and lost its former military power.

The Spartan kings considered themselves Heraclids - the descendants of the hero Hercules. Their militancy became a household name, and quite rightly so: the combat formation of the Spartans was the direct predecessor of the phalanx of Alexander the Great.

The Spartans were very sensitive to signs and prophecies, and carefully listened to the opinion of the Delphic oracle. Cultural heritage Sparta is not evaluated in the same detail as the Athenian, largely due to the wariness of the warlike people for writing: for example, their laws were transmitted orally, and it was forbidden to write the names of the dead on non-military tombstones.

However, if not for Sparta, the culture of Greece could have been assimilated by foreigners who constantly invaded the territory of Hellas. The fact is that Sparta was actually the only policy in which there was not only a combat-ready army, but whose whole life was subject to the strictest daily routine, designed to discipline the soldiers. The emergence of such a militarized society, the Spartans were due to unique historical circumstances.

During the occupation, they did not subject local population death, but decided to subjugate him and make him slaves, who are known as helots - literally "prisoners". The creation of a colossal slaveholding complex led to inevitable uprisings - already in the 7th century, the helots fought against the enslavers for several years, and this became a lesson for Sparta.

Their laws, created according to legend by the king-legislator named Lycurgus (translated as “working wolf”) back in the 9th century, served to strengthen the further domestic political situation after the conquest of Messenia. The Spartans distributed the lands of the helots among all citizens, and all full-fledged citizens had hoplite weapons and formed the backbone of the army (about 9,000 people in the 7th century - 10 times more than in any other Greek policy). The strengthening of the army, provoked, perhaps, by fear of subsequent uprisings of slaves, contributed to the extraordinary rise in the influence of the Spartans in the region and the formation of a special way of life, characteristic only of Sparta.

For optimal training, boy warriors from the age of seven were sent to centralized state structures for education, and until the age of eighteen they spent time in intense training. It was also a kind of initiation stage: in order to become a full-fledged citizen, one had not only to successfully pass all the years of training, but also, as proof of one's fearlessness, kill a helot alone with a dagger. It is not surprising that the helots constantly had reasons for the next uprisings. The widespread legend about the execution of handicapped Spartan boys or even babies, most likely, has no real historical basis: the policy even had a certain social stratum of “hypomeions”, that is, physically or mentally handicapped “citizens”.