Historical Sources for Sparta
ANCIENT HISTORY: SPARTA HISTORICAL SOURCES.
Geographical Setting:
Written Sources:
“whose fertility is greater than words can express” (Strabo)
Archaeological Sources:
They had access to marble, iron and bronze, this can be seen in the votive offerings left at the temple of Artemis Orthia that are made out of these items.
They could hunt animals, this is supported by a depiction of Spartiates hunting a boar on Lakonian pottery.
Social Structure and political organisation:
Written sources:
The Issue of Lycurgus and the Great Rhetra
“By these changes they became a well ordered state” (Herodotus) (on Lycurgus and the Great Rhetra)
The Role of the Kings “…kings received a whole catalog of honors and privileges…spanned the domestic and military spheres…included priesthoods…” (M Kennell)
Government – The Ephorate, The Gerousia, and the Ekklesia
“…kept things in a just equilibrium… to resist democracy, and… supporting the people against the establishment of absolute monarchy.” (Plutarch) (Gerousia)
“The Assembly included everyone, but it seemed to have been a rather passive role…It could only approve or reject...” (Finlay) (Ekklesia)
Archaeological Sources: N/A
Social Structure: Spartiates, Periokoi, “inferiors”, and Helots
Written Sources: “Since the Spartans…were legally banned from engaging in any craft or trade activities…apart from war-making… the periokoi filled the gap as traders and craftsmen.” (Cartledge) “It is hard to avoid the conclusion that the Spartans did, rightly or wrongly, genuinely fear helot revolt…” (Paul Cartledge)
Archaeological Sources:
Gravestones for Spartiates whom had died in battle
Lakonian Pottery and art, this shows that the Periokoi identified themselves and were loyal to the Spartan culture.
Rural Shrine in Aegiae – Religion of the periokoi was different to Sparta because it was a cult of a local hero called Tigamenes.
Excavations at Geronthae have uncovered an iron anvil – proof of
Geographical Setting:
Written Sources:
“whose fertility is greater than words can express” (Strabo)
Archaeological Sources:
They had access to marble, iron and bronze, this can be seen in the votive offerings left at the temple of Artemis Orthia that are made out of these items.
They could hunt animals, this is supported by a depiction of Spartiates hunting a boar on Lakonian pottery.
Social Structure and political organisation:
Written sources:
The Issue of Lycurgus and the Great Rhetra
“By these changes they became a well ordered state” (Herodotus) (on Lycurgus and the Great Rhetra)
The Role of the Kings “…kings received a whole catalog of honors and privileges…spanned the domestic and military spheres…included priesthoods…” (M Kennell)
Government – The Ephorate, The Gerousia, and the Ekklesia
“…kept things in a just equilibrium… to resist democracy, and… supporting the people against the establishment of absolute monarchy.” (Plutarch) (Gerousia)
“The Assembly included everyone, but it seemed to have been a rather passive role…It could only approve or reject...” (Finlay) (Ekklesia)
Archaeological Sources: N/A
Social Structure: Spartiates, Periokoi, “inferiors”, and Helots
Written Sources: “Since the Spartans…were legally banned from engaging in any craft or trade activities…apart from war-making… the periokoi filled the gap as traders and craftsmen.” (Cartledge) “It is hard to avoid the conclusion that the Spartans did, rightly or wrongly, genuinely fear helot revolt…” (Paul Cartledge)
Archaeological Sources:
Gravestones for Spartiates whom had died in battle
Lakonian Pottery and art, this shows that the Periokoi identified themselves and were loyal to the Spartan culture.
Rural Shrine in Aegiae – Religion of the periokoi was different to Sparta because it was a cult of a local hero called Tigamenes.
Excavations at Geronthae have uncovered an iron anvil – proof of