Sparta in the Spotlight. Part I

Sparta, what do we know about it exactly and what's been exaggerated, or just made up? In the first of three episodes I look at the education system (agoge), communal mess (syssitia) and get into the Krypteia (not literally though). What do the sources say about these and how do they differ from ways they are sometimes depicted?

In addition to all of this I have a quick overview of the sources which have their part to play and get into a few anecdotes.

Find me on X, Instagram, Bluesky and TikTok as ancientblogger (see links below). There's my AncientBlogger YouTube channel and the Ancient History Hound subreddit. Come say hello (you can even go full old school and email me on ancientblogger@hotmail.com).

Find me here

Music by Brakhage (Le Vrai Instrumental).

Reading list and sources used

Berry, PE & Knotterus JD. Spartan Society: Structural ritualization in an ancient social system

Cartledge, P. The Spartans

Davidson, J. The Greeks and Greek Love

Figueira, T. Mess contributions and subsistence at Sparta

Kennell, NM. Gymnasium of Virtue: education & culture in ancient Sparta

Luraghi & Alcock. Helots and their masters in Laconia and Messenia

Matyszak, P. Sparta, rise of a warrior nation

Miller, S.G. Ancient Greek Athletics.

Special shoutout to the excellent BadAncient website,the In Our Time Sparta episode and the Life in Sparta and the truth about Sparta episode on The Ancients podcast.

Denne episoden er hentet fra en åpen RSS-feed og er ikke publisert av Podme. Den kan derfor inneholde annonser.

Episoder(115)

The Sicilian Expedition. Part I

The Sicilian Expedition is famous for being an utter disaster for ancient Athens during the Peloponnesian War. Over the course of several episodes I will get into what happened, how and why. I begin b...

28 Sep 19min

Festivals in ancient Rome: September to December

Four months of ancient Roman festivals in one episode? What great value, well, perhaps not entirely but I explain why this is the case. The ancient Roman festival series ends with aplomb and includes ...

6 Sep 27min

Oddities in the Odyssey

The Odyssey is trending so I though I would pick out some elements from the poem and discuss them. From trying to advocate for the suitors through to a theme I think is often missed, there is a lot to...

3 Aug 26min

Festivals in ancient Rome: July & August

In this episode I get speculative and try to piece together what happened at the Consualia and an infamous event in Rome's early history. Alongside that there's Roman women saving the day, the strange...

22 Jun 23min

Sparta in the Spotlight. Part III

In the final part of the miniseries I look at Spartan marriage, money and mothers as well as a range of other topics. I hope you've enjoyed these Sparta episodes, why not let me know? Find me via thes...

3 Jun 25min

Hannibal: surprise, Celts and not besieging Rome

In this episode I get into a famous event and a famous non-event. Did Hannibal really take Rome by surprise by crossing the Alps and why didn't he attack Rome directly after Cannae? I tackle both of t...

4 Mai 17min

Sparta in the Spotlight. Part II

In this episode I look at how the Spartan soldier fared in battle. What advantages had they been given through the agoge and syssitia? What was hoplite battle like and how good were the Spartans? I al...

27 Mar 30min