How were Spartan boys punished?

Spartan youths were ritualistically beaten and flogged.

What did the Spartans do with their unwanted children?

The Spartans used to dispose of “imperfect” or weak babies by throwing them off of Mount Taygetus into a pit.

Why were Spartan boys starved?

The reason for this strange custom was this: the Spartans were often engaged in war, so they had to depend entirely upon the provisions they could get on their way. If the Spartan soldiers had not been trained to steal, many of them would have starved during campaigns.

What happened to boys in Sparta when they turned 20?

At age 20, Spartan males became full-time soldiers, and remained on active duty until age 60.

What did Spartans do with weak babies?

“Fit and strong” babies survived, but those found to be “lowborn or deformed” were left outside to die, Plutarch wrote, “on the grounds that it is neither better for themselves nor for the city to live [their] natural life poorly equipped.”

What Life Was Really Like for the Average Spartan

What happens to a Spartan male at age 30?

A Spartan man was considered to have graduated from the agōgē at age 30, at which time he was expected to have been accepted into a syssition and was permitted to have a family. He would also receive a kleros, an allotment of land farmed by helots.

Why were Spartan boys whipped?

Spartan youths were ritualistically beaten and flogged.

Known as the “diamastigosis,” this annual practice was originally used as both a religious ritual and a test of the boys' bravery and resistance to pain.

What was considered the biggest disgrace to a Spartan soldier?

They were of such great importance in the Spartan army that while losing a sword and a spear was an exception, to lose a shield was a sign of disgrace.

Why were Spartan males treated harshly?

One factor was the agoge, the Greek city-state's educational and training system, which used harsh, extreme and sometimes cruel methods to prepare boys to be Spartan citizens and soldiers. “The agoge aimed to instill soldierly virtues: strength, endurance, solidarity,” as the late Canadian historian Mark Golden wrote.

How did Spartans treat their wives?

Women could inherit property, own land, make business transactions, and were better educated than women in ancient Greece in general. Unlike Athens, where women were considered second-class citizens, Spartan women were said to rule their men. The Greek philosopher Aristotle (l.

What was life like for male Spartan children?

The boys went through harsh physical training and deprivation to make them strong. They marched without shoes and went without food. Boys in Sparta learned the art of battle and to endure pain and survive through their wits. Older boys willingly participated in beating up the younger boys to make them tough.

What did Spartans do for fun?

Granted, Spartan citizens also pursued rugged pastimes such as equestrianism, but their love of poetry and dance belies a contempt of pleasure.

Were Spartan boys taught to endure pain?

Spartan boys were taught to suffer any amount of physical pain without complaining. They marched without shoes. They were not fed well, and they were encouraged to steal food as long as they didn't get caught. If they were caught, they were beaten.

What was the Spartan punishment for being a coward?

Accused cowards were commanded to live in a shabby and unwashed state. Accused cowards supposedly were forced to maintain an odd physical appearance. This supposedly included a requirement to shave off half of their mustaches and to wear easily recognizable patchwork cloaks.

How brutal was Spartan training like?

The actual training of the Spartan youth was brutal, focusing on cultivating skills such as fighting, stealth, pain tolerance, as well as dancing, singing, and developing loyalty to the Spartan state.

What did Spartan mothers say to their sons?

"Come back with your shield - or on it" (Plutarch, Mor. 241) was supposed to be the parting cry of mothers to their sons. Mothers whose sons died in battle openly rejoiced, mothers whose sons survived hung their heads in shame.

What was the famous Spartan war cry?

"This is where we fight! This is where they die!" —King Leonidas__In 300, the king of Sparta uses this catchy jingle to rally his troops against the Persians.

Who was the most feared Spartan?

Leonidas (540-480 BC), the legendary king of Sparta, and the Battle of Thermopylae is one of the most brilliant events of the ancient Greek history, a great act of courage and self-sacrifice.

What happened when a Spartan girl turned 18?

At age 18, if a Spartan girl passed her skills and fitness test, she would be assigned a husband and allowed to return home. If she failed, she would lose her rights as a citizen, and became a perioikos, a member of the middle class.

What did Spartan boys sleep on?

The Spartan government wanted to make the boys tough. To do this they were given little clothing and no shoes. They slept on hard beds made of reeds and were not given any covers.

Did Spartan armor have nipples?

It was mostly aesthetic: The introduction of toned armor seems uniquely Greek — and the reason is more aesthetic than functional. There was no structural reinforcement that came from having six-pack outlines or little stylized nipples.

What age could Spartan men marry?

Sparta - Adult Males

Spartan males were expected to marry around age 20. Even though they were married, men still had to live with their mess, where they shared living expenses. At age 30, men could live with their families, but they were still in the military.

What was the typical life of a Spartan boy?

They spent most of their time exercising, hunting, training with weapons, and being acculturated to Spartan values by listening to tales of bravery and heroism at the common meals presided over by older men¹. The standard of discipline was strict, to prepare young males for the hard life of a soldier on campaign.

How were Spartan men treated?

Strong, healthy boys were raised by their mothers until age seven. Discipline was strict. Boys were definitely not allowed to be “boys.” They could not complain about food, throw tantrums, or be afraid of the dark. Spartan boys needed to be physically and mentally brave.