Men in Sparta
Spartan boys went through their first training at only three days old. At this young and fragile age the baby Spartan would be taken to a religious elder, who would decide if the baby was strong enough, and go on to be a Spartan soldier, or if he did not seem strong enough was to be thrown into a pit and left to die.
At the age of seven Spartan boys were taken by soldiers from their families and were trained to become a part of the army of Sparta. The influenced by their mothers was said to be detrimental to their future as a Spartan soldier, so they lived in the barracks of soldiers, endured harsh physical discipline and deprivation to make them strong willed and of course physically strong. The marched without shoes and went without food. They learned to fight, endure pain and survive through their wits. The older boys willingly participated in beating the younger boys to toughen them. Self-denial, simplicity, the warrior code, and loyalty to the city-state governed their lives. Spartan children were taught stories of courage and fortitude. One favourite story was about a boy who followed the Spartan code. He captured a live fox and, after being starved for so long, intended to eat it. Although boys were encouraged to scrounge for food and even steal it, they were punished if caught. The boy noticed some Spartan soldiers coming, and hid the fox beneath his robe. When the soldiers confronted him, he allowed the fox to chew into his stomach, letting it eat away at him, rather than confess. As the fox chewed at him he showed no sign of pain to the soldiers, this was described as the Spartan way. At the age of twenty, the Spartan boy’s now Spartan men, were put through rigorous tests to see if they could become citizens of Sparta, if they failed this test they would become perioeci, or middle class citizens. Those men that did pass continued train as soldiers, living in the barracks. They were then required to marry and have children, making the next fit and strong Spartan generation. Once they were married the state gave them a piece of land which was farmed by helots. At the age of thirty they were allowed to live with their families, but would have to continue to be full-time soldier, it was only when the Spartan man reached the age of 60 that he would be allowed to retire. |
[Artists impression of Spartan boys training]
|