Jonah Patel
The Lacedaemonion Politeia, or the Spartan Constitution, is a treatise attributed to the ancient Greek historian Xenophon. It describes the institutions, customs, and practices of the ancient Spartans. The treatise dates to between 387 and 375 BC and is the only contemporary account of the Spartan political system that survives. It talks about the laws and institutions created by Lycurgus, which trained and developed Spartan citizens from birth to old age.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of the Constitution of the Lacedaimonians | Likely between 650 and 180 BCE, with an estimated date of around 600 BCE |
| Location | Sparta (Lacedaimon), ancient Greece |
| Form of Government | Monarchy with elements of oligarchy and democracy |
| Key Features | - Rigid social hierarchy with three main classes: kings, nobles (equites), and commoners (helots) - Emphasis on military training and discipline - Education focused on producing skilled warriors - Collective ownership of property and communal meals |
| Influence | The constitution influenced other Greek city-states and contributed to the unique Spartan culture and military success |
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What You'll Learn
Spartan political system
The Spartan political system, also known as the Lacedaemonion Politeia in Ancient Greek, was a unique blend of monarchy, oligarchy, and democracy. This system is described in detail in the treatise "The Polity of the Lacedaemonians," written by the ancient Greek historian Xenophon. Dating back to between 387 and 375 BC, it is the only surviving contemporary account of the Spartan political system. Xenophon's work sheds light on the institutions, customs, and practices that shaped Spartan society.
Sparta, a city in Greece, was characterised by joint authority, with a combination of monarchy, oligarchy, and democratic elements. The monarchy was represented by two hereditary kings from the Agiad and Eurypontid families, who were considered descendants of Heracles. These kings held supreme power and served as military commanders, with the first-born son succeeding his father. They also had religious and judicial duties, acting as the chief priests of the state and maintaining ties with the influential oracle of Delphi.
The oligarchy, or Gerousia, played a significant role in the Spartan political system. It was a council of Spartan elders, comprising men over the age of 60 who were usually members of the kings' households. They were elected for life and held supervisory roles, influencing high-level state policy decisions. The Gerousia discussed policy matters and presented alternatives to the damos, the collective body of Spartan citizens, who then voted on the proposed options.
The democratic aspect of the Spartan system was embodied by the ephors, or Ephoroi. Initially, the kings summoned and presided over the Apella, a monthly assembly. However, from the 5th century BC, the assembly elected five ephors from five tribal communities, granting them executive authority. These ephors had far-reaching powers, including the ability to control the private life of the monarch and limit their military command. They played a crucial role in foreign policy, diplomacy, and the upbringing of Spartan youth. Additionally, they had a secret police force, the Crypteia, established to control the helots, or serfs.
Spartan society was highly regimented, with a clear class system. Spartiates, or Spartan citizens, enjoyed full rights and underwent rigorous military training starting at age seven. Mothakes were non-Spartan free men raised as Spartans, while Perioikoi were free but non-citizen inhabitants. Helots, the largest group, were state-owned serfs, and their growing numbers created societal tensions. Notably, Spartan women held a unique status, power, and respect compared to their counterparts in the classical world.
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Spartan laws and institutions
The Spartan Constitution, also known as the Spartan Politeia, refers to the government and laws of the classical Greek city-state of Sparta. The Spartan society was structured as a three-layer pyramid, with the government at the top. It was ruled by two hereditary kings of the Agiad and the Eurypontid dynasties, both descendants of Heracles. The Spartan Constitution was unique among classical Greek city-states for its rigidly layered social system and strong hoplite army.
The Spartan society was divided into several legally defined social classes, with the Spartiates (citizens with full rights) at the top, followed by the Mothakes (free non-Spartiate people descended from Spartans), the Perioikoi (free non-Spartiates), and the Helots (state-owned enslaved non-Spartan locals) at the bottom. Spartiate women were the only Greek women to hold property rights and were required to practice sports before marriage. Although they lacked formal political rights, their opinions were valued and they were expected to speak their minds.
The Spartan Constitution was shaped by a series of political and social reforms attributed to the semi-mythical lawgiver Lycurgus, sometime in the 9th century BC. These reforms were designed to maximise military proficiency, focusing all social institutions on military training and physical development. The Spartan state was also characterised by a mixed governmental system, incorporating elements of monarchy, oligarchy, and democracy.
The Spartan Constitution included a Council of Elders, also known as the Gerousia, which was composed of men over 60 years of age who were elected for life. The Assembly, composed of all adult male citizens, could vote on bills presented by the Council, and was believed to have met on a monthly basis. Additionally, the Spartan Constitution featured Ephors, who were elected annually and held criminal and civil jurisdiction.
The Spartan society also had unique economic practices. They used iron obols instead of coinage to encourage self-sufficiency and discourage the hoarding of wealth. Spartiates were expected to maintain their fighting skills, demonstrate bravery in battle, ensure productive farms, marry, and have healthy children.
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Spartan customs and practices
The Lacedaemonion Politeia, or the Spartan Constitution, is a treatise attributed to the ancient Greek historian Xenophon, which describes the institutions, customs, and practices of the ancient Spartans. The Polity, dating back to between 387 and 375 BC, is the only contemporary account of the Spartan political system that has survived.
Military Culture:
Sparta was known for its strong military culture, with men remaining in the active reserve until the age of 60. Men were encouraged to marry at 20, but they could not live with their families until they left active military service at 30. They called themselves "homoioi" (equals), reflecting their shared lifestyle and the discipline of the phalanx formation, where no soldier was considered superior. Thucydides records that when a Spartan man went to war, his wife or another significant woman would present him with his shield, saying: "With this, or upon this" ("Èi tàn èi èpì tàs"), implying that true Spartans should return victorious or dead.
Education and Discipline:
Spartan education was directed towards prompt obedience to authority, endurance of hardship, and a focus on military victory or death. Young men slept together in divisions and companies, promoting camaraderie and discipline. They learned to read and write for practical reasons but banned all other forms of education, including books and treatises. They also practised marching and fighting in darkness without the use of torches to navigate confidently and fearlessly at night.
Austerity and Hygiene:
Spartans were known for their austerity and lack of hygiene. They received only one garment per year and refrained from bathing or rubbing down their bodies. They also avoided the use of shirts, promoting physical endurance and a rugged lifestyle.
Land Ownership and Agriculture:
Spartan citizens owned plots of land called "kleros," where they grew barley, wine, cheese, grain, and figs. Helots, or serfs, tended to these lands, and the produce was shared within the community. Each citizen was required to donate a portion of their yield to the "syssitia" or mess, which was then redistributed to feed the Spartan population.
Marriage and Wedding Night Customs:
Plutarch describes peculiar customs associated with the Spartan wedding night. The practice involved capturing women for marriage. The "bridesmaid" would shave the bride's head, dress her in a man's cloak and sandals, and leave her alone on a mattress in the dark. This ritualized initiation into married life was unique to Spartan culture.
Xenophobia and Isolationism:
Lycurgus, a key figure in shaping Spartan society, introduced the practice of banning all foreigners from the country to prevent the influence of external ideas and maintain the Spartan discipline. This isolationist policy contributed to the Spartan society's uniqueness and homogeneity.
These practices and customs, as recorded by Xenophon and Plutarch, offer a glimpse into the distinctive way of life of the ancient Spartans, which fascinated and intrigued their contemporaries and continues to capture the modern imagination.
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Spartan military tactics
The Lacedaemonion Politeia, or the Spartan Constitution, is a treatise attributed to the ancient Greek historian Xenophon, which describes the institutions, customs, and practices of the ancient Spartans. It dates back to the period between 387 and 375 BC and is the only contemporary account of the Spartan political system that survives. Xenophon's work also includes details about the Spartan military, which was renowned for its fierce warriors and military prowess.
Spartan boys deemed strong enough entered the agoge regime at the age of seven, undergoing intense and rigorous military training. Their education focused on developing skills like cunning, sports, war tactics, poetry, music, academics, and sometimes politics. Those who passed the agoge by the age of 30 achieved full Spartan citizenship. This training regime contributed to the Spartan warriors' lasting legacy in the ancient world, with their reputation for courage, discipline, and military prowess unmatched.
The Spartan army was an infantry-based force that primarily fought using the phalanx formation. They employed the phalanx in a classical style, with a single line uniformly deep in files of 8 to 12 men. The Spartans' constant drill and superb discipline made their phalanx more cohesive and effective than those of other Greek city-states. The Spartan army also consisted of more than just hoplite phalanxes, including cavalry, light troops, and servants who played support roles on the battlefield.
The Spartan social structure, with its emphasis on discipline and obedience, fostered a highly cohesive and effective military force. Their military system influenced the development of military tactics and strategies for centuries. The Spartan army's unique structure allowed them to organize smaller groups of soldiers, coordinate detachments, respond to crises, and achieve a precision of effort beyond their contemporaries. For example, they employed the Laconian countermarch when an enemy was detected from the rear, with hoplites moving into an open-order formation to create space for manoeuvring.
Overall, the Spartans' rigorous training, disciplined social structure, and effective military tactics transformed their city-state into a formidable force on the battlefield, striking fear into their enemies and earning the admiration of their allies.
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Spartan women
The Lacedaemonion Politeia, or the Spartan Constitution, is a treatise attributed to the ancient Greek historian Xenophon, which describes the institutions, customs, and practices of the ancient Spartans. It dates back to the period between 387 and 375 BC, with chapters dated within the nine years before 378 BC (i.e. 387–378 BC).
Xenophon's work provides valuable insights into the lives of Spartan women during classical antiquity. Here is an overview of the roles and status of Spartan women:
Education and Literacy:
Spartan girls were educated, likely at home with their mothers, learning about household duties and responsibilities. There is evidence of an official educational program for girls as early as the archaic period. Literacy was limited to the elite, but some Spartan women may have been highly literate, as suggested by references to mothers writing letters and a Spartan woman poet, Cleitagora. Girls also studied "mousike," which included music, dance, and poetry. They learned to play musical instruments and participated in choruses that educated them in ritual and cultic activities.
Physical Training and Athletics:
Xenophon, in his "Constitution of the Spartans," reports that Lycurgus, the king who reformed Spartan laws, required physical training for women, just as for men. Spartan girls practiced running, wrestling, javelin and discus throwing, boxing, and pankration. They also learned to ride horses. They participated in athletic competitions, such as the Heraean Games, and danced in the Laconian dance known as the bibasis. Unmarried Spartan girls regularly engaged in sports, with an exercise regimen designed to make them "every bit as fit as their brothers."
Marriage and Motherhood:
Legal Rights and Social Participation:
In summary, Spartan women, especially those from the privileged upper-class Spartiates, had exceptional rights, privileges, and opportunities in ancient Greece. They were well-educated, physically fit, and actively involved in their society's political and social spheres. Their status and independence set them apart from women in other Greek city-states during that time.
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Frequently asked questions
The Lacedaemonion Politeia, or the Spartan Constitution, is a treatise attributed to the ancient Greek historian Xenophon. It describes the institutions, customs, and practices of the ancient Spartans.
The Spartan Constitution is believed to have been written between 388 and 375 BC.
The Spartan Constitution talks about the laws and institutions created by Lycurgus, which train and develop Spartan citizens from birth to old age.
The Spartan Constitution is attributed to the ancient Greek historian Xenophon.
Xenophon's other works include The Anabasis, The Hellenica, The Cyropaedia, The Memorabilia, and The Symposium.
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