Ancient History Yr 12 Notes

The Akropolis (Acropolis) of Sparta

 The ancient Acropolis is located north of the modern town.
 It consists of the ancient Roman Agora, Temple of Athena Chalkioikos, the theatre
and many other elements.

The Sanctuary of Artmeis Orthia

 Discovered in the 10th Century BC
 Located along the north bank of the Eurotas River
 It was one of the most important religious sites in Sparta.
 Pottery fragments suggest that the cult existed from the 9th Century BC; originally,
the cult celebrated its rituals on a rectangular earthen altar.
 At the beginning of the 8th Century BCE, the Temenos was paved with river stones
and surrounded by a trapezoidal wall.
 A wood and stone altar was built as well as a temple

The temple of Athena Chalkiokos

 Lies north of the theatre
 The temple, which was constructed on the plans of the architect Vathykles from
Magnesia, had its interior decorated with bronze sheets.
 One of the most important cult sites of the classical town
 Contained a bronze statue created by a local man named Gitiadas.
 Dedicated to the Patron Goddess of the city circa 450 BCE

The Sanctuary of Amyklaion

 Was a village and an archaeological site located southwest of Sparta.
 Had a massive bronze Statue
 Sanctuary of Apollo Amyklaios
 Most significant temple in all Lacedaemon
 Amyklaion was the site of one of the most important Spartan festival, the
Hyankinthia.

Gytheion
 Located on the southern corner of the Peloponnese and the north western coast ofr
Laconian Gulf
 The natural harbour of Gytheion became the centre of the Phoenician trade in purple
dye.
 Evidence for the existence of the commercial and military harbour until 374-5AD,
when an earthquake destroys it, and a considerable part of the city is covered by the
sea.

Definitions
  Lycurgus: Potentially a king of Sparta sometime between 900 – 700 BCE
 Rhetra: a declaration reflecting the oral tradition of Spartans and their laws. Based on
oracles (communication from a god)

The Messenian Wars

 The takeover of this area suggests that Sparta, instead of following normal Greek
development, became a strict, military state to control the new enslaved Messenians
 A new form of law and order, called Eunomia, emerged to control the serfs. This was
supposedly introduced b y Lycurgurs

The Great Rhetra

 The societal changes that are attributed to Lycurgus were said to be contained in The
Great Rhetra
 This wasn’t written down, as on of the laws states that writing down the law was
forbidden
 The main purpose of the Rhetra was for making laws and deciding on policy.
 Plutarch believed the Great Rhetra was an utterance for the Delphic Oracle brought
back by Lycurgus

Lycurgan Reforms
 Established a council of Elders (Gerousia)
 Gave Spartan citizens the right to vote in assembly
 Established duties of the King
 Redistributed land into Kleros (allotment of Land) and a number of Helots (State
owned slaves) and All Spartans become Homoioi (equals)
 Organised the army
 Set up common messes (syssition). Public messes were established outside in the
open to combat the sloth caused by Spartans living at home.

Eunomia means order and good government.

Spartan Government
 Sparta is often revered as having one of the best governmental systems in the
ancient world.
 This system is what allowed control of a mainly enslaved population
 Sparta use 3 different types of government, all working together; mon(di)archy,
oligarchy and democracy.

The two Kings

 The kings were drawn from 2 royal families (Agiads & Eurypontids) and the role was
hereditary
  The kings led troops into war, even in old age, as there was no retirement age
 They would communicate with the ephors. The ephors promised to maintain the
kingship if the kings ruled according to law.

Responsibilities

A Spartan king had many roles to fulfill:

 Chief priest
 Commander in chief to the army
 Judge
 Lawgiver
 Social Duties

The king was the supreme commanded in chief and led the troops to battle.The king was
able to decide on a spot to pitch camp; was responsible for sending dispatches to enemies
and allies; and was accompanied by a bodyguard of 100 picked men.

Functions of Dual Kingship

Considered intermediaries between the gods and the men, the two kings were believed to
be able to hold office if the gods were pleased. Every nine years the ephors looked for signs
of the gods displeasure with the kings.

The kings were the priests of Zeus Lacedaemonios and Zeus Uranios – the gods of their
respective families, and were responsible for performing all sacrifices on the city’s behalf
and leading the citizens in their religious celebrations.

Ensure the state functioned smoothly, that laws were upheld and that nobody exerted more
than necessary power.

Could fine people on the sot and was solely responsible for conducting trials involving civil
offences

This group was compromised of 28 elders, plus the two kings.

Were able to elect the ephors and members of the Gerousia

Greek social groups

The tribe – a large group of families claiming to have the same ancestor

The clan – a smaller group of families who were part of a tribe

The phratry (brotherhood) - a small group in the clan organized according to religious roles

The oikos- the single family unit

The Agoge

Education in Sparta was a state responsibility and a government official, the paidonomos,
had to administer whippings to the disobedient. If the Spartan youth did not progress
through each stage of the training he was unable to claim full citizenship.

0-7 years
10 days after birth, male children were examined by a council of elders. Until the age of 7,
boys lived at home with their mothers,proboably under the care of a helot woman.