Natalie Haynes Stands Up for the Classics Spartan Women
Aug 21, 2022
Historian Paul Cartledge shares insights on the remarkable freedoms of Spartan women in ancient Greece. He discusses their education in arts and athletics, and how the militarized society shaped their roles. Cartledge highlights the unique practice of marrying later, reducing childbirth risks, and showcases the prominence of female deities in their culture. Anecdotes about iconic women like Gorgo and Olympic champion Canisca reveal their contributions and resilience. The conversation unveils how Sparta's distinct values fostered both physical strength and literary influence among women.
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Sparta's Total Warrior Society
- Sparta enforced a total male warrior culture where every male citizen trained as a soldier from childhood.
- That hyper-militarized ideal produced mythic moments like Leonidas' 'Molon labe' and shaped Spartan identity.
Freedom Built On Helot Labour
- Spartans relied on an enslaved helot class to do farming and household work so citizens could train as warriors.
- This created the material basis for unusually wide freedoms for Spartan women compared with other Greek states.
Educated, Athletic Spartan Women
- Spartan girls received formal training (agoge) including dance, song and physical exercise similar to boys' upbringing.
- Gorgo's wax-tablet anecdote shows at least some Spartan women understood and engaged with written communications.
