Assessment Task Three: Folio task on Greek Society Fifth Century BC Stage Two Classical Studies (Draft) Lara Parker 12MN The women of Sparta were educated and economically powered unlike women from any other Greek Polis of the time. Spartan women of the citizen class were given birth rights, able to engage in sports and a form of education, possess economic power and express freedom of speech with male response, divorce rights and citizenship(Schrader, H 2012). Although Spartan women had much more freedom than others women of their time they were still restrained from a variety of rights that are considered essential in the modern world such as the right to vote and marriage (Schrader, H 2012). There are few sources documenting Spartan women of this time and it must be noted that many sources are biased and their reliability needs to be considered. As Spartan women were unique they were often criticized by primary sources due to their ‘unruly conduct’ (Amos, H & Lang, A 1979). Birth Rights: In many other Greek city-states if a child was born either weak they were left exposed outside (rejected and killed) and left to die outside the polis (Amos, H & Lang, A 1979). Greater freedom began at birth for Spartan’s women. Spartan’s devised laws that required that female infants and children must be given the same safe care and food rations as males. This contrasts other Greek Cities where female children were often starved due to such small food rations (unlike boys) and were forbid from exercise and fresh air. Exercise/ Education: Women of the citizen class from Sparta grew up with a vast amount of physical freedom in comparison to women of other Ancient Greek civilizations such as Athens, where here women would be kept inside with the women servants (Bradley, P 1988). From Plutarch (who wrote ‘The Life of Lycurgus’) hear that the Spartan education for women of citizen class was aimed at producing healthy and strong bodies for childbirth: “He made the girls exercise their bodies in running, wrestling and throwing the discus and javelin, so that their children, taking root in the first place in strong bodies, would grow the better, and they themselves would be strong for childbirth, and deal well and easily with the pains of labour’ – according to Plutarch (Amos, H & Lang, A 1979) Women of Sparta wore a short tunic when exercising which allows them to show skin such as their upper thigh (refer to figure one), which contrasts many other Greek civilizations where women must be completely covered up when in the presence of others (Bradley, P 1988). As Helots were available to all Spartans it took care of household chores and work for Spartans. For this reason the women of Sparta did not spin and weave as it was regarded as tasks only fit for slaves (Amos, H & Lang, A 1979). Economic Influence: Male citizens of Sparta were required to devote their lived to the military and public service of Sparta, thus their wives were left to run their husband’s estates. This set up meant that Spartan’s wives controlled their
husband’s wealth and the male citizens relied on their wives for all economic well-being (Amos, H & Lang, A 1979). During the fifth centaury BC Spartan women became very wealthy as the numbers of men began to decline, thus 2/5th of Spartan land belonged to their wives or mothers (Bradley, P 1988). This is a clean contrast to Athens where women were only allowed to have as much money that was required to but a bushel grain and no more (Amos, H & Lang, A 1979). Spartan women were also allowed to own their own property which was extremely rare in Ancient Greece (Thompson, JC 2010). Marriage: Researchers believe that the parents arranged Spartan marriages with little consideration for the bride or groom. This suggests that Spartan women of citizen class had no right nor influence on who they were married to. Women of Sparta married much later than most other Greek civilizations at around the age of eighteen (Thompson, JC 2010). “In their marriages, the husband carried off his bride by a sort of force; nor were their brides ever small and of tender years, but in their full bloom and ripeness” - Plutarch on Sparta (Gorgo and The Women of Sparta, 2009) It is assumed that the cause for later age of marriage in girls compared to other Greek civilizations it that is enabled girls to be more developed and stronger for childbirth enabling them to produce healthier warriors or mother’s of warriors (Thompson, JC 2010). At the end of the fourth and the beginning of the 5th century BC, when the ratio of Spartan males to females was declining it was seen as “honorable for men to give the use of their wives to those whom they should think fit, that so they might have children by them” – Plutarch (Gorgo and The Women of Sparta, 2009). This quote by Plutarch suggests that marriage between Spartans was purely for the production of children and not as an answer to emotional needs like in today’s society (Thompson, JC 2010). It is also believed that Spartan women were able to divorce their husband if they wished without losing their personal wealth due to being seen as equal citizens of the community (Blundell, Sue 1995). Citizenship/ Politics: Although women were not allowed to attend the public assembly they were still considered citizens of Sparta. To be considered a citizen of Sparta the eligible must be able pay a fee that allows them to pay for their share of food in the community hall and be able to trace their heritage back to the original inhabitants of Sparta (Blundell, Sue 1995). It is believed that although women were forbidden to speak and share opinions at the public assembly as males would, they would still be able to share their opinions and influence to the community during their day-to-day life. Ancient researches also believe that women trusted their husbands to deliver their beliefs for them in the assembly for them. Spartan women did not have the right to vote in the assembly (Thompson, JC 2010). Plutarch states: “The men of Sparta always obeyed their wives” (Thompson, JC 2010) This primary quote suggests that citizen women of Sparta must have power over the men of Sparta. For this reason it suggests that women, although not part of the public assembly, were able to hold an influence over the development of Sparta. Reliability and Bias of Primary Sources: The reliability of primary text that is found for this time needs to be considered when studying Sparta. There is an absence for Spartan texts on the subject of Spartan women, which means the only information
available from foreign male authors of the time, which may be bias. This bias may appear as the role of women is Spartan society was very different from most other ancient Greek civilizations, thus other male dominated polis would not approve of the vast amount of freedom Spartan women received. According to Plutarch, and various other ancient sources, The Spartan system was the work of a lawgiver named Lycurgus. There is little proof that Lycurgus ever did exist. Ancient writer A.A Andrews believes that ‘if there was a real Lycurgus we know nothing of him” and H. Michael states “the very existence of Lycurgus is strongly open to doubt” (Amos, H & Lang, A 1979). Thus although Plutarch information is important when looking at Ancient Sparta is must be noted that much of his information is erroneous and his reliability is often doubted (Amos, H & Lang, A 1979).
Word Count 1259
Bibliography: 1. A Spartan Girl, 500 BC, Sculpture, BBC, accessed 24 May 2013, <http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/greeks/greek_olympics_gallery_06.shtml>. 2. Amos, H & Lang, A 1979, ‘Chapter Four - City States’, These were the Greeks, ed., Standley Thomas, Great Britain 3. Amos, H & Lang, A 1979, ‘Sparta’, These were the Greek, ed. N n/a, Stanley Thornes (Publishers), Great Britain . 4. Blundell, Sue 1995, Women in ancient Greece, Cambridge: Harvard University Press 5. Bradley, P 1988, ‘Sparta’, Ancient Greece: Using Evidence, ed. D Patterson, Press Syndicate of the University of Cambridge , Australia. 6. Gorgo and The Women of Sparta, 2009 Oocities, accessed 27 May 2013, <http://www.oocities.org/athens/aegean/7849/spwomen.html>. 7. Schrader, H 2012 "SCANDALOUS" SPARTAN WOMEN: EDUCATED AND ECONOMICALLY EMPOWERED, Sparta Reconsidered, accessed 27 May 2013, <http://elysiumgates.com/~helena/Women.html>. 8. Thompson, JC 2010 Women in Sparta, Women in the Ancient World, accessed 27 May 2013, http://www.womenintheancientworld.com/women%20in%20sparta.htm