Outline TWO leisure activities of the Spartans
Spartiates were devoted to their military training, but a favourable leisure activity for Spartan men and women was athletics and horse riding.
Describe the main architectural features of Spartan religious sites. In comparison to Greek cities such as Athens, the Spartans religious sites were far less lavish and abundant. The main religious sites were temples and shrines which were either on the outskirts of town or several kilometres away. Archaeological evidence has revealed the Temple of Athena of the Bronze was built within the Spartan acropolis, and older stone structures beneath previously discovered structures possibly reveal that the Spartans built their religious sites on areas once used for religion by their predecessors. Furthermore, the shrine of Artemis Orthia was built on the outskirts of Sparta and was believed to have had supportive Doric columns and gabled roof. The Menelaion was located 5 km North …show more content…
If a hoplite could not perform well in battle, he would likely be shunned by fellow Spartiates within the mess hall and denied entry into the mess hall, described by Plutarch “they do not admit the would-be entrant because it is their wish that all should be happy in each other's company”. This could be a direct result of a Hoplite lowering their shield during battle, leaving a fellow soldier unprotected. In Spartan society, lowering or dropping their shield was seen as the most disgraceful thing a soldier could do, and a supposed Spartan mothers saying was ‘return with your shield or on it’. In addition, the members of the army who performed the best in battle were often welcomed in the best of the mess halls, and while the land that the Spartan government gave to their Spartiates was equal, the best land was often given to those who performed
Describe the main architectural features of Spartan religious sites. In comparison to Greek cities such as Athens, the Spartans religious sites were far less lavish and abundant. The main religious sites were temples and shrines which were either on the outskirts of town or several kilometres away. Archaeological evidence has revealed the Temple of Athena of the Bronze was built within the Spartan acropolis, and older stone structures beneath previously discovered structures possibly reveal that the Spartans built their religious sites on areas once used for religion by their predecessors. Furthermore, the shrine of Artemis Orthia was built on the outskirts of Sparta and was believed to have had supportive Doric columns and gabled roof. The Menelaion was located 5 km North …show more content…
If a hoplite could not perform well in battle, he would likely be shunned by fellow Spartiates within the mess hall and denied entry into the mess hall, described by Plutarch “they do not admit the would-be entrant because it is their wish that all should be happy in each other's company”. This could be a direct result of a Hoplite lowering their shield during battle, leaving a fellow soldier unprotected. In Spartan society, lowering or dropping their shield was seen as the most disgraceful thing a soldier could do, and a supposed Spartan mothers saying was ‘return with your shield or on it’. In addition, the members of the army who performed the best in battle were often welcomed in the best of the mess halls, and while the land that the Spartan government gave to their Spartiates was equal, the best land was often given to those who performed