Interesting facts about Ancient Sparta

Ancient Sparta became famous all over the world thanks to the courage of its inhabitants. For centuries this city was the center of the military power of Ancient Greece, and the feat of three hundred Spartans became legendary. But this legend has historical evidence discovered by archaeologists.
• According to legend, the founder of this city-state was Lacedaemon, the son of the god Zeus and the Pleiades Taygeta. He was married to a woman named Sparta, after whom he named the city he built.
• In ancient Greece, there was a monetary unit called obol, which at the same time was a measure of weight equal to about 0.7 grams. In Athens and other cities, obols were silver coins, but in Sparta, obols were used in the form of bulky and impractical iron rods. They were as much heavier than coins as iron was cheaper than silver. This was done so that the Spartans were less likely to seek wealth, as well as to steal and pay bribes less.
• Male Spartans preferred to have long hair because they thought it made them look more masculine.
• Contrary to popular myth, Spartan warriors did not fight bare-chested. They always wore armor.
• The Spartans did not do any chores. The economy was led by helots - people with the social status of serf farmers. Helots were the same Greeks, but they occupied the lowest social position in the society of Ancient Sparta.
• The National Assembly of Sparta consisted of citizens who had reached 30 years of age. They voted with shouts of approval or disapproval, without counting votes, according to the principle "whoever shouts louder is right."
• Children in Sparta were in the undivided property of the state. Immediately after birth, they were subjected to a thorough search, and the weak and crippled ones were left in the forest. Healthy children were returned to their parents, who raised them until they were 6 years old. After six years, children were taken away from their parents in favor of the state, and their education began.
• There were always two rulers in ancient Sparta. While one of the kings waged war, the second at that moment looked after the city.
• Contrary to popular belief, the Spartans did not know the art of war, for example, they did not know how to besiege fortified cities and fight at sea. All they were taught was to fight on foot, one-on-one, and in phalanx.
• No Spartan had the right to eat at home. Everyone, not excluding the kings, ate in state canteens.
• In ancient Sparta, a coward was stigmatized, and his children were forbidden to marry and have children. It was almost impossible to wash the shame away.
• Far from 300 Spartans participated in the famous Battle of Thermopylae on the side of the Greeks. In fact, the total number of the Greek army numbered about 6 thousand people, and for two days they held back the Persian army, which consisted of 200 thousand soldiers.
• Mental studies were not encouraged in Sparta. People who tried dealing with them were declared cowards and expelled. Over the centuries of its existence, Sparta has not given Hellas a single philosopher, orator, historian or poet.
• No Spartan himself could own slaves. All helots were the property of the state, and even it transferred the slaves to individuals "for use."
• Young warriors of Sparta under 12 were forbidden to wear clothes so that they would not get used to comfort.
• At about 30 years old, the Spartan warrior went through the last stage of formation, thanks to which he could get the right to leave the barracks and lead a private life. From that moment on, he served the state and the war, could not trade or engage in agriculture. He was also expected to marry and have children.
• Ancient Sparta encouraged its citizens to spy on slaves. Young Spartans were specially sent to eavesdrop on the speeches of the helots, and kill anyone who seemed suspicious. The strongest and most courageous slaves capable of protest were killed secretly.