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Peter Spencer | tivoli~AT~justtrailers~DOT~com~DOT~au

g'day Helena, I am so impressed to discover your website. I am also impressed with your take on who the Spartans really were. As a (now retired) Australian Army officer, Sparta was my professional study subject for all my career, and I always was dissapointed that 'modern historians' would put their own personal bias and interpretations onto the Spartans. eg literacy, the concept of the 'mentor' and military operational and tactical level tactics. I look forward to expolring your site and to reading your Leonidas series on my Kindle. Pete 7 December 2011 - Queensland Australia Webmaster comments   Thank you for taking the time to write, Pete. Isn't the internet wonderful? Ten year ago we would have had no way to share our views about Sparta and communicate. You might also enjoy my blog: http://Spartareconsidered.blogspot.com Meanwhile, I hope you enjoy the novels. Don't forget to post a "customer review" on amazon if you do. All the Best! Helena

Joe Waylett | jowaylett~AT~hotmail~DOT~com

Hi Helena, I am currently finding this site very useful for an extended project I am currently doing. I was curious to know if you knew any useful books to look at spartan psychology? If so that would be very useful. 24 November 2011 - Nutley, East Sussex, England Webmaster comments   Glad I can help. I am not aware of any entire book dedicated to such a difficult topic, but there may be isolated articles. I would suggest checking out back issues of "Sparta: Journal of Ancient Spartan and Greek History." Here a number of articles have been published on topics at least touching on Spartan psychology. I found Maria Papadopoulos' article on "Sparta: A City-State of Philosophers" in Vol 7:Issue 1 particularly useful. Also "The Role of Worship & Religion in the Spartan State," by Nikolaos Kouloumpis, Vol 6, No. 1, or "Misunderstanding Sparta," by Paul Houston in Vol 3, Issue 1.

Tim

Hi Helena, I'm a student doing my research project on the culture of ancient Sparta, and this site has helped so much! I've sourced a lot of different information from your work, and I found it a great source of information on a variety of different fields, especially comparing Sparta's culture to that of Athens. Thanks! 12 November 2011

Heather

Thank you so much. I have to write a compair contrast paper on Athens and Sparta,and your site helped me so much I got almost all of my info from this site thanks again. Heather 10 November 2011 - Great Valley, NY, USA

Duane Wirdel | duanewirdel~AT~yahoo~DOT~com

I recently read that they think they've found the site where the Menelaion was located. Has anyone read anything about this? 9 November 2011 - USA Webmaster comments   The Menelaion is the modern name for an ancient site with Mycenean foundations. A temple to Helen and Menelaos was built on the site in the early 7th century BC. The archeological site has been known and studied for centuries. Recent theories suggest that the remaining Mycenian ruins are probably cellars of what may have been a much larger, grander building. Erosion, however, has destroyed those parts of the building that would have enabled it to be identified definitively as a palace -- or not. You can visit the Menelaion easily today; no entrance fees whatsoever.

Anna Marie | Annahlovg~AT~yahoo~DOT~com

Helena, Your website is fascinating and I have spent hours reading it in its' entireity. I enjoyed the insiteful research into the Spartan culture. I have ordered your second book on the life of Leonidas and I look forward to the enjoyable read that I am sure it will be! I also reviewed your list of sources on the website as I intend to continue research on Sparta. I was particularly interested in finding Xenophon, Spartan Society, 5th century BC. Unfortunately, I have done some extensive online searching to no avail. I thought perhaps the text you refer to may be under another title. I would greatly appreciate it if you could provide me with information on how to obtain this text. Thank you for your wonderful work and I look forward to Book 3. Sincerely, Anna 21 October 2011 - Maryland, USA Webmaster comments   Anna, I'm always pleased to hear people have found my site useful. Thank you for taking the time to write. Xenophon's essay on the Spartan Constitution is too short for a stand alone publication, so it is usually included in other works on Sparta. I personally own the Penguin Classics "Plutarch on Sparta" which includes a translaton of Xenophon's essay as well as a collection of "Spartan Sayings," a list of the Spartan kings and a good glossary. I'm not sure if it is still in print, but if not, you should be able to get it used. I highly recommend it -- even if much of what Plutarch writes is nonsense. I recommend reading Plutarch in order to form your own opinion and so you can as understand where much misinformation about Sparta comes from. All the best and I hope you'll enjoy all my books on Sparta in the future. Helena

Anna | anna~DOT~assheton~AT~hotmail~DOT~co~DOT~uk

I cannot thank you or appreciate your work enough. I'm currently studying Classics in my senior year at high school and unfortunately my teachers methods are probably the same as the era she teaches. I was panicking on how I was going to complete my personal study on the Spartans until I stumbled across this site. You have managed to explain all the ideas and concepts I needed for my background knowledge in a simple and yet in depth way. I simply cannot stop smiling in relief. Do you know of any primary sources that could be used in regards to the Spartan women? Thankyou again 5 September 2011 - Australia Webmaster comments   Anna, Primary sources are really very tricky. I suggest you go to the secondary sources listed on my website ("Spartan Women" by Sarah B. Pomeroy, "Women in Ancient Greece," by Sue Blundell and "Women and Law in Classical Greece" by Rahael Sealey) and see which sources they use. What I remember is ancient court cases -- in addition to the "usual suspects" (Herodotus, Aristotel, Plutarch). Primary sources on Sparta are hard to come by generally, and even more unreliable and scanty when it comes to women. Good luck, and for fun I hope you'll buy one or the other of my novels. "Are They Singing in Sparta?" devotes an entire section to the life of women in Sparta, contrasting it with Athens. "Spartan Slave, Spartan Queen" is entirely focused on the role of women in the ancient world (and follows "Are They Singing of Sparta?" sequentially. Last but not least, Gorgo is a significant character in the second book of the Leonidas Trilogy which was released this week. Title: "Leonidas of Sparta: A Peerless Peer." Helena P. Schrader

Bonnie Hyden

Ms. Schrader, I'm only a 'country bumpkin' but I have a healthy thirst for knowledge, in general; ancient cultures, in particular. Sparta has always interested me so I recently started looking into it. (ok.I watched the movie "300" and it woke up my curiosity.) From your site I have ascertained that much of what is in the movie is either fictionalized, mis-represented or merely "literary license". My humble opinion of your site is that I am so happy to find an "intellectual" with some good, ol'fashioned common sense! Your pages are informative, entertaining, and easy to understand. I have already bookmarked the site and intend on using it as a home schooling tool. Again.thank you, m'am! 24 July 2011 - Texas Webmaster comments   Bonnie, Thank you! I'm glad you found the site informative; that's what it's meant to be. Movie like "300," inaccurate as they are, are good if they encourage people to look for more information. I hope you'll follow my blog http://spartareconsidered.blogspot.com as well as that gets updated more regularly. Last but not least, you might enjoy my novels on Ancient Sparta, all of which can be ordered on amazon.com. Sparta was indeed a fascinating society, but much more complex and fluid than usually portrayed. I wish you lots of fun in learning more! Helena

Stephen Hunt | stephen~DOT~hunt~DOT~viva~DOT~la~DOT~vida~AT~gmail~DOT~com

Hello, I need some help as I am very confused. I am originally from Burma, but I am confused as being Greek all the time, even from true Greeks! I know that Alexander the Great had contact with Burma and later the Greco-Bactrians and Dayuan Greeks as well. In fact many Burmese people have Greek blood, but I would like to know if Sparta ever had contact with Burma. 1 July 2011 - Evansville, Indiana, USA Webmaster comments   Stephen, I'm confused too. I cannot imagine that there was any contact between Burma and Greece in ancient times. Helena

angela pooke | p~DOT~pooke~AT~ntlworld~DOT~com

Thank you Helena, this is a fantastic web site. I've read it but will read it again as there is a lot of information in there. I am just a 'lay' person, not so interletual as you but so interested just the same. Please answer me this if you can as I'm trying to make the distinction between slaves in Sparta and Athens; Were there Perioikoi slaves in Athens?? many thanks, angela x 15 March 2011 - england Webmaster comments   The Perioikoi were not slaves. They were free men with limited franchise. The equivalent in Athens were called Metics. They too were free men, who had moved to Athens for whatever reason. They had to have sponsors, paid extra taxes, and did not enjoy the privileges of Athenian citizens, could not vote or sit on juries etc. The Perioikoi were probably the descendents of the population that was living in the Peloponnese when the Dorians arrived. The Perioikoi did not go to the Spartan public school or have a voice in the Spartan Assembly, but nor did they have to serve in the Spartan army for their entire life. Furthermore, they were not prohibited from engaging in trades and accumulating wealth. The Perioikoi therefore fulfilled the jobs and functions that the Spartans themselves could not. They engaged in trade and manufacturing, they were shipbuilders, smiths, potters, shoemakers, dye-makers etc. In short, they were the middle class, between the elite Spartiates and the peasant/serf-like helots. Athens, in contrast, was dependent on chattel slaves -- people who were bought and sold. Anyone captured by pirates, for example, could be sold as a slave. The defeated in Athens' wars were enslaved and sold in the public market. Metics who failed to pay their taxes or -- until the late 6th century -- even citizens who fell too deeply into debt could be sold as slaves. The Athenian economy depended upon slave lavor in at least two ways, almost all citizens owned slaves to supplement their own labor, and Athens was a major slave trading city. Many of the wealthy citizens earned their fortunes from the slave trade. I hope this helps. Helena

Melia Suez | melia~AT~bresnan~DOT~net

I very much enjoyed your site. I do have a question though. You state that Spartans only profession was as a soldier for the state. Later you talk about Spartan bronzes and jar paintings. Who made these? The men that were in the reserves (those over 30)? What crafts did the women do other than their weaving? 11 January 2011 - Colorado Webmaster comments   Melia, Thank you for your question. I believe I addressed this issue in the essay on the "Economy" but to summarize: Lacedaemonian society was divided into three fundamental classes. The Spartans (or Spartiates), the perioikoi and helots. The helots were peasants or state serfs, who worked the land and were only "semi-free." The perioikoi were non-Spartan free men (and their families), who lived in smaller cities in Lacedeamon but not in Sparta itself. They could pursue any profession they wished and had a monopoly on trade and manufacturing because the Spartans themselves were prohibited from pursuing these profession. The women were the managers of the Spartan estates, and as such wielded considerable power, but they too disdained work with their hands and so themselves as above such manuel labor. I hope this answers your questions, but I suggest you look again at my website which provides more detailed information. Helena P. Schrader

Clay Foster | cjfoster9673~AT~comcast~DOT~net

When will the other books on Leonidas be published? 1 December 2010 - Bow, NH Webmaster comments   Thank you for your interest. I aim to publish Book II in August/September 2011, and Book III a year later. Meanwhile, you might enjoy "The Olympic Charioteer" or "Are They Singing in Sparta?" both of which are available from any online retailer. Helena

Carolyn Gnarts | junkmailtrain~AT~rocketmail~DOT~com

What could Spartan women not do? Could they act in plays? I really appreciate any information 29 November 2010 Webmaster comments   Carolyn, Sparta was renowned for its dance and music, particularly its choruses. There were both men and women's choruses. Girls certainly danced, possibly women also. However, Sparta was not know for its plays. I am not aware of any drama being produced in Sparta, therefore the issue of women taking the stage would not have come up. Far more important, women controlled the estates and so the household economy of their husbands and sons. Thus although they could not be elected to public office, they had significant power and enjoyed corresponding respect. Some women apparently also accompanied their husbands to the Assembly, and their husbands consulted them before voting. I hope this answers your question. Helena

Niko | vojkan087~AT~gmail~DOT~com

Helena, To add up to my previous praise. Although I agree with you in almost 99% of the facts stated.Quoting Plutarch in matters of philosophy vs physical or anywhere else where he says stuff for the first time compared to earlier historians is bad, as he did not even come close to seeing any ,especially ‘real’ Sparta (late archaic to early classical).Anything said by Plutarch that can not be confirmed either by earlier historians,or acheology can not be taken as a reliable fact. Secondly, 'painted brightly' which you say about ancient parthenon is overstatement,because no natural colors exposed to weather conditions can remain 'bright'.That is always the problem with reconstructions,all oversee one important fact.natural colors are not modern.they are exposed.And look pale and washed down very quick,even if their names are 'light blue' 'orange' 'red'. 26 November 2010 - Greece mostly Webmaster comments   Niko, Thank you for the important hint about ancient colours. It certainly would have made an impact on the overall image. Nevertheless, I maintain that there was a significant difference between Spartan austerity and the complex, multi-toned painting of other Greek city-states. I still believe we would prefer Spartan simplicity - which is closer to the way we experience ancient Greek art today - to the polychrome works of other ancient cities. Regards Plutarch, you are right, but his quote is simply an excellent summary of evidence provided by earlier observers. W. Lindsay Wheeler in his article "Doric Crete and Sparta, the home of Greek Philosophy," (Sparta Journal, Vol. 3, Issue 2) provides excellent documentation of the thesis. I recommend the article highly. Helena

Niko | vojkan087~AT~gmail~DOT~com

Dear Helena, I am amazed by this site.You should be recieving the honorary citizenship of modern Sparta.This is unfortunately rare place of truth in the sea of myths and stereotypes that started with Plutarch, and continued with Cartledge (whom I have utmost respect but many things to critique as well).those ‘historians’ who have 0 knowledge I will not even mention. The only thing so far,however,I can not completely agree with is.the extent of urbanism of ancient Sparta.Modern notion of Sparta having no building is wrong, as is the picture from your site which is a little exagerated.Sparta was never a single town nor a city,but a union of 4+1 villages(from few hundred to few thousand meters away),and urbanism in higher extent than Assembly ‘hall’,temples of Athina Chalkioikos,Artemis Orthia etc .aka semi random moderate urbanism was not even possible.I object people who see Spartans as illiterate savages(militant and civilized were not as different as today,on the contrary.) but let’s not get too carried away by praise.They were Dorians.They were not Athens or Delphi,nor did they want to be. What is important for all of us is to grasp the notion of time, and that Plutarch lived centuries after Sparta’s golden age(cca 650-465BC peak of it being 545-470BC),and that he should NEVER be taken too seriously(as we proved him and his companions from early Roman era wrong in many ways), and that even Peloponnesian wars did not see the real Sparta we all admire(earthquake of 465 BC,which I am convinced on many levels was the turning point and ending point of a system we all admire.can proove it also).We should stick to Herodotus and archeology. I think you should also mention the recent excavations of Greek archeologists that proved the infanticide myth finally WRONG,but throwing down of prisoners and condemned men unexpectedly right. Thank you for your beautiful work,thank you very much.One of the worst myths you completely destroyed and I am looking forward to seeing your work and reading your books. 25 November 2010 - Greece mostly Webmaster comments   Niko, Thank you! You are completely right and I did not mean to imply that Sparta was ever urban in the same way that Athens or Corinth was, however, on the basis of Pausanias' description I cannot see Sparta as a collection of villages any more than modern Paris or Berlin is. They too were originally separate villages/towns that grew into a single urban entity over time. I believe at Sparta's height it was urban - but still very different from Athens. I believe it had it's own Doric character. Compare Washington to New York - both cities but very different in character. Thank you too for reminding me about the evidence against infanticide! Very important point! We have a long, difficult struggle to correct so many slanderous inaccuracies and innocent misconceptions. Thank you for your help!

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