Why did the ancient Greeks blame Spartan women?
The harsh Spartan upbringing, when boys from the age of 7 were sent to military camps, also affected the family life of the valiant men of Sparta. Since childhood, accustomed to a purely male company, according to other Greeks, they did not pay due attention to their own wives. Recall at least the legendary Helen, the wife of the Spartan king Menelaus, who, at the first opportunity, fled with a young handsome man - the Trojan prince Paris.
 Gorgo, queen of Sparta. A scene from the movie 300: Rise of an Empire. 2014 Here is what Plutarch writes about the Spartan wedding: “The brides were taken away, but not too young, not yet of marriageable age, but blooming and ripe. The so-called girlfriend received the kidnapped woman, cut her hair short and, dressed in a man's cloak and put sandals on her feet, laid one in a dark room on a bed of leaves. The groom, not drunk, not soft, but sober and, as always, having dined at the common table, came in, unfastened her belt and, taking her in his arms, carried her to the bed. After staying with her for a short time, he modestly retired, so that, as usual, go to bed with the past young men.
 Gorgo escorts Leonid to the war. Frame from the film "300 Spartans", 2006 It is not known how true this description is, but it contains at least one indisputable fact - Spartan women got married after 19 years. In this they differed from the rest of the greek women of antiquity, whom their parents gave to their husband's family at the age of 12-14. Of course, there was no talk of any love at the same time; such marriages cemented purely business relations between the families of both spouses. By the age of marriage, Spartan women had already managed to form as individuals and had their own opinion on many serious issues.
 Gorgo on the poster of the movie "300 Spartans" Aristotle attributed active involvement in politics to Spartan women, calling Spartan society a "gynecocracy". The great philosopher asked: “Yes, and what difference does it make whether the women themselves rule or the ruling persons are under their power? After all, the consequence (in both cases) is the same. He accused the spartans of giving their women too much freedom, and as a result, they indulged in self-will, licentiousness and luxury.
 Soothsayer in the Delphic Temple. Frame from the movie "300 Spartans" This opinion about the spartans was common among the ancient Greeks. In the tragedy of Euripides “Andromache”, the elder Peleus says: “However, the Spartan woman, as well as being modest, when, from girlhood, having left the tower, she shares the palestra with a young man and the peplos exposes her thighs on the run ... This is unbearable ... Is it wise, that you are raising dissolute people." This refers to the Spartan custom of joint gymnastic exercises of girls next to boys. As well as running competitions, in which girls in short clothes participated, which shocked men from other policies.
 Gorgo in mourning clothes. Frame from the movie "300 Spartans" To understand the feelings of these guests of Sparta, it is necessary to speak about the position of women in the rest of the greek city-states. In Athens, for example, married ladies were ordered to appear on the street as little as possible, sending slaves to the markets to buy. greek women did not go in for sports, they did not go to schools, at best they received a home education, in which the emphasis was on housekeeping and weaving. It was considered indecent if a woman is in the company of any men, even close relatives. greek women had to spend their whole lives in the gynaecium, that is, the female part of the house. If the lady appeared in public, then always in long clothes that hide the figure.
 Harem of Xerxes, frame from the film "300 Spartans" An exception was made only for heterosexuals, who were customarily allowed to appear at men's feasts - symposiums. For decent girls and married ladies, this was unthinkable. In addition, women among the Greeks did not have property rights, all family property belonged to her husband. But in sparta it was different. In addition to relatively free manners and free outfits, the Spartan women were also distinguished by the fact that they personally owned considerable wealth, including land property. Since Spartan men were engaged in war or military training from childhood, women had to take responsibility for the entire household.
 Leonid and Gorgo in negotiations with the Persian ambassador. The film "300 Spartans" In the comedy "Lysistrata" by the ancient playwright Aristophanes, the Spartan Lampito hears a compliment: "Blush, as well as the body, how well-fed! Yes, you will strangle the bull! She answers him without false modesty: “Well, still not! It’s not in vain that I fight, jump and run.” Spartan women did not stop playing sports even in their mature years. Plutarch writes that they "when discussing the most important state affairs, they could freely express their opinion." It is not surprising that there was a lot of gossip about the free and strong Spartan women among the Greeks. But the inhabitants of sparta were also famous for their wit, so it was not easy to hurt them. When a certain Athenian woman reproached the Spartan woman that they were “the only women who rule over husbands,” she replied: “But we are the only ones who give birth to husbands.”
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08-13-2022, 08:44 PM
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