Post by Xerxes I on Mar 16, 2007 12:04:27 GMT -5
Sparta and Athens are completely different cultures, and when the two aren't fighting together against the Persians, they are usually fighting eachother. This is why:
Sparta
General Laws
- Citizenship is inherited by blood. You aren't "Spartan" unless you can trace your heritage back to the original founders of the city. Only these "Spartiates" are considered true citizens.
- Military state. From birth, the emphasis is on military training. Infants are inspected for health and discarded if they are sickly or malformed. At the age of 7, boys are sent to Spartan military boarding school. They are flogged daily, beaten, and challenged to spar - taught NEVER to cry out, NEVER to retreat. They do not have warm clothes, do not have beds, or food - are forced to steal and to withstand the discomfort of bad weather and the cold.
- Emotions are looked down upon. You never show weakness, you never cry. ADULTERY IS PROHIBITED. The Spartans value marriage, and it is punishable by death if you are caught.
- At war, a Spartan could only return in 2 ways. "With your shield or on it." Victorious or dead. Retreat is punishable by death.
- Spartans are said to be direct descendents of Hercules. Ares is said to be the patron of the city (god of war).
- No written documents. All orders are passed down orally, and Spartans did not value philosophy and stories. They value war.
- Sparta is considered primitive by the rest of Greece. The inhabitants live in various sizes of thatch houses usually. There is NO CURRENCY, except for iron. Spartans do not value money, they value honor.
- Sparta is ruled by the King, a council of Elders, and the ephors. The ephors are priests who live with an Oracle and can tell the future. No Spartan King, except Leonidas, has ever waged war without the ephors' blessing.
Women
Spartan women enjoyed a status, power and respect that was unknown in the rest of the classical world.
- Spartan women wore short dresses and went where they pleased.
- Equal divorce rights, ability to own property, ability to speak out against their husbands and to act independently.
- They received the same education as men, and training in dance, archery, swordplay etc. Spartan women are expected to be in shape and physically fit.
Sparta
General Laws
- Citizenship is inherited by blood. You aren't "Spartan" unless you can trace your heritage back to the original founders of the city. Only these "Spartiates" are considered true citizens.
- Military state. From birth, the emphasis is on military training. Infants are inspected for health and discarded if they are sickly or malformed. At the age of 7, boys are sent to Spartan military boarding school. They are flogged daily, beaten, and challenged to spar - taught NEVER to cry out, NEVER to retreat. They do not have warm clothes, do not have beds, or food - are forced to steal and to withstand the discomfort of bad weather and the cold.
- Emotions are looked down upon. You never show weakness, you never cry. ADULTERY IS PROHIBITED. The Spartans value marriage, and it is punishable by death if you are caught.
- At war, a Spartan could only return in 2 ways. "With your shield or on it." Victorious or dead. Retreat is punishable by death.
- Spartans are said to be direct descendents of Hercules. Ares is said to be the patron of the city (god of war).
- No written documents. All orders are passed down orally, and Spartans did not value philosophy and stories. They value war.
- Sparta is considered primitive by the rest of Greece. The inhabitants live in various sizes of thatch houses usually. There is NO CURRENCY, except for iron. Spartans do not value money, they value honor.
- Sparta is ruled by the King, a council of Elders, and the ephors. The ephors are priests who live with an Oracle and can tell the future. No Spartan King, except Leonidas, has ever waged war without the ephors' blessing.
Women
Spartan women enjoyed a status, power and respect that was unknown in the rest of the classical world.
- Spartan women wore short dresses and went where they pleased.
- Equal divorce rights, ability to own property, ability to speak out against their husbands and to act independently.
- They received the same education as men, and training in dance, archery, swordplay etc. Spartan women are expected to be in shape and physically fit.
