Historian / Evidence / Relationship to other Syllabus dot points
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Art.html / Although Spartans claimed they built their monuments in flesh—in other words, that their citizens were their greatest monuments—the common assumption that Sparta lacked artistic achievements is incorrect.
Pausanius, traveling through Sparta in the 2nd century AD, recorded hundreds of significant buildings—temples, monuments, tombs and public buildings.
According to contemporary sources, Sparta was particularly renowned for its music and dance.
Spartan sculptors were active in pan-European sites such as Delphi and Olympia.
Spartan bronze works were coveted as gifts and imports.
Spartan poets were admired throughout the ancient world—and it was one of these who wrote the first recorded heterosexual love poems known today.
Architectural Monuments
Looking first at architecture, Sparta was distinguished by its early democracy and prosperity, and by the fact that it was unconquered and un-plundered until relatively late in ancient times. In short, its monuments were built early and there was no compulsion to replace them. (We should not forget that the splendor of the Athenian Acropolis is largely a function of the fact that the Persians destroyed all the older temples on the site. As a result, Pericles was able to carry out a comprehensive "modernization" of the entire acropolis at the very pinnacle of Athenian power, wealth and artistic prominence.)
Sparta did have buildings and temples, however, that were greatly admired in their own time. The most significant of these were the Menelaion and the Amyklaion. The Menelaion, which dates from roughly 700 BC, was erected as a monument or temple to Menelaos and Helen. It is located near the remains of a Mycenaean palace—allegedly the palace of Menelaos—dating roughly from the 15th century BC. The Amyklaion was admired by ancient historians as the most significant temple in all Lacedaemon. It was built in Sparta's "Golden Age"—the 6th century BC. This temple contained a massive bronze statue of Apollo surrounded by lower colonnades and stoa. Particularly worthy of mention is also the Spartan Assembly hall, a monumental stoa built in the mid-6th century and greatly admired by visitors to Sparta. The Persian Stoa, built after the victory over the Persians in the 5th Century, was later added as a counter part on the agora and was also significant. In short, the city of Sparta had a rich, varied and yet urban character—despite the disparaging remarks made by Thucydides.
Sculpture and Crafts in Bronze, Ivory, and Terracotta
There is now significant archaeological as well as historical evidence that Sparta did enjoy an artistic "Golden Age" from roughly 650 to 550 BC. In this period, its artistic achievements were renowned throughout the world. At this time, Spartan sculptors were active not only at home but also in cultural centers such as Olympia and Delphi; at least nine sculptors are known by name. Spartan bronze products were of such high quality that they were viewed as valuable diplomatic gifts and found their way to the far corners of the earth. Laconian pottery was, for a period of roughly 100 years, sufficiently valued to be a significant export. Beautiful examples of Laconian pottery still exist, providing sufficient evidence of the very high quality of both the pottery and the painting—even if classical Athenian vases and painting demonstrate a yet higher quality a century later. Laconian works in ivory were another export product, reflecting the high quality of the craftsmen.
Poetry, Music, and Dance
Without doubt, Sparta was most renowned in its own time for its poetry, music, and dance. We know of four Spartan poets/lyricists whose works were admired throughout the ancient world, although, only fragments of their work have survived the centuries. We know that people traveled great distances to witness the choral and dance contests of the Spartans at their various festivals, particularly the Gymnopaidia and the Hyakinthia. It is also recorded that the Spartans advanced into battle singing. Yet, as with all ancient Greek music and dance, nothing remains for the modern observer to grasp. It is left to our imagination.
8. SPARTA
The historian Thucydides predicted 2,500 years ago that there would be little left at Sparta to remind people of its greatness. And he was right! The city that was once at the head of the Peloponnesian League and home to the most feared warriors in ancient Greece is almost all gone. The Acropolis is an olive-tree covered hill with a few columns and walls in evidence and the major excavation has been to reveal the scant remains of the Temple of Artemis Orthia. There are several reasons for this. As Thucydides noted, the Spartans did not go for grand monuments and after its decline at the beginning of the fourth century BC, Sparta quickly became a provincial town whereas cities such as Athens and Corinth continued to expand and be embellished. Finally, the area around Sparta is also very waterlogged making archaeological excavation difficult.
Things to note when visiting
· The local museum at Sparta is worth a visit and it has artefacts excavated over the years on display. Among them is the famous archaic sculpture of Leonidas, the hero of Thermopylae.
· Standing in front of the football arena is a modern, but well-executed, bronze statue of a Spartan hoplite or infantryman. The statue shows the Spartan warrior in all his glory as he would have appeared in the fifth century BC.
· The one tangible link with the classical Spartan past is the Temple of Artemis Orthia where Spartan children took rites of passage that, in good Spartan style, included being flogged.
Leonidas of Sparta. Statue of Leonidas with helmet of Attic type. It was found in the temple of Athena Chalkioikos at the Acropolis of Sparta. It preserves the upper part of the body but hands are missing.
Dated to the second quarter of the 5th century B. C.
Leonidas made his stand at Thermopylae, a slim ribbon of land in Thessaly, Greece, against the mighty army of the Persians in 480 B.C., along with 300 brave Spartans. When betrayed by an avaricious farmer he chose death over retreat. He and his 300 countrymen battled through the morning; when their weapons were gone, they fought with fists and feet until every last man had fallen, but they had held the enemy long enough to ensure the safe withdrawal of the rest of the Greek army...
Archaeological Museum of Sparta, Greece
http://www.hellenic-art.com/statues/leonidas.htm
BOS 1 / 1. Cultural life
· Art: sculpture, painted vases, bone and ivory carving
Sculpture
- Sculpture in stone and marble was mostly associated with religion- Lustral basins, dedications at shrines and temples of heroes and gods and goddesses
- Little remains of sculpture in stone because for centuries the site of Sparta was used as a quarry
Painted vases
- The decoration on many of the pots reflects Spartiate interests: hunting, horse riding, religious rituals, banqueting- Natural images of birds and plants
- The most famous piece of pottery depicts the king of Cyrene overseeing trade or the delivery of tribute
- Mythical themes
- Sometimes depicted everyday life but not of the lower classes
Bone
- Mostly cattle bone- Pins, seals, beads, hinges, handles, inlays
Ivory
- Ornamental hair combs- Statuettes
- Broaches
- E.g. Judgement of Paris comb, ivory warship plaque from the sanctuary of Artemis Orthia
- Carvings
- Provides evidence of technical achievement in carving, importation of ivory from Syria and interest in seafaring