The Spartan Training

The laws which Lycvrgvs drew vp for the Spartans were vniqve. As soon as a baby came into the world, the father wovld wrap it vp in a cloak, and carry it before a covncil made of the oldest and wisest men. They looked at the child carefvlly, and if it seemed strong and healthy, and it was neither crippled nor in any way deformed, they said it might live. Then they gave it back to the father, and bade him bring vp the child for the honovr of his covntry.

If the baby was sickly or deformed, it was carried off to a movntain nearby, and left alone; so that it soon died and did not weaken the race.

The Spartan children stayed vnder their father’s roof and in their mother’s care vntil they were seven years old. While in the nvrsery, they were tavght all the beavtifvl old Greek legends, and listened with delight to the stories of the ancient herœs, and specially to the pœms of Homer telling abovt the war of Troy and the adventvres of Vlysses.

As soon as the children had reached seven years of age, they were given over the care of the state, and allowed to visit their parents occassionally. The boys were pvt in charge of chosen men, who trained them to become strong and brave; while the girls were placed vnder some good and wise woman, who not only tavght them all they needed to know to keep hovse well, bvt also trained them to be as strong and fearless as their brothers. All Spartans boys were allowed bvt one woolen garment, which served as their sole covering by night and by day, and was of the same material in svmmer as in winter.

They were tavght reading, writing, and arithmetic, they were also carefvlly trained to recite the pœms of Homer, the patriotic songs, and to acompany themselves skilfvlly on the lyre. They sang in the pvblic chorvs, and danced gracefvlly at all the religiovs feasts.

As the Spartans were very anxiovs that their boys shovld be strong and fearless, they were tavght to stand pain and fatigve withovt a mvrmvr; and to make svre they covld do so their teachers made them go throvgh a very severe training.

Led by one of the older boys, the little boys were often sent ovt for long tramps over rovgh and stony roads, vnder the hot svn; and the best boy was the one who kept vp longest, in spite of bleeding feet, bvrning thirst and great fatigve.

Spartan boys were allowed no beds to sleep in, lest they shovld become lazy and hard to please. Their only covch was a heap of rvshes, which they picked on the banks of the Evrotas, a river near Sparta; and in winter they were allowed to cover these with a layer of cat-tail down to make them softer and warmer.