The forgotten history of Spartan women and their role in society

Sparta was a prominent city-state in ancient Greece, located in the Laconia on the Peloponnese.

Known for its military prowess, Sparta's society was centred around producing elite warriors, with its hoplites being among the most feared fighters in Greece. 

Sparta rose to dominance around the 7th century BCE and continued until it's defeat at the Battle of Leuctra in 371 BCE. 

Sparta was a highly militarized society, and its citizens were trained from a young age to become physically strong. Women in Sparta were no exception.

They were expected to be fit and strong, and were trained in sports, hunting, and other athletic activities.

This emphasis on physical training was intended to produce healthy children and strong soldiers.

Spartan women were famously said to have told their sons departing for battle, 'Come back with your shield, or on it,' encapsulating the ethos of duty and sacrifice ingrained in their culture.

Women in Sparta were also expected to be educated and were encouraged to engage in intellectual pursuits.

This education was not only for personal development, but also to enable women to participate in public life.

In fact, Spartan women were known for their intelligence, and often played a role in decision-making in their households as well as estates and property while their husbands were away on military service.

Gorgo, the queen of Sparta and wife of King Leonidas I, is one of the few Spartan women named in historical sources, known for her wisdom and wit.

Her most famous quote was in response to an Athenian woman who asked why Spartan women "rule their men". Gorgo sharply replied, "Because we are the only women that are mothers of men."

Girls in Sparta were raised to be strong and healthy, just like the boys.

They received an education in physical fitness, athletics, and combat skills, which included activities such as running, wrestling, and throwing the javelin.

They were also taught to read and write, and learned music, poetry and dance, which were important for religious and cultural events.

However, their education focused more on practical skills than on the literary and artistic pursuits that were valued in other Greek cities.

Spartan girls were expected to be physically tough and self-sufficient, and they were encouraged to be competitive with their peers.

These skills prepared them for their role in Spartan society, where they were expected to bear strong, healthy sons and manage household effectively while the men were away at war.

Spartan women were also responsible for ensuring the survival of the state.

Spartan men were expected to dedicate their lives to military service, and as a result, the number of Spartan citizens, who could become soldiers, remained relatively small.

To address this issue, Spartan women were encouraged to have multiple children, and were honored for their reproductive prowess.

Some scholars believe that Spartan women who died in childbirth were celebrated as heroes. However, this view has been questioned in recent times.

While women in Spartan society were primarily expected to marry and have children, they did enjoy some freedoms that were not available to girls in other Greek cities.

For example, they were allowed to own their own and inherit property.

By the 4th century BCE, Spartan women reportedly owned nearly two-fifths of the land in Sparta, a fact noted by Aristotle, who criticized this concentration of wealth among women.

Spartan women were also able to participate in public life and engaged in athletic competitions. 

In comparison to the city-state of Athens, where women were largely confined to their own homes, Spartan women enjoyed much more freedom.

Despite their many contributions, Spartan women have been largely overlooked in the historical record.

This is partly due to the fact that Spartan society was highly conservative, and many of its traditions were passed down through oral history rather than written documents.

Additionally, many of the surviving accounts of Spartan society were written by outsiders who had a limited understanding of the nuances of Spartan life.