Origins of Sparta

The Ancients

History Hit

History

4.7 • 4.5K Ratings

🗓️ 2 December 2023

⏱️ 59 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Considered one of Athens' biggest rivals, and known for their bloodthirsty and brutal nature - there's a reason the Spartans have been immortalised in history. With longstanding mythological origins, little is known about the early days of Sparta. From rumoured descendants of Heracles, through to the mythical lawmaker Lycurgus, it can be hard to separate fact and fiction. So what do we actually know about the origins of Sparta? And is there any archaeological evidence to back these claims up?

In the first episode of our new Sparta mini-series, Tristan welcomes historian and author Dr Andrew Bayliss to the podcast, to take a deep dive into Sparta's murky beginnings. Looking at the myths used to define Spartan society, the available archaeological sources, and examining how myth and history has combined - is it possible to discern how Sparta was founded? And more importantly, by who?

You can buy Andrew's book here.

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Transcript

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0:19.9	Everyone leaves a legacy. But a legacy can change over time as new generations re-examine old reputations.
0:28.0	From Wundery and Goalhanger Podcasts, I'm Afu Hirsch.
0:31.0	I'm Peter Frankepan, and in a brand new series we're exploring the lives of some of the biggest characters in history.
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0:44.8	Follow now wherever you get your podcasts. Sing, Muses! Sing to me a story of heroes, and the deathless gods who govern Earth, sea, and
1:12.0	and sky.
1:14.0	That is Tirtaeus' quiet invocation as he holds weathered palms up to the campfire.
1:21.8	He is not alone.
1:23.0	Spartan soldiers are gathered about the fire too,
1:27.0	cooking rations, boiling water, sharpening blades.
1:31.0	They all labour with quiet intensity, keeping their eyes upon their work.
1:37.0	None dare look up. None dare look out. At the hundreds of other campfires that twinkle out there on the other side of
1:47.1	the plane, a fledgling constellation heralding the battle to come at daybreak.
1:55.0	But at Tirtaeus' words, the soldiers turned to him with rapt attention.
2:01.0	When the voice of Sparta speaks, with rapt attention.
2:02.6	When the voice of Sparta speaks, all listen.
2:07.2	He was a soldier once, like them.
2:10.3	His shattered leg and missing eye speak to that profession.
2:14.0	Now he is a poet, a singer so sage that he shares counsel with generals and kings.
	...

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