2 Comments TIL that the constitution of Ancient Sparta (the “Great Rhetra”) was simultaneously a state secret kept in text by the oracle of Delphi, as well as verbal and illegal for anyone to write down. by whatilearned December 10, 2022, 12:52 pm 12 Points Upvote Downvote
5 Comments TIL of the Spartathlon, a 246 kilometer race between Athens and modern-day Sparta. It is based on the run of Pheidippides, who in 490 BC ran from Athens to Sparta before the Battle of Marathon in a day and a half to seek aid against the Persians. by whatilearned November 21, 2022, 11:31 pm 12 Points Upvote Downvote
TIL Sparta was defeated in battle by an elite Theban unit called the Sacred Band. The unit was made up of 150 pairs of male lovers who would fight harder with their lover by their side. by whatilearned July 16, 2022, 4:42 pm 12 Points Upvote Downvote
4 Comments TIL that ancient Sparta was a diarchy, a nation ruled by 2 kings. by whatilearned April 11, 2022, 5:59 pm 12 Points Upvote Downvote
1 Comment There’s a famous saying attributed to ancient Sparta, “Come back with your shield, or on it.” In ancient Greece, were those killed in battle carried home on top of their shields? How did that work? by HistoryBuff March 24, 2022, 11:51 am 12 Points Upvote Downvote
TIL Cynisca the princess of Sparta was the first woman to win at the Olympic Games. by whatilearned November 27, 2021, 3:26 pm 12 Points Upvote Downvote
Was sparta only memorable for their warrior culture? How was the life there compared to the other city-states? Where they really inferiors on all other manners? by HistoryBuff November 6, 2021, 10:39 am 12 Points Upvote Downvote
3 Comments TIL pre-colonial Benin was home to the Dahomey Kingdom which Europeans called “Black Sparta” because of its advanced military culture. It famously had an elite all-female division called the Ahosi or the “Dahomean Amazons” which partially inspired Marvel’s Wakanda. by whatilearned October 19, 2021, 4:45 pm 12 Points Upvote Downvote
3 Comments TIL that the word “laconic” comes from Laconia in Greece, where the people were known for terse, witty remarks to level (or troll) others. After invading Greece, Philip II of Macedonia asked Sparta if he should come as friend or foe. Their reply was “Neither.” by whatilearned September 15, 2021, 3:31 pm 12 Points Upvote Downvote
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