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Spartan History and Archaeology1

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 February 2009

R. M. Cook
R. M. Cook
Affiliation:
Museum of Classical Archaeology, Cambridge
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Extract

ARCHAEOLOGYTHEClassical Spartans were noted for their austerity, which seemed already ancient to writers of the fifth century B.C. The early poetry and art of their country show a considerable aesthetic sense. This apparent contradiction has caused some students to conclude that the strict Lycurgan regimen was not introduced till the middle or even the end of the sixth century (when literature and art were dead or died) and that before that date Sparta had culturally been developing in much the same way as other important Greek states. The argument is unsound.

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Type
Research Article
Information
The Classical Quarterly , Volume 12 , Issue 1 , May 1962, pp. 156 - 158
Copyright
Copyright © The Classical Association 1962

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References

page 156 note 2 This is perhaps the reason for the scenes of dinner parties and revels on Laconian pottery around the mid sixth century (for references see Lane, E. A., B.S.A. xxxiv. 158–9 and 160–1). These subjects are borrowed from Corinthian vase-painting, but cannot have been offensive to the Laconian craftsmen and their clients.Google Scholar

page 156 note 3 Lane, E. A., B.S.A. xxxiv. 99–189, especially 150–4Google Scholar; Shefton, B. B., B.S.A. xlix (1954), 299–310.Google Scholar

page 156 note 4 That Laconian vase-painters felt such competition can be deduced from their imitation of other schools.

page 156 note 5 For references see Lippold, G., Die griechische Plastik, pp. 30–33, 89, 105–6Google Scholar; Langlotz, E., Fruhgriechische Bildhauerschulen, pp. 86–98.Google Scholar

page 156 note 6 See Charbonneaux, J., Les Bronzes grecs, pp. 69–70Google Scholar; Politis, L., A.E. 1936, 147–74Google Scholar; Brown, W. L., The Etruscan Lion, p. 119Google Scholar. The great bowl sent in the 540's to Croesus (Hdt, . 1. 70Google Scholar) was also presumably of Laconian work. The Vix krater, of the last quarter of the sixth century, is probably Laconian; if not, it is under strong Laconian influence (Joffroy, R., Mon. Piot xlviii. 1 [1954]Google Scholar; Rumpf, A. in Charites, , pp. 127–35).Google Scholar

page 157 note 1 Jenkins, R. J. H., B.S.A. xxxiii. 66–79; and Dedalica.Google Scholar

page 157 note 2 Lippold, , op. cit., pl. 8. 1Google Scholar; Lullies, R. and Hirmer, M., Greek Sculpture, pl. 10.Google Scholar

page 157 note 3 Andronikos, M., Pelopormesiaka, vol. A, pp. 253–314Google Scholar; Lippold, , op. cit., p. 89, n. 11Google Scholar; Johansen, K. F., The Attic Grave-Reliefs, pp. 82–88.Google Scholar

page 157 note 4 Lippold, , op. cit., pl. 32. 4.Google Scholar Note also the relief from Geraki of the second quarter of the fifth century (Johansen, , op. cit., fig. 40).Google Scholar

page 157 note 5 Dawkins, R. M. in Artemis Orthia, pp. 20–22 and figs. 5 and 8.Google Scholar

page 157 note 6 1. 10. 1–3.

page 157 note 7 See Paus, . 3. 11–16.Google Scholar It is interesting to compare Pausanias' description of Sparta with his description of such other cities as Elis and Megara. Sparta, of course, was a small city (Xen, . R.L. 1. 1).Google Scholar

page 157 note 8 On this remarkable building see Vitr, . 1. 1–6Google Scholar; the building was extended greatly (Paus, . 3. 11. 3), but the caryatids seem to have belonged to the original stage.Google Scholar

page 157 note 9 Paus, . 3. 18. 6–19. 5Google Scholar. For the excavation, which was illuminating, see Fiechter, E., J.d.I. xxxiii (1918), 107–245Google Scholar; Buschor, E., A.M. lii (1927), 15–21Google Scholar; von Massow, W.Google Scholar, ibid. 65–85.

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page 157 note 11 The temple of Hera at Olympia had Laconian revetments and a probably Laconian cult image (see n. 2, above); so it may well have been built by a Laconian. Three Laconian pots of the second quarter of the sixth century show, though not very elegantly, fountain houses with columned porch and one a building in construction (C.V.A. Louvre i, pl. 25. 12Google Scholar; Boll. d'Arte, xxxix [1954], 289–95, figs. 1 and 4Google Scholar; Boehlau, J., Aus ionischen und italischen Nekropolen, pl. 10. 4). Incidentally, the second of these makes a precocious attempt at perspective in the architraves.Google Scholar

page 158 note 1 Xen, . R.L. 14.Google Scholar

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page 158 note 3 The Parparonia may have taken place in the Argolid and Thuria is in Messenia.

page 158 note 4 The Spartans were not without culture, even if it was of a liberal arts type; in particular they liked ‘archaeology’ (Plato, , Hp. Ma. 285: I owe this reference to DrPlommer, W. H.).Google Scholar