final spartan paper final

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Feb 20, 2024

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In Plutarch's "Life of Lycurgus," Chapter 28 is a critical juncture that challenges preconceptions of Spartan discipline. This captivating journey offers an insightful glimpse into Spartan society during the 9th century BCE. The chapter delves into the controversial 'krypteia,' analyzing Plutarch's language, vibrant imagery, and cultural references to unravel the motivations behind this cryptic institution. This essay seeks to unravel the ambiguity shrouding the 'krypteia's origins, while decoding its alignment with Lycurgus's principles. The deliberate ambiguity in Plutarch's narrative takes center stage, urging readers to confront the intricacies of Spartan society. By examining the mistreatment of the helots, especially in the aftermath of the earthquake, we shed light on the crucial role played by the 'krypteia' in unraveling the complex dynamics that define Spartan society and ethos. Plutarch's depiction of Spartan values, the selection procedure, and the military adaptation of the institution enriches our comprehension of Spartan practices. By analyzing various viewpoints of historians and considering the mistreatment of helots, particularly after the Great Earthquake, the 'krypteia' is revealed as a significant perspective that extends beyond its role as a secret group. The culmination of the aggressive and violent actions of the Spartan training camps resonated in the treatment of the helots, as Spartan warriors beat, and many times, killed this lower class. Just after the graduation from the agôgê, young men, around eighteen years of age, “set out at the dead of night with the minimum of clothing and supplies to ruthlessly hunt down and eliminate helots, particularly the few individuals, we can suppose, who were judged capable of becoming nuclei of discontent” (insert proper citation). This grim reality illuminates the darker dimensions within Spartan governance and emphasizes the power dynamics and maltreatment experienced by the helots. The central issue revolves around the attribution of the 'krypteia' to Lycurgus, a matter that Plutarch approaches with noticeable hesitancy. This reluctance is particularly intriguing, considering the general fairness and impartiality evident in Lycurgus's other legislations. Lycurgus, known for his commitment to justice, appears somewhat incongruent with an institution as clandestine and morally ambiguous as the 'krypteia.' Plutarch's hesitancy serves as a poignant point of analysis, prompting readers to delve into the nature of Spartan institutions and contemplate the extent of Lycurgus's influence. Plutarch's intentional vagueness creates a historical haze that makes readers wonder about the 'krypteia's' basic premises and if they are consistent with Lycurgus's ideas. Lycurgus is traditionally portrayed as a lawgiver who sought to instill virtues of justice, equality, and military prowess in the Spartan way of life. The covert and brutal operations of the 'krypteia' seem at odds with these principles, prompting a revaluation of its origins and the extent to which Lycurgus may have endorsed such clandestine practices. When one considers the overall justice displayed in Lycurgus's other laws, Plutarch's reluctance to attribute the 'krypteia' to Lycurgus becomes more fascinating. Concerning the compatibility of Lycurgus's ideas with the covert "krypteia," Nafissi points out that the Spartan system was

created to "discourage individual Spartiates from developing multifaceted relationships with the helots supporting them". 1 Examining specific instances from Plutarch's narrative further highlights the incongruity between the 'krypteia' and Lycurgus's principles. The 'Krypteia' operated stealthily, executing Helots under the cover of darkness, a stark contrast to Lycurgus's principles of justice and fairness. Instances where even those deemed brave and emancipated mysteriously disappeared underscore a disconnect between the proclaimed ideals of Lycurgus and the harsh reality of the 'krypteia.' Plutarch's incorporation of Aristotle's passage in Chapter 28, Section 4, emphasizes this conflict, stating, "And Aristotle specifically states that the ephors declared a formal war on the Helots as soon as they assumed office, so that there would be no impiety in killing them." This citation accentuates the divergence between Lycurgus's counsel on justice and the courteous demeanor Spartans were expected to exhibit, and the actual implementation of ephors and 'krypteia' in the covert killing of rebellious Helots. The mistreatment of the helots, as described by Plutarch, is intricately linked to the 'krypteia' and broader societal dynamics. The harsh measures imposed on the helots, including arbitrary abuse and the annual declaration of war by the ephors, 2 highlight the power dynamics and maltreatment experienced by the helot population. The helots are a hidden threat, according to historian Michael Whitby, who compares them to a "human volcano." He says that the helots' refusal to submit led to the formation of the powerful Spartan military and forced the Spartiates to unite as a society devoted to self-discipline. Whitby emphasises that the primary cause of fear and possible rebellions in Spartan society is the helots. 3 Thucydides, in his account, supports the grim reality, stating that the helots, despite claiming freedom for their distinguished service, were eventually eradicated by the Spartans, leaving their fate shrouded in mystery. 4 This perspective from Thucydides underscores the intricate and often brutal dynamics characterizing the relationship between the Spartans and the helots. The views of Plutarch and Thucydides of the Spartans and their policies diverge. While praising the Spartans for their bravery and self-control, Plutarch also criticizes them for their brutality and conceit. While acknowledging the might and reputation of the Spartans, Thucydides nevertheless seemed to sympathise with the rebels and their fight for independence. Diodorus Siculus, however, credits the rebellion to the Helots as well as the Messenians, emphasising their combined insurrection and the conquest of Ithome, a fortified hill in Messenia, as well as the pillage of Lacedaemonian land. Additionally, Diodorus Siculus reports that the Athenians dispatched a troop of hoplites led by Cimon, the son of Miltiades, and that the Spartans requested assistance from 1 John David Lewis, “Lykourgos the Spartan ‘Lawgiver’”, The Objective Standard 2, no. 4 (2007): 93-123. 2 Plutarch, Life of Lycurgus, at chap. 28.4 3 G. E. M. De Ste Croix, "The Helot Threat," In Sparta, edited by Whitby Michael, 190-95, (Edinburgh, Scotland: Edinburgh University Press, 2002). 4 Thucydides, History of the Peloponnesian War , trans. Rex Warner (London, England: Penguin Classics, 1963), 1.101.2.

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