Spartan History Podcast

025. Spartiates

Steven Whitehead Season 1 Episode 25

EPISODE 25: SPARTIATES

Welcome back folks to the Spartan History Podcast. Stepping back into the solo format to once again put another facet of pre-classical Sparta under the microscope. This time it is the ruling class, the Homoioi or Spartiates as they referred to themselves. 

This section of society, dedicated entirely to the pursuit of warfare, were propped up by the helot class who managed their vast land holdings. There was a complex system of land tenure within Sparta which was designed to provide for each the cost of his citizenship, that is the monthly contribution of produce to the dining halls every Spartiate was obliged to dine at.

We'll break down the system of land ownership and how it relates to the mess halls. Along with this I'll describe in brief the marital practices within the upper echelons of the Spartan world.

Famed for their equality, we'll finish this episode by looking at the massive differences between the individual Homoioi and see why that word is better translated as 'similars,' rather than 'equals.' 

I hope you all enjoy and take good care.

CONTRIBUTE HERE
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/spartanhistory
https://paypal.me/SpartanHistory

FIND ME HERE
https://www.facebook.com/spartanhistorypodcast
https://twitter.com/Spartan_History