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Journal of Ancient Spartan and Greek History

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The Worship and role of Religion in the formation of the Spartan State

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Column: Politics by Nikolaos Kouloumpis | First submitted in Jan 03, 2010 GetCITED | CiteULike |

Studying the history of ancient Sparta, a significant Doric Centre of ancient times, and taking into account the dominant elements of political and social organization, is immediately understood a specific nature of world’s unique governance model.

The role of the common religious consciousness that the Dorians wanted to grow, included a duplex link of citizens with Gods’ communication and offerings, as defined in societies of Archaic times. The Greek culture, meaning, its constituent components such as philosophy, poetry, music, theatre, sports, architecture and every single science, were protected and emanated by Sacred Rules of statutory Patroons Gods.

The traveller Pausanias, in the 2 ^nd AD century recorded in his third book his experiences, oddities, history, manners, customs and religious traditions gained through fifteen total journeys made in Laconia. In his text has been preserved important information on the religious feelings and beliefs of the Laconian cults both contemporary, but mainly of the ancient, often making references to periods which were reaching the Haze of Myth.

The inventory of the major centres of worship tradition, like the Temple of Artemis Orthias, the Menelaion, the Sanctuary of Amyklaion Apollo etc., and the role they played in shaping the Spartan constitution, is the main objective of the following article.

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