This is an unofficial weblog Carnival for those with interest to read weblog posts on ancient Sparta. There is a lack of intensity and number in weblog posts concerning ancient Sparta; however, we cannot blame anyone for this reality.
Ancient and even Medieval Sparta, Laconia and Messenia are a difficult area of specialized research. We know that! Sparta’s editorial board for two years (started in 2004 with the Sparta’s Journal) seek to explore this ancient region in Greece and call all to start reflecting on this matter. Today, the first – but still unofficial – Spartan Carnival will present a number of posts published in October. Eventually you will decide if you wish a scheduled Spartan Carnival to be produced, therefore, please give us your opinion.
The Moon’s Favors presents a book review by Tam Palaima, initially published in the Times Higher Education Supplement (13 October 2006). Thermopylae: The Battle That Changed the World is a book by Paul Cartledge in which he presents clearly the historical facts of the battle as well as the Cartledge ability to contemplate the question ‘if the battle had never taken place, then what?’
In The Center for "B-Science" we find an article entitled Eugenics and the Future of the Human Species in which the concept of eugenics is compared with the contemporary liberal thought and is beng, also, considered and argued as the base of cross-breeding (hybridization). Sparta, and ancient Greece is contrasted with Nazi Germany, the USA and other socio-political structures. A very insightful article by Sam Vaknin.
The eminent Classical resource fountain rogueclassicism is referencing Athens News and the article available on Messene’s Archaeological Remains.
Jill over at .html” target=”_blank”>Military Wives, Past and Present. Her reflections – inspired by the 300 trailer and forthcoming movie – discuss the interconnection in between Gorgo and the Spartan wives and the modern “military wives”. For Jill, “Spartan women were afforded much more freedom than their other Greek counterparts” because of the continuous absence of their men from the socio-political and economic scene, and thus, they were “the quintessential military wives.” Jill often “thinks of Spartan women sometimes when I offer advice to fellow military wives”, since “every woman who has had to face that sickening fear of saying a goodbye in the face of war can probably sympathize a little with Gorgo.” A very lovely and interesting article.
N.S. Gill ponders on A Student’s Life in Ancient Sparta. The article is based upon T. Rutherford Harley’s (1934) "The Public School of Sparta" (Greece & Rome, Vol. 3, No. 9), James Whitley’s (1997) “Cretan Laws and Cretan Literacy” (American Journal of Archaeology, Vol. 101, No. 4) and Paul Cartledge’s (1978) “Literacy in the Spartan Oligarchy,” in the Journal of Hellenic Studies (Vol. 98, 1978, pp. 25-37). An amazing summary of the facts and her resources, definitely a post that you must read.
