Lonely Planet: A Spartan Existence
A Spartan Existence
The bellicose Spartans sacrificed all the finer
things in life for military expertise. Male
children were examined at birth by the city
council and those deemed too weak to
become good soldiers were left to die of
exposure. Those fortunate enough to survive
babyhood were taken away from their
mothers at the age of seven to undergo
rigorous military training. The training seems
to have consisted mainly of beatings and
deprivations of all kinds. They were forced to
go barefoot, even in winter, and were starved
so that they would have to steal food for
survival. If discovered, they were punished
not for the crime, but for allowing themselves
to get caught: another lash of the whip.
Although girls were allowed to stay
with their mothers, they also underwent tough
physical training so that they would give birth
to healthy sons.
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