Agoge was the system of education and punishment which taught the Spartan males the true values of Spartan life and society. The boys learnt obedience to the law, companionship, bravery and self-sacrifice. After the second Messenian War Spartan life was based on controlling a large number of enslaved helots. . Through its hard training the Agoge taught in Spartan citizens mental and physical qualities needed to preserve their life and society to defend it against internal and external threats. Ten days after a child was born, Spartan babies were inspected by the ephors and if not up to standard they were placed on Mt Taygetus to die. Sickly or disabled children would not grow up to be strong worriers.
After the second Messenian War Spartan …show more content…
Ten days after a child was born, Spartan babies were inspected by the ephors and if not up to standard they were placed on Mt Taygetus to die. Sickly or disabled children would not grow up to be strong worriers. At the age of 7 Spartan boys entered Agoge and lived in agelai of terms and began their training in sport. Boy are never unsupervised. The paidonomos, aided by older boys called eirens were armed with whips, constantly enforcing punishment. According to Xenophon, old men stirred up disputes and arguments to encourage fighting among the boys. From the age of 10, boys were taught patriotic and martial music and dances. Training intensified from the age of 12. Boys were fed smallest rations and were expected to steal food. Punishments were hard and serve if the boys were caught stealing food. This encourage independence and prepared boys for the hardships of war. Teenage boys accompanied others on hunting trips to learn the new hunting skills that they hadn’t learnt yet and to watch another man’s behaviour. The boys attended the syssition to listen to other experienced stat men’s and hear about nobles deeds in battle which is important to their enculturation. Around the age of 18 the boys they could become eirens and join the krpteia, the Spartan secret police which encouraged the boys to carry out violence against helots. They could were allowed to beat and murder any helot they chose
After the second Messenian War Spartan …show more content…
Ten days after a child was born, Spartan babies were inspected by the ephors and if not up to standard they were placed on Mt Taygetus to die. Sickly or disabled children would not grow up to be strong worriers. At the age of 7 Spartan boys entered Agoge and lived in agelai of terms and began their training in sport. Boy are never unsupervised. The paidonomos, aided by older boys called eirens were armed with whips, constantly enforcing punishment. According to Xenophon, old men stirred up disputes and arguments to encourage fighting among the boys. From the age of 10, boys were taught patriotic and martial music and dances. Training intensified from the age of 12. Boys were fed smallest rations and were expected to steal food. Punishments were hard and serve if the boys were caught stealing food. This encourage independence and prepared boys for the hardships of war. Teenage boys accompanied others on hunting trips to learn the new hunting skills that they hadn’t learnt yet and to watch another man’s behaviour. The boys attended the syssition to listen to other experienced stat men’s and hear about nobles deeds in battle which is important to their enculturation. Around the age of 18 the boys they could become eirens and join the krpteia, the Spartan secret police which encouraged the boys to carry out violence against helots. They could were allowed to beat and murder any helot they chose