Sparta religion
Sparta- An ancient city in Greece, the capital of Laconia and the most powerful state of the Peloponnese.In Sparta religion was a way of bringing the community together and uniting the Gods with the everyday political and social institutions of the Spartan state. The mythical twin Spartan heroes the Dioscuri Castor and Pollux were particularly important to the Spartans.*Other Gods that were worshipped by the Spartans were Apollo Larneios, Apollo Chalkioikos, Helen, Leucippide and Lykourgos..However, Gods such as Hephaestus who were popular in other parts of Greece were not worshiped by the Spartans. Another God such as Dionysus who was the god of wine was also not worshipped by the Spartans as they did not drink wine because they believed this was not conductive to produce good warriors.Spartans strongly supported their religion and had serious attitudes to religion and were well-known for their obedience to the Gods.*Herodutus tells us the importance of religion to the Spartans in the famous story at Pheidippides, the Athenian runner who was send to Sparta asking help for the battle of Marathon. Herodotus states that "The Spartans, though move by the appeal, and willing to send help to Athens, were unable to
It was the 9th day of the months and they said they could not take the field until the moon was full. send it promptly because they did not wish to break their laws. The festival featured choral performances, the setting up of images of Apollo and Artemis. A part of the religion of Sparta major festivals were celebrated, some that were common to other Greek city states and also ones that were peculiar to the Spartans. In the cult an endurance test took place in front of family and friends, Songs and dances were followed by a parade of the young men in fine clothes after their ordeal. At the site arhaeologists have found many small votive lead figurine and masks used in the cult. After the burial, for 10 days there was no meeting for market, or selection of magistrates. The combining of the two goddess' became a particular religious observation. The Hyakinthia was a festival to celebrate the death of Hyakinthos who was the lover of the God Apollo and died when Apollo accidentally hit him with a discus. These festivals include the Hyakinthia, the Gymnopaedia, the cult of Artemis Orthis and the Karneia which was an extremely important festival for the Spartans. One young man, who first prayed to the city-god ran, while other unmarried men, who were called the grape-cluster runners, chased him. The festival has been interpreted as a "rite of passage" on the way to manhood. Were're told by Plutarch that Lycourgos places heavy emphasis on social obedience at the Gymnppaedia, that those who did not follow the standards of Sparta were excluded from the events and the planning of the festival. Frost also tells us that "The Spartans has obviously committed themselves to assisting the Athenians an any clash with the Persians. According to Pausanias this was the most solemn of all Lakonian festivals.
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