Who said I couldn’t ride a horse?
The horseman of Sparta
Riding horseback along the outskirts of historic Sparta was a spiritual experience. Only 17 at the time, I still recall today, some 37 years later, the steep meandering dirt tracks, the same tracks on which my ancestors used and went about their daily work, creating a very strong nation built on discipline, extraordinary focus, pride, strength and a love for life.
Perhaps King Leonidas and his 300 men crossed this path on their way to the Battle of Thermopylae; where the horizon was blackened by thousands of Persian ships; or perhaps Helen of Troy,(the face that turned a 1,000 ships) spent time together with her husband, Menelaus the King of Sparta at the very spot where this photo was taken some 3,200 years ago?
The connection was there, and still is!
THE STRONG NATION
From the moment a Spartan girl or a boy was born, the military and the city state were the center of every Spartan citizen’s life.
Both male and female babies were determined by city state if they were strong enough to be Spartan citizens. If the infants were too week or sick, they were abandoned in amongst the trees and bushes to die.
When a male Spartan reached 7 years of age, he was taken from his mother and sent to live in special military barracks for 23 years.where they were taught discipline, athletics, survival skills, hunting, weapons training and how to endure the pain.
After 13 years of constant rigorous training the then boys became a Spartan soldier and served their state until the age of 60!
The life of a Spartan soldier was just that, eating, sleeping, training with their fellow soldiers. They were allowed to marry, but couldn’t live with their wives until they reached 30 years of age.
This soldier centered state was the most liberal state in regards to the status of women. While women didn’t go through military training, they were required to be educated along similar lines. Education for a women was not academic but rather gruelling physical education training. Infant girls were also exposed to die if they were judged to be weak; they were later subject to physical and gymnastics training.
MODERN SPARTI
Sparti is capital of Laconia and it is located in Southern Greece. It borders Arcadia and Messinia in what is called the Peloponnese Peninsula. This is a very rugged and mountainous region with picture perfect castles and ruins, once the sanctuary for the strongest and bravest army in the world.
Sparti today is built on the same soil as Ancient Sparta. Back in 1834, King Otto announced that the city shall be built on the soil where Ancient Sparta lied.
Modern Sparti is characterised with tree-lined boulevards, parks interspersed with ancient ruins. The centre of the city is where King Leonidas lies, buried beneath large boulders, for we all believe that he would rise to avenge the death of his 300 if allowed to. It makes for a very moving and remarkable sight to see.
NB. Murmerings about the tavernas of Sparti have it that when I was born , my Spartan father put me out in the fields for a month with the view that if i survived i would be a worthy Spartan…..word has it that after 3 weeks I walked back!!!
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