.” To call it a mere barracks bereft of high
culture, as did certain Athenian propagandists,
was probably going to far- but not all that much
too far.” Paul Cartledge
 Culture
can be defined as all the ways of
life, arts, beliefs and institutions of a
population that are passed down from
generation to generation. Culture has been
called "the way of life for an entire society."
As such, it includes codes of manners, dress,
language, religion, rituals, norms of
behavior such as law and morality, and
systems of belief as well as the art, music
and architecture

 Culture
is often embedded and transmitted
through stories, whether they are deep and
obviously intended as learning devices, or
whether they appear more subtly, for
example in humor and jokes.
 Spartan myths such as those of Helen and
Menelaus, Leonidas elevated the values of
courage and self sacrifice ,state needs over
individual needs.



Spartan Society from Archaic times to the 4th century cannot be
said to be in any way, politically, economically or culturally a
static one. Archaeological evidence from such sites as Artemis
Orthia and the Meneleon suggest a rich variety of artistic skill
using bronze, ivory, terracotta and limestone down to the late 6th
century BC. The writing of and appreciation of poetry such as
Tyrtaeus, Terpander and Alcman, although profuse in the early
period still resonates in the classical 5th and 4th centuries despite
the impact of Lycurgan reforms.
What can be seen over time, however, is the appropriation and
transmission of certain cultural values which supported the norms
of a militaristic society. Poetry such as Tyrtaeus which evoked the
emotions of courage and self sacrifice became almost iconic,
while art and sculpture, still displaying skill became more
domestic (bone rather than imported ivory) and utilitarian (
kyliks cups)
Cartledge’s opinions provide a freeze frame view and reflects
only the devolution of Spartan culture in the 5th and 4th
centuries, rather than the rich and varied culture of the 8th, 7th
and 6th centuries BC.