Everyday Life
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EVERYDAY LIFE DIFFERENT FOR SOCIAL CLASSES: different social classes would have led
different daily lives:
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Helots: their lives centred around agriculture and labour such as domestic duties
Perioki: skilled work or domestic duties
Spartans: centred around military training and activities
Daily Life and Leisure Activities
- LEISURE TIME (a lot): it is likely that Spartan citizens had more leisure time that many citizens of
other Greek states because their work was largely done by the Helot and Periokoi population
Leisure Activities
- HUNTING: Hunting was one of the most popular leisure
activities for Spartans  the foothills of Mt Taygetos
was an area known as ‘Therai’ meaning hunting
grounds
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ATHLETICS: the Spartans were renowned for their athletic abilities both men and women
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Hunting by Horse: With hunting on horseback there could be a
spirited chases and a quarry could be run to the ground and
caught on foot with the aid of helot 'beaters' and dogs, these
would surround the animal.
Hunting Dogs: Lakonian hounds which were thought to have a
little more wolf in them were esteemed throughout Greece as hunting dogs.
No Horse: If one didn't own a horse they could still hunt game by chasing after hares and deers and have a go at
catching them with the help of dogs and helots with nets.
Rite of Passage (Boar Hunting): to have killed a boar was a mark of great social distinction for a man and the
killing of one's first boar was for a young man a 'rite of passage' to full manhood.
Types: the Spartans competed in running, discus, javelin, jumping, wrestling and it is thought hey invented
boxing
Culture: athletics was an important part of Spartan culture/daily life and it is consistent with their self-discipline
HORSE RACING/CHARIOT RACING: both men and women engaged in chariot racing  in the
latter part of the 5th century Sparta enjoyed great success in the four-horse chariot event at the
Olympics
RELIGIOUS FESTIVALS: provided another social activity throughout the calendar and involved
feasting, singing and dancing
FESTIVALS & DRINKING: provided the whole community with the opportunity for
entertainment and social bonding
Food and Clothing
Food
- NUTRITIOUS/BASIC: the Spartan diet was nutritious but basic  the Sysstia were emant to
ensure that all Spartans had the same food
- AGRICULTURE (food): Sparta was a productive agricultural region  their diet consisted of:
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Crops: included grains such as wheat and barley
Fruit: such as figs and grapes used to make wine
Meat: from sheep and goats game was also eaten
Dairy products: made from the milk of goats and sheep such as Cheese
Pigs Blood: soup given during the agoge
Other: included honey from local hives and olives and olive oil
Clothing
- SIMPLE: garments were simple, functional and homemade
- MEN: the types of dress included
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WOMEN: the type of dress included:
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Hoplite Dress: Spartan soldiers wore, Crimson tunics and cloaks, as symbols of wealth and power, helmets,
breastplate, leg greaves. They carried a spear, and a shield.
Spartan Men: Normal people wore plain or brightly coloured and patterned coloured tunics, with leather sandals.
Forbidden: were expressly forbidden to wear make-up, jewellery, perfume or dye clothes
Peplos: the main garment was a short revealing Peplos/tunic fasted on the shoulders it was not sewn down the
side and allowed he women to move freely and exercise
Leather Sandals: also worse leather sandals
YOUTHS: were limited to wearing one garment a year
RELIGIOUS CEREMONIES: the dress for religious ceremonies was more formal
Marriage Customs
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AGE: marriage in Sparta was for procreation instead of Romance the couples were married a
lot older compared to other parts of Greece:
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ARRANGED: evidence suggests that arrangements were made between families, although some
rituals were secretive  dowries and consideration in wealth were of some importance
MARRIAGE BY CAPTURE: by which a man chose his bride and carried her off was a symbolic act
OTHER RITUALS: the Spartan marriage ceremony rituals were as follows:
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Men: 20--30
Women: 18 when they were fully matured instead of 13 like in Athens
Hair Clipped: she first shaved her head to the scalp
Dressed in Men’s Clothing: then dressed in a man’s cloak and sandals
Bridegroom Slips Away from barracks: after having dinner in the messes he slipped away in the darkness  he
entered the darkened room and consummated the marriage  then depart back to the barracks
PRE NUPTIAL WEDDING FEAST: it is thought that some sort of pre-nuptial wedding feast took
place among the women only i.e. cakes in the shapes of breasts were eaten and a hymn
‘Partheneion’ was sung by young girls
SECRET: the ceremony was kept secret until a child was produced  if the wife was barren a
new marriage contract could be arranged
Occupations
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SPARTIATES: were full time soldiers  a small number filled various roles of government
officials
HELOTS: they were agricultural workers, domestic servants and nurses for families of
Spartinates
PERIOKOI: were the crafts workers, manufacturers, fishermen and traders