Cultural Life: The Ancient Writers on Sparta:
Most Contemporary Greek writers did not have a first hand account of Spartan
Society and much of what they did know was distorted, exaggerated or
misinterpreted. The reasons for these distortions are many and varied:

No Spartan chose to share his knowledge with the outside world. Spartans
were forbidden to travel abroad and rarely were outsiders allowed to spend
time in Sparta. Those who were permitted in Sparta gained only a limited
view.

The few documented writers and poets who lived under the Spartan system are
believed to exhibit strong bias. Tyrtaeus wrote propaganda and Alcman wrote
lyric poetry.

Sparta had an oral tradition in regards to history which may not have been
accurate.

Thucydides found the Spartans suspicious, hostile and secretive and didn’t
trust them.

After the Athenian defeat in the Peloponnesian war, those who favoured
oligarch began to look at why Sparta had won the war, believing it to be the
work of their constitution.

Xenophon was an Athenian who lived in Sparta and worshipped the Spartan
military system. Had strong ties to king Agesiliaus and worshipped Lycurgus
as Sparta’s lawgiver.

Plato believed that Spartan discipline, austerity and authoritarianism would
help produce a good life. Supported his view of the ideal state.

Much of what Aristotle wrote about Sparta is now lost. (Thorough study of
Spartan society.)
Author
Period
Origin
Description
Herodotus
5th
Century
Asia Minor
Wrote mainly about Sparta’s foreign policy. Criticised
the constitution. Wrote about role and function /
freedoms awarded to women. Persian Wars and Sparta’s
Military prowess.
Thucydides
5th
century
Athenian
Did not write about Spartan life, but discussed Sparta’s
foreign policy. While he did not write favourably about
Sparta, he was impressed by their eunomia.
(Good order)
Xenophon
4th
Century
Athenian
Lived in
Sparta
Gives information about Sparta’s military system, their
social customs and laws including Lycurgus. Admired
the Spartans and their system.
Plato
5th/4th
Centuries
4th
Century
Athenian
Admired the Spartan system and praised its order,
austerity and stability.
Pupil of Plato and influenced by Plato’s ideas. Admired
Sparta’s austerity and stability which he attributed to
Sparta’s mixed constitution. Criticised the system of
land ownership and the problems of maintaining a
number of land holdings within a small elite group.
Attributed Sparta’s downfall to the unique power of
Spartan women.
Plutarch
1st
Century
AD
Boeotia
Gave a complete account of the Spartan constitution and
praised all aspects. Did admit to doubt about life of
Lycurgus.
Pausanias
2nd
Century
AD
Asia Minor
Made reference to the Spartan constitution.
Architecture, death burial practices. Physical evidence
Aristotle
Macedonia