OCR A-Level Ancient History H407
Relations Between Greek States and Non-Greek States, 492–404 BC
The Society and Politics of Sparta, 478–404 BC
The Culture and Politics of Athens, c.460–c.399 BC
The Rise of Macedon, c.359–323 BC
The Julio-Claudian Emperors, 31 BC–AD 68
The Breakdown of the Late Republic, 88–31 BC
The Flavians, AD 68–96
Ruling Roman Britain, AD 43–c.128
The Society and Politics of Sparta, 478–404 BC
The agoge and the upbringing of Spartan boys and men
- 3 things to know
- Component Group 1
Overview
Recall questions on the age a boy left home, the deliberate hunger and the flogging for theft, the contest at Artemis Orthia, laconic speech, the mothakes, and the common messes.
What you need to know
Answer each one before you reveal it.
At what age was a Spartiate's son taken from his home, and what did he enter?
Which official had overall charge of the boys' upbringing?
Questions from this subtopic
Each one with the model answer underneath.
- 1
At what age was a Spartiate's son taken from his home, and what did he enter?
Model answer
At seven he left his family and was enrolled in the state upbringing known as the agoge, in which he lived and was trained with boys of his own age.
- 2
How were the boys grouped once they entered the agoge?
Model answer
They were organised into age-classes and into packs or herds, each pack led by the boy judged the best of it, who gave the orders and was obeyed.
- 3
Which official had overall charge of the boys' upbringing?
Model answer
The paidonomos, a Spartiate magistrate appointed by the state, supervised the whole system and had young men with whips to carry out his punishments.
- 4
What was an eiren?
Model answer
An eiren was a youth of about twenty placed in charge of a group of younger boys, who drilled them, questioned them and punished them.
- 5
Describe the clothing and bedding allowed to boys once their training became severe.
Model answer
From about the age of twelve a boy was given one cloak to last the whole year and slept on a bed of reeds that he had to gather from the Eurotas with his bare hands.
- 6
Why were the boys deliberately underfed?
Model answer
Hunger was meant to harden them for campaign and to drive them to forage and steal, which developed cunning, stealth and self-reliance.
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