#sparta

[hijabi-desi-bookworm]

100% believe that Penelope heard the screams of the suitors and just sat there memorising the sounds so she could fall asleep to them like white noise while giving appropriate time for father son bonding

[refinedtaste]

[househunting]

$78,999/2 br/1 ba

Sparta, GA

built in 1900

[househunting on ig]

[househunting on substack]

[oddyseye]

Can we get something straight here about Penelope and this whole “Spartan” thing?

Sure, we all know Penelope was from Sparta (well, technically), and we’ve all seen enough 300-inspired pop culture nonsense to think that every Spartan woman must be some spear-wielding, leather-clad, muscle-bound badass. So let’s clear that up once and for all: Penelope was absolutely not that type of Spartan. In fact, that vision of Spartan women is more of a modern fantasy than an actual reflection of Spartan society, and Penelope herself would probably laugh in your face if you tried to pin her down to that archetype.

First off, let’s talk about what it actually meant to be Spartan. Yes, Spartan women had a reputation for being strong, but we need to understand that strength wasn’t defined by throwing a spear or taking down enemies with a shield. Spartan women were celebrated for their physical health and were tasked with producing strong offspring to build the next generation of warriors. They were also responsible for the running of the household when their husbands were off fighting in wars, which meant managing estates, controlling property, and overseeing the everyday operations of Spartan life. So, while Spartan women were not helpless, they weren’t exactly wandering around with weapons, challenging every person who crossed them, either. Penelope’s version of Spartan strength was a little more intellectual, shall we say. For twenty years, while Odysseus was “getting lost” (as one does), Penelope faced down a horde of suitors who were camped out in her house, constantly pressuring her to choose a new husband. Did she pull out a spear and kill them all? No. That’s not what spartan women did. Did she start a war? Absolutely not. Instead, she employed the ultimate weapon: patience. She weaved and un-wove a shroud for years as a stalling tactic, keeping the suitors at bay. Sure, there’s no sword involved, but let’s be real: that takes more cunning than any weapon ever could. Spartan women are not known for fighting, but for surviving.

Penelope’s Spartan roots may have given her the ability to endure, to manage her household, and to outsmart the suitors who had overrun Ithaca, but we’re missing the point if we think that means she was out there battling it out like a heroine from some action flick. Her version of strength was mental, not physical. Instead of wielding a spear, Penelope wielded her intellect, her wit, and her ability to play the long game. If you’re expecting Penelope to start slaying suitors left and right, or charging into battle with a sword in hand, you’re setting yourself up for disappointment.

Pop culture would love to turn Penelope into a spear-wielding warrior queen, but the actual historical context is far more subtle and far more impressive. She was Spartan in the most meaningful sense of the word: resilient, strategic, and damn clever. Penelope did not need muscles at all. She had the power of endurance — something a spear can’t give you.

[astastories]

Remember, hearing some where that before marriage spartan women would cut off their hair, after that, I I really like the idea of Helen of Sparta cutting off her hair again when she sees her husband after the Trojan war, to sort of reestablish their relationship 💕

[unteriors]

McMinnville Highway, Sparta, Tennessee.

[callaben]

HELEN✌️✌️🤤

[uwmspeccoll]

Milestone Monday: Democracy Interrupted

On this day in 411 BCE, during the Peloponnesian War between Athens and Sparta, a political crisis shook the foundations of Athenian democracy. The Athenian Coup, which resulted in the overthrow of Athens' democratic government and led to the establishment of a brief oligarchy known as the Four Hundred. This regime ultimately failed due to widespread discontent among the populace, and by the end of 410 BC, democracy was restored in Athens.

To commemorate this pivotal event in classical history, we are featuring our Limited Editions Club copy of The History of the Peloponnesian War by Thucydides. This 1974 edition includes Richard Crawley’s (1840-1893) English translation, revised by R.C. Feetham, with an introduction by Peter Pouncey. It is richly illustrated with eight double-spread, two-color woodcuts and twenty-five black-and-white woodcuts by the Greek artist A. Tassos, including chapter headings, facing page pairs, and a frontispiece. Six maps, specially drawn for this edition by John Morris, provide historical context, while Eugene Ettenberg designed the format. The woodcut inserts were printed in Athens under the artist’s supervision at the Aspioti Elka printing plant, and the text was composed by John Stone in Concord, NH, then printed by Case, Lockwood & Brainard in Bloomfield, CT. This rare volume is a stunning tribute to both the artistry and the enduring legacy of Thucydides' historical account.

-View more Milestone Monday posts

-View more from The Limited Editions Club

--Melissa, Distinctive Collections Library Assistant