The Myth of Spartan Infanticide
Printed From: History Community ~ All Empires
Category: Regional History or Period History
Forum Name: Ancient Mediterranean and Europe
Forum Discription: Greece, Macedon, Rome and other cultures such as Celtic and Germanic tribes
URL: http://www.allempires.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=30490
Printed Date: 07-Jun-2024 at 02:21
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Topic: The Myth of Spartan Infanticide
Posted By: okamido
Subject: The Myth of Spartan Infanticide
Date Posted: 24-Oct-2011 at 22:49
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As reported by Plutarch, the first century Greek historian, Spartans were supposed to have submitted their newborn infants to members of the Gerousia for physical inspection. If found to be too small, too sickly, or even malformed, the Spartan elders would then throw the infant into the apothetae (pit), which was located at the base of Mt Taygetos.
Unfortunately, there is no record of this in anything but the works of Plutarch, who only had the anectodal works of Sparta's enemies to work with. Recent research however has seemingly debunked this long-standing myth. Studies conducted by the Athen's Faculty of Medicine, in conjuction with Cambridge Universities, Center for Sparta, have located skeletal remains of 46 individuals. None of which however, are those of an infant. In fact, all of the remains that have been found are those of men in their lates teens to mid-thirties. Anthropologists and historians believe that the apothetae was a place of execution for traitors, criminals, and 'tremblers', but not infants.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2007-12-11/study-finds-no-evidence-of-discarded-spartan-babies/983848 - http://www.abc.net.au/news/2007-12-11/study-finds-no-evidence-of-discarded-spartan-babies/983848
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Replies:
Posted By: Nick1986
Date Posted: 02-Nov-2011 at 19:02
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Have you considered the possibility Spartans threw their children off cliffs rather than into a pit? Alternatively they might have left them on the mountainside where wolves would have dragged away and eaten the bodies
------------- Me Grimlock not nice Dino! Me bash brains! |
Posted By: medenaywe
Date Posted: 03-Nov-2011 at 01:20
This is better than Cinderella story!Abandoned children all around the world are part of infanticide also?Young mother left her baby in bag yesterday in front of police station cause she did not want to brake relationship with her boyfriend!Probably this was one of the "somebodies else babies".On other hand in ancient times after parents would be enslaved&killed no one stayed to take care about their offspring.I am really astonished about forensic today that works similar as Roman propaganda 2000 and more years before.Who do need this at all now days?Rome is in biggest debt than ever today. |
Posted By: okamido
Date Posted: 03-Nov-2011 at 19:10
As to babies being left around the surrounding countryside, as Centrix stated, anything is possible. However, this action of leaving unwanted babies around the countryside has been heavily recorded, especially as an action taken by parents in Athens in regards to female infants. Because of this, I find it interesting to think that this has never been recorded for Sparta.
The main issue in regards to our understanding of what may or may not have taken place in Sparta, is that we have to rely, almost exclusively, on sources that were fairly hostile to Sparta. ------------- |