Spartan Education- AGOGE

XENOPHON, Spartan Society 2-6

No shoes- strong feet
Wore 1 garment all year round
Just enough food to survive 'give them a taste' of starvation. To prepare for battle.
Engage in stealing/foraging to fight starvation. Punished if caught, for incompetency.
Collect cheeses from Orthia whilst being whipped: short term pain = long term prestige.
Any citizen could discipline/instruct the boys.
Never without someone in charge of them: "Smartest Eirens took command of each squadron."
Hearers/Inspirers. Platonic relationships between men and boys, based on respect.
Ages mixed together- youths benefit from elders' wisdom.
When they become youths: likely to be self-willed and cocky. Given the most amount of work at this time. To avoid shirking.
To implement respect in them: keep both hands in their cloaks in the streets, in silence.
Contests and competitions encouraged: compete in excellence- 'attain the height of manly gallantry. Encouraged to be the best.
Meritocracy: i.e. the Krypteia.
Stopped excessive drinking.
"If a boy is beaten by another, it is a disgrace if his father does not give him another beating."

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At age of 7- distributed into Troops. The captaincy of the Troop went to the boy with the soundest judgement and best fighting spriit. He gave the others punishments/gave instructions.
Watched by their elders- spurring them on to fight and contend with each other.
Learned to read/write no more than was necessary.
Physical training intensified with age, barefoot, exercising naked, cropping their hair.
From 12- only 1 cloak a year and never wore a tunic.
Did not bathe/oil.
Slept in Troops on self-made mattresses.
From 12- "courted by lovers from among the respectable young men"
Older men visited the gymnasia as the boys trained etc. Create respect for any of their elders.
At any occasion: someone would be there to reprimand a mistake.
Meritocracy: Eirens (20 years) lead Troops
Encouraged to steal, punished if caught.
Story of boy with wolf- didn't want to be caught stealing it, prepared for it to eat him.

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System to produce skilled warriors, respected for skill and knowledge throughout Greece.
7.206- "Sent Leonidas with his men first, so that their allies would see them and join in the war."
7.211- "Lacedaemonians fought remarkably well, proving they were experts in battle."

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Education meant to breed next generation for the slaughter. The old have already sacrificed for their country- the young are expected to take over with enthusiasm.
"It is disgraceful when an older man falls in the front line while the young fall back."
"For the young man, still in glorious prime, [death] is beautiful."

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