Plutarch's On Sparta: A Critical Book Review

Introduction

On Sparta by Plutarch is a book about the Spartan way of life and what made that way of life superior to those found in other Greek city-states. Plutarch begins by praising the Spartans for their military prowess, their focus on physical fitness, and their simple lifestyles. He goes on to argue that the Spartans' political system is superior to that of Athens, as it allows for stability and prevents factional fighting. Plutarch also claims that the Spartan system of education produces citizens who are more virtuous than those of other city-states.

Essentially, in On Sparta, the Spartan way of life is held up as an example of a society that values duty, discipline, and obedience above all else. Plutarch's main thesis is that Sparta's focus on military training and austerity allowed it to create a strong and unified city-state capable of withstanding any enemy. While Plutarch admits that the Spartan way of life may not be suitable for everyone, he nonetheless believes that it offers an impressive model for other societies to emulate. Thus, Plutarch argues that Sparta is the best city-state in Greece and that its citizens are the most virtuous people in the world.

What On Sparta Covers

Plutarch covers a variety of topics in On Sparta, including the lives of Sparta's leaders — such as Lycurgus, Agesilaus, Agis, and Cleomenes — and important Spartan sayings of both men and women, which help to give context to the Spartan way of life, Spartan culture, and Spartan wisdom. He describes how Spartans learned to master their feelings from a young age and why this discipline helped them to become such superior warriors. He covers the harsh training conditions that young Spartan boys underwent and also describes how Spartan serfs and slaves were treated with considerable cruelty.

Throughout all of this, Plutarch describes a city-state that is unique and entirely unlike other Greek city-states of the time. His major supporting argument for Sparta's superiority is that Sparta valued discipline and toughness above all else. For a Spartan, what mattered most was doing one's duty, and it could therefore be argued that Sparta was the first city-state in Greece to hold a deontological ethical system as the foundation of its moral society.

Plutarch supports his thesis quite well with a number of anecdotes and detailed stories that bring the main point to life. One sees how the training of children and the emphasis on sacrifice helped to shape boys into men and a society into a warrior state. Plutarch's reasoning is consistently sound, and the evidence he supplies comes from many different sources, some of which have been lost to time. The book is organized both chronologically and topically: the lives of Spartan leaders appear in chronological order, while other topics — such as sayings — are organized by subject.

The author's approach draws on political, social, and intellectual history. He provides context for political history by discussing Sparta's leaders, while social and intellectual history are viewed through the lens of Spartan sayings and through the subjects of Spartan culture, child-rearing, and related topics.

The book demonstrates a high degree of literary quality. It is well-written, easy to read and follow, and Plutarch clearly has a thorough grasp of his subject. He is a noted historian and author who brings his subject to life. However, like any writer, he writes from a particular perspective, and it is important to consider that perspective and how it may influence his account.

Plutarch, His Perspective, and Potential Bias

Plutarch was a Greek historian born in Athens and, as such, carried an Athenian bias against Sparta. In On Sparta, he paints a picture of Spartan society as harsh and regimented — essentially the opposite of life as experienced by Athenians. He describes the Spartans as brave and fearless in battle, yet also as cold and emotionless. Athens was known at the time as a rich cultural center where philosophy and the arts flourished: it was where Socrates taught and helped pave the way for Plato and Aristotle (Plato). Athenians valued ideas, drama, the theater, and wisdom. They viewed themselves as highly civilized and tended to regard the Spartans as primitive. In Athens, women had almost no part to play in public life and tended to lead highly domestic lives.

Plutarch's bias is evident in his portrayal of Spartan women. He describes them as strong and capable, but also depicts them as submissive to their husbands — a characterization that does not accurately reflect Spartan social reality. As other researchers have shown, Spartan women actually tended to exercise influence over Spartan government and society in very nuanced ways (Fantham et al.). As Fantham et al. point out, for example, Sparta had no patrimony at all. Spartan women had considerable freedom to voice their opinions in public and to speak back to their husbands. Girls were often trained alongside boys in sports and athletics (Christesen). Athenian women did not enjoy this kind of freedom. It was actually Athenian women who were more submissive to their husbands — not Spartan women — but Plutarch's Athenian perspective seems to have prevented him from fully appreciating this distinction.

Plutarch's bias also manifests in his portrayal of Spartan children. He depicts them as being raised in a strict and disciplined environment, but also suggests that they are not given the opportunity to develop their individual talents. In Athens, individual talent was considered very important to society's development, and Plutarch struggles to see this kind of individuality thriving in Sparta. As a result of these biases, On Sparta is not necessarily a completely accurate or fully objective portrayal of Spartan society.

The book is nonetheless an important work for understanding Spartan culture as perceived during the late Roman period. However, readers must keep Plutarch's perspective in mind. He was not a Spartan himself, and he was writing during a time when Sparta was already in decline. Consequently, his view of Sparta was likely shaped by the assumptions of his own era and place. For instance, Plutarch at times portrays Spartans as simple-minded and uninterested in intellectual pursuits, possibly reflecting his implicit pride in Athens's rich tradition of democracy and learning. While this characterization may have been accurate for some Spartans, readers should remain cautious when drawing broad conclusions about Spartan civilization based solely on Plutarch's account.

Conclusion

Plutarch's On Sparta offers a thorough summation of the history, culture, and society of the Spartan people. The work begins with an overview of Spartan history, tracing the origins of the Spartan state back to its founding by Menelaus and Lycurgus. It then describes the unique aspects of Spartan society, including their strict military training and public institutions such as the agoge. The work also includes a discussion of Spartan culture, focusing on their love of athletics and their embrace of stoic virtues such as self-control and bravery. Finally, Plutarch offers a glimpse into the everyday lives of Spartans, from their simple diet to their austere lifestyle.

In all, On Sparta provides a fascinating overview of one of the most distinctive societies in the ancient world. Plutarch covers everything from Spartans' childhood education and military training to their marriage customs. He praises Sparta for its dedication to military excellence, its emphasis on communal living, and its tolerance for different cultures. He also includes criticism of Sparta, particularly regarding its treatment of women and its reliance on slave labor. Overall, however, the book provides a largely positive portrayal of the Spartan way of life and remains a valuable, if imperfect, primary source for understanding ancient Sparta.

Works Cited

Christesen, P. "Athletics and Social Order in Sparta in the Classical Period." Classical Antiquity 31 (2012): pp. 193–255.

Fantham, H., Foley, H. P., et al. Women in the Classical World. Oxford, 1994.

Plato. Apology. Retrieved from http://classics.mit.edu/Plato/apology.html

Plutarch. On Sparta. Penguin Classics, 1988.