Bettany Hughes The Ancient Worlds The Spartans 3of3

The Spartans are, I think, just irresistible. They are one of the most extreme civilizations that ever walked on this earth. And I’ve always thought they deserved the same white heat of attention that’s normally reserved for the Romans and the ancient Egyptians. After all, these are people who bathe their babies in wine in order to toughen them up. They throw weeping newborns off the mountains that range around Sparta like a fortress. These are men who scorn luxury. They ban coined money and prostitutes, and they ate the most disgusting national dish, which is basically a black broth made of pig’s blood. In the military messes, homosexuality was compulsory between grown boys and older men. It’s all pretty hot stuff.

“The Spartans”–Bettany Hughes