Protection was vital for Spartans; teaching the young the elder’s ways and virtues (aretí) of that protection was crucial. The agoge- or education, of the young was a unique and a very contrasting way of education compared to other education systems at that time period. The Spartans would firstly, judge the young infants. If an infant was deformed or weak, it would be killed. Therefore, all of the children entering the powerful world of Sparta, would be able to handle it’s stress. As a child, you were groomed your entire life to become a warrior. At age 7, the child would leave home to the barracks to train both mentally and physically. The educational method was to be extremely disciplined and tough. As Plutarch quotes in chapter 16 of The Life of …show more content…
Most Spartans were diligent in their training, battles, and would take death over cowardice at the drop of a hat. The Spartan culture was methodical and planned out. They were warriors (both men, women, and children) and all trained vigorously. Around 491-480 BC, Leonidas, passed the word to his soldiers to eat breakfast in the expectation that they would be having dinner with Hades”. They were fearless and proud of it. The purpose of a Spartan was contribution and community, they worked together and put their polis first. Written by Tyraios in poem, War Songs, he quotes, “For it is beautiful to die fighting for his city”. Because the Spartans cared so much about protecting their polis and believed that the reforms were beneficial, I believe that these mindsets tied into the idea that the Spartans were in fact, free. They agreed, accepted, and cherished the reforms that made them seem “unfree”. That, made them free because it was what they valued and wished