Princess cynisca lassie and the centaur part 2 by jyotsna. Sparta books proudly serving the community for over 50 years. Her story reflects spartan womens increased wealth and interest in sporting achievements. Sparta, led by agis ii, defeats argos and her allies at the battle of mantinaea. Cynisca was sister to king agesilaus of sparta, who was a successful military leader. Princess cynisca lassie was very kindly received by the king diagoras rhodes,who looked a lot like an older version of prince leonidas. Lassie joins the gay parade in london read the hilarious account in lassie and centaurs year 2006. Princess cynisca alias lassie was adopted by yonder the centaur part 1 he trains. Sadly, many details related to her life have been lost. I have been there many times before, but this time will be different, for i will see it in a new light the stadium, the ruins of the palaestra and gymnasium, the altis, and the temples of zeus and hera all of it.
Cynisca, the daughter of king archidamus of sparta and sister of agesilaus, owned horses. An archaeology of ancient sparta with reference to laconia. Spartan conquest of laconia complete with the incorporation of the fifth village, the mycenaean town amyclae, into spartasparta now has control of the entire eurotas valley. The city lay at the northern end of the central laconian plain, on the right bank of the river eurotas, a little south of tbe point where it is joined by its largest tributary, the oenus mod. The cover art by steve argyle, for the serpent sea, the second books of. An awesome independent bookstore located in beautiful sparta nj.
Although it had been in existence since the tenth century bc, it became a truly dominant force in about 650 bc. Gates of fire from amazon, the national bestseller. History early history located in a fertile, mountainwalled valley, the citystate of sparta was created by invading dorian greeks, who later conquered the countryside of laconia and messenia c. Writing heart of fire has been a tremendous journey into the world of ancient greece. The sparsity of ruins from antiquity around the modern city reflects the austerity of the military oligarchy that ruled the spartan citystate from the 6th to the 2nd century bce. The king of sparta leonidas is one of the most well known and remembered of all sparta s mighty military leaders. Sparta gained a reputation as a military power, and. I picked up thucydides, but i was wondering if anyone has any reccomendations. Sparta also known as lacedaemon was one of the key citystates in ancient greece. An ancient city in greece, the capital of laconia and the most powerful state of the peloponnese. The history and atmosphere of sparta are well conveyed by cartledge. Looking back,looking ahead although greek citystates devel.
Sep 23, 2017 sparta is a city in laconia, on the peloponnese in greece. Two good books to read to learn about the spartan society and history include the following. Cynisca was born around 440 bc in the ancient greek city of sparta and was the daughter of the eurypontid king of sparta, archidamus ii, and eupoleia. She entered teams in 396 and 392 bce, winning on both occasions. The leader of the famous battle of 300, it was his bravery and cunning that would ultimately propel the greeks to victory over the invading persians. Cyniscas heroization, spartan royal authority, and. Children of sparta if you were a child in sparta, you would have to be strong, blessed with excellent genetics or a fast learner. A spartan tale by jaclyn osborn, touch of frost by jennifer estep, gates of fire by steven pressfield, sparta. By patricia nell the end of womens history month is a good. See more ideas about greek history, mythology and ancient greece.
Chrimess ancient sparta 1949 and paul cartledges sparta and lakonia. Presenting sparta s military and diplomatic policies, the author studs his account with lively sketches of spartan leaders, above all leonidas. Paul cartledges book takes its reader through the different stages of spartas history, starting with the foundation of the citystate by the mythical lycurgus and the rapture of helen by the prince of troy, and going through the successful resistance against the persian empire around 480, the epic confrontation between sparta and athens in. What are aspects of greek architecture where do the athens live how did the use of the navy speed up or slow down the trojan war did the 300 spartans in the battle of thermopylae really. Invision employees share their remote work secrets. Athens and sparta book ancient history encyclopedia. Also tom hollands persian fire focuses on sparta in parts, both late and early archaic, as well as its more mythicallegendary past. Nov 08, 2002 this book, written by one of the worlds leading experts on sparta, traces the rise and fall of spartan society and explores the tremendous influence the spartans had on their world and even on ours. In antiquity, it was a powerful citystate with a famous martial tradition. I say i am the only woman in all greece to have won this wreath. Sparta was a warrior society in ancient greece that reached the height of its power after defeating rival citystate athens in the peloponnesian war.
The history of sparta describes the destiny of the ancient dorian greek state known as sparta from its beginning in the legendary period to its incorporation into. Paul cartledge the spartans were a society of warriorheroes who were the living exemplars of such core values as duty, discipline, selfsacrifice. Facts about sparta, an ancient greek citystate primary. Kyniskas story is one of the great gamechanges in sports history and it has a strong lesbian twist to boot. The king of sparta leonidas is one of the most well known and remembered of all spartas mighty military leaders. It seems like you might be looking for books andor documentaries. Historian nigel kennell writes in his book spartans. She was also the sister of the later king of sparta, agesilaus ii. King agesilaus encouraged his sister to enter a chariot team in the olympic games. Born around 440 bc, she would later become famous as the first woman to win in an event in the ancient olympics. Email address first name required field unsubscribe from list.
For these reasons, pomeroys history of spartan women can be considered chronological in only the broadest sense of that term. Presenting spartas military and diplomatic policies, the author studs his account with lively sketches of spartan leaders, above all leonidas. Sparta has been the subject of a number of books published in the second half of the twenti. Yes, i am an historian and i already knew much of the material, but i still learned a great deal. Spartan was the first female star in greek athleticscynisca, her horses victo. The word spartan is used to describe somebody who lives a simple life or somebody who suffered a lot without crying or showing that they suffered. The greeks invented democracy, started the olympics, built the foundations of western arts and culture, and loved a good party. Best books to read on ancient sparta i just recently finished gates of fire by steven pressfield, and im burning to read more on the spartans. Cynisca was born around 440 bc in the ancient greek city of sparta and was the daughter of the eurypontid king of. One of the chief novelties of this one is that it sets out to give full weight to the roman phase in spartas story, rather than making of it the usual epilogue or at best final chapter in a study preoccupied with the earlier periods. Read about greek history and politics from the archaic period through the hellenistic period. The world of the warriorheroes of ancient greece, from utopia to crisis and collapse paul cartledge, author. The peasants of sparta, known as helots, are serfs owned by the state.
Since the dorians were not the first to settle the valley of the eurotas river in the peloponnesus of greece, the preceding. If you are looking for an introduction to sparta and things grecian, continue on with your search. Cartledge spans sparta s entire existence but concentrates on the century from the persian invasions to its collapse following its triumph over athens in 404 b. She became the first woman in history to win at the ancient olympic games. Her fourhorse chariot team won twice, first in 396 and then again four years later in 392. My greecelatin teacher used to tell the most badass tales about these guys. Sparta is excluded from the olympic games for breaking the ekecheiria or sacred truce. What are some good books to read to learn about the. Peloponnesian league alliance between sparta, corinth, elis and tegea. Sparta founds the colony of tarentum in magna graecia. This first fulllength historical study of spartan women to be published. Michael whitby presents essays on key aspects of spartan history and society, by some of the leading classicists in the world, such as paul cartledge, anton powell, and stephen.
Cynisca of sparta was the daughter of king of sparta king archidamus and his wife eupoleia. Browse the worlds largest ebookstore and start reading today on the web, tablet, phone, or ereader. Sparta has always posed a challenge to ancient historians because information. Lassie missed the centaurs, tears flowed from her eyes thinking about yonder her friend and guide. This book, written by one of the worlds leading experts on sparta, traces the rise and fall of spartan society and explores the tremendous influence the spartans had on their world and even on ours. Pomeroy comprehensively analyzes ancient texts and archaeological evidence to construct the world of these elusive though much noticed females. The nike of paionios is erected at olympia to commemorate the messenian and naupaktian victory over sparta at the battle of sphakteria. Sparta would never be the same after 371, and it is with haunting detail and clarity that forrest takes us thru that sad chapter in greek history. The dolichos footrace is added to the schedule of the olympic games and is won by akanthos of sparta. Ancient sparta was built on the banks of the eurotas river, the main river of laconia, which provided it with a source of fresh water.
It is unlikely, however, that she even saw her victories happen as women were barred from even entering the stadium. Sparta simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Sparta was a warrior society in ancient greece that reached the height of its power after defeating rival citystate athens in the peloponnesian war 431404 b. History has more stories of athletic women from sparta. The world of heart of fire part x a novel of the ancient olympics. You dont need to know any ancient greek, but you arent going to get much from this volume unless you already have a basic grasp of greek sources and history in this book, the authors deal with problems of. At least one other woman who lived in the same period as cynisca and had. Sparta has been the subject of a number of books published in the second. She competed in the olympiads in the fourhorse chariot racesas an owner and breeder of horses, not as a driverand won in 396 and 392, becoming the first woman to win in the games. Here are some facts about sparta, the famous citystate of ancient greece. By purchasing books through this website, you support our nonprofit organization. What are some good books to read to learn about the spartan society and history. Sparta, ancient capital of the laconia district of the southeastern peloponnese, southwestern greece. At least one other woman who lived in the same period as cynisca and had achievements during the olympics that are worth mentioning is euryleonis.
In antiquity, the citystate was known as lacedaemon. Cynisca of sparta, sometimes also known as kyniska, was a princess of the greek city state sparta. Taken as a whole, the book gives a good overview of the current state of knowledge of the ancient games and a glimpse of the kind of work being done in modern sports history. This is the first booklength examination of spartan women, covering over a thousand years in the history of women from both the elite and lower classes. This is the final post in the world of heart of fire blog series. Books about sparta ive had a classical education and always had an interest in history. The webs source of information for ancient history.
Ancient writers sometimes referred to it as lacedaemon and. All formats available for pc, mac, ebook readers and other mobile devices. She was a spartan princess who was the first woman to win the chariot races at the. Sparti is in the background and taygetus behind that. They do all the manual work of the community, enabling the citizens an exclusively military caste to concentrate on warfare and politics. Cynisca, sister of agesilaus of the spartan royal house. This volume introduces the reader to every important aspect of the society of sparta, the dominant power in southern greece from the seventh century b. In 396 bc, she became the first woman in history to win at the ancient olympic games. Ancient history encyclopedia receives a small commission for each book sold through our affiliate partners. Large selection and many more categories to choose from. Same view but rotated more to the northern side of the ruins.
Born in sparta, birth date unknown, but probably close to that of her brother agesilaus in 444 bce. Cartledge spans spartas entire existence but concentrates on the century from the persian invasions to its collapse following its triumph over athens in 404 b. Cynisca of sparta my father and brothers were spartan kings. It was located in the laconia region, in the peloponnese, on the bank of the eurotas river. Spartan children had a responsibility placed upon them at birth, to serve sparta, and in order to serve sparta, you had to be strong and learn fast. Children of sparta spartan children ancient history. The first woman to win in ancient olympics cynisca of sparta. Sparta is located in the region of laconia, in the southeastern peloponnese. History of sparta ruins of sparta from the right bank of the eurotas. Aug 27, 2016 my moment of mochthos will come when i return soon to ancient olympia. She retired after the audience with the king for a bath in preparation for the nights wedding feast. List of books and articles about ancient sparta online.