What did Sparta do to weak children?

Spartan youths were ritualistically beaten and flogged. One of Sparta’s most brutal practices involved a so-called “contest of endurance” in which adolescents were flogged—sometimes to the death—in front of an altar at the sanctuary of Artemis Orthia.

What happened to disabled babies in Sparta?

Other children born with disabilities were left in the woods to die, their feet bound together to discourage anyone passing by from adopting them. In the military city of Sparta, the abandonment of “deformed and sickly” infants was a legal requirement.

Did Spartans throw babies off a cliff?

The Greek myth that ancient Spartans threw their stunted and sickly newborns off a cliff was not corroborated by archaeological digs in the area, researchers said Monday. “It is probably a myth, the ancient sources of this so-called practice were rare, late and imprecise,” he added.

Why did Spartans have a low birth rate?

A wealthy class of citizens emerged rich from booty and payments from Sparta’s allies. This meant that many citizens could no longer be members of the agoge system but were under the control of a wealthy elite. It is also believed that the growing inequality in wealth also resulted in a falling birth-rate.

What happened to the babies of Spartan babies?

All Spartan infants were brought before a council of inspectors and examined for physical defects, and those who weren’t up to standards were left to die. The ancient historian Plutarch claimed these “ill-born” Spartan babies were tossed into a chasm at the foot of Mount Taygetus, but most historians now dismiss this as a myth.

Did Spartan infants have to be tested for fitness?

Spartans had to prove their fitness even as infants. Infanticide was a disturbingly common act in the ancient world, but in Sparta this practice was organized and managed by the state. All Spartan infants were brought before a council of inspectors and examined for physical defects, and those who weren’t up to standards were left to die.

Why were Spartan soldiers expected to fight without fear?

Spartan soldiers were expected to fight without fear and to the last man. Surrender was viewed as the epitome of cowardice, and warriors who voluntarily laid down their arms were so shamed that they often resorted to suicide.

Were Spartan women allowed to have children?

Just as all Spartan men were expected to be fighters, all women were expected to bear children. Spartan girls were allowed to remain with their parents, but they were also subjected to a rigorous education and training program.