Sparta was the main state Dorian tribe. Her name already plays a role in the tale of the Trojan War, since Menelaus, the husband of Helen, because of whom the war between the Greeks and the Trojans broke out, was a Spartan king. The history of later Sparta began with conquest of the Peloponnese by the Dorians under the leadership of the Heraclides. Of the three brothers, one (Temen) received Argos, the other (Cresphont) received Messinia, the sons of the third (Aristodemus) Proclus And Eurysthenes – Laconia. There were two royal families in Sparta, descended from these heroes through their sons Agisa And Euryponta(Agida and Eurypontida).
Genus Heraclides. Scheme. Two dynasties of Spartan kings - in the lower right corner
But all these were just folk tales or guesses of Greek historians, not having complete historical accuracy. Among such legends we should include most of the legends that were very popular in ancient times about the legislator Lycurgus, whose life was attributed to the 9th century. and to whom directly attributed the entire Spartan device. Lycurgus, according to legend, was the youngest son of one of the kings and the guardian of his young nephew Charilaus. When the latter himself began to rule, Lycurgus went on a journey, visiting Egypt, Asia Minor and Crete, but had to return to his homeland at the request of the Spartans, who were dissatisfied with internal strife and with their king Charilaus himself. Lycurgus was entrusted draw up new laws for the state, and he set to work on this matter, seeking advice from the Delphic oracle. The Pythia told Lycurgus that she did not know whether to call him a god or a man, and that his decrees would be the best. Having completed his work, Lycurgus took an oath from the Spartans that they would fulfill his laws until he returned from a new trip to Delphi. Pythia confirmed her previous decision to him, and Lycurgus, having sent this answer to Sparta, took his own life so as not to return to his homeland. The Spartans honored Lycurgus as a god and built a temple in his honor, but in essence Lycurgus was originally a deity who later turned into popular fantasy into the mortal legislator of Sparta. The so-called legislation of Lycurgus was kept in memory in the form of short sayings (retras).
102. Laconia and its population
Laconia occupied the southeastern part of the Peloponnese and consisted of a river valley Eurota and the mountain ranges that bounded it from the west and east, of which the western one was called Taygetus. In this country there were arable lands, and pastures, and forests, in which there was a lot of game, and in the mountains of Taygetos there was a lot of iron; Local residents made weapons from it. There were few cities in Laconia. In the center of the country near the coast of Eurotas lay Sparta, otherwise called Lacedaemon. It was a combination of five settlements, which remained unfortified, whereas in other Greek cities there was usually a fortress. In essence, however, Sparta was real a military camp that kept all of Laconia in subjection.
Laconia and Sparta on the map of the ancient Peloponnese
The population of the country consisted of descendants Dorian conquerors and the Achaeans they conquered. The first ones Spartiates, were alone full citizens states, the latter were divided into two classes: some were called helots and there were serfs, subordinate, however, not to individual citizens, but to the entire state, while others were called periekov and represented personally free people, but stood towards Sparta in relation subjects without any political rights. Most of the land was considered common property of the state, from which the latter gave the Spartiates separate plots for food (clairs), originally being approximately the same size. These plots were cultivated by helots for a certain rent, which they paid in kind in the form of most of the harvest. The Periecs were left with part of their land; they lived in cities, engaged in industry and trade, but generally in Laconia these activities were little developed: already at a time when other Greeks had coins, in this country they used iron rods. Perieks were required to pay taxes to the state treasury.
Ruins of a theater in ancient Sparta
103. Military organization of Sparta
Sparta was military state and its citizens were first and foremost warriors; Perieks and helots were also involved in the war. Spartiates, divided into three phyla with division into phratries, in an era of prosperity there were only nine thousand out of 370 thousand periecs and helots, whom they kept under their power by force; The main activities of the Spartiates were gymnastics, military exercises, hunting and war. Upbringing and whole lifestyle in Sparta were aimed at always being ready against the possibility helot revolts, which actually broke out from time to time in the country. The mood of the helots was monitored by detachments of youth, and all those suspicious were mercilessly killed (crypts). The Spartan did not belong to himself: the citizen was first and foremost a warrior, all my life(actually until the age of sixty) obligated to serve the state. When a child was born into a Spartan family, he was examined to see whether he would subsequently be fit for military service, and frail babies were not allowed to live. From seven to eighteen years old, all the boys were raised together in state “gymnasiums”, where they were taught gymnastics and military training, and were also taught singing and playing the flute. The upbringing of Spartan youth was distinguished by severity: boys and young men were always dressed in light clothes, walked barefoot and bareheaded, ate very little and were subjected to severe corporal punishment, which they had to endure without screaming or moaning. (They were flogged for this purpose in front of the altar of Artemis).
Spartan army warrior
Adults also could not live as they wanted. And in peacetime, the Spartans were divided into military partnerships, even dining together, for which the participants of common tables (sissity) They brought in a certain amount of different products, and their food was necessarily the coarsest and simplest (the famous Spartan stew). The state ensured that no one evaded compliance with the general rules and did not deviate from the way of life prescribed by law. Each family had its own allotment from common state land, and this plot could neither be divided, nor sold, nor left under a spiritual will. Between the Spartiates it was necessary to dominate equality; they directly called themselves “equals” (ομοιοί). Luxury in private life was pursued. For example, when building a house, you could only use an ax and a saw, with which it was difficult to make anything beautiful. With Spartan iron money it was impossible to buy anything from industrial products in other states of Greece. Moreover, the Spartiates had no right to leave their country, and foreigners were forbidden to live in Laconia (xenelasia). The Spartans did not care about mental development. Eloquence, which was so valued in other parts of Greece, was not in use in Sparta, and Laconian taciturnity ( laconicism) even became a proverb among the Greeks. The Spartans became the best warriors in Greece - hardy, persistent, disciplined. Their army consisted of heavily armed infantry (hoplites) with lightly armed auxiliary detachments (from helots and part of the perieks); They did not use cavalry in their wars.
Ancient Spartan helmet
104. Structure of the Spartan state
105. Spartan conquests
This military state set out on the path of conquest very early. The increase in the number of inhabitants forced the Spartans look for new lands, from which one could make new plots for citizens. Having gradually captured all of Laconia, Sparta in the third quarter of the 8th century conquered Messenia [First Messenian War] and its inhabitants too turned into helots and perieks. Some of the Messenians moved out, but those who remained did not want to put up with foreign domination. In the middle of the 7th century. they rebelled against Sparta [Second Messenian War], but were conquered again. The Spartans made an attempt to extend their power towards Argolis, but were at first recaptured by Argos and only later they captured part of the Argolid coast. They had more success in Arcadia, but having already made their first conquest in this area (the city of Tegea), they did not annex it to their possessions, but entered into a military alliance under its leadership. This was the beginning of a great Peloponnesian League(symmachy) under Spartan supremacy (hegemony). Little by little all the parts adhered to this symmachy Arcadia, and also Elis. Thus, by the end of the 6th century. Sparta stood at the head of almost the entire Peloponnese. Symmachia had a union council, in which, under the chairmanship of Sparta, issues of war and peace were decided, and Sparta had the very leadership in the war (hegemony). When the Shah of Persia undertook the conquest of Greece, Sparta was the strongest Greek state and therefore could lead the rest of the Greeks in the fight against Persia. But already during this struggle she had to give in Athens championship.
In today's lesson you will get acquainted with the second most important city in Greece - Sparta. It was located in the south of the Peloponnese peninsula. After the Dorians invaded Greece, some of them invaded Laconia and gradually conquered it. Laconica was a fertile valley sloping down to the coast, cut through by the Eurotas River. There were no harbors convenient for navigation. On all sides the valley was surrounded by impassable mountains, in which there were reserves of iron ore.
Background
Sparta is one of the largest policies of Ancient Greece and one of the most unusual. Where did the Spartans come from? It is believed that their ancestors came to Greece from the north of the Balkan Peninsula, they were a tribe of Dorians. The Dorians settled in the very south of Greece, in the region of Laconia, and began to be called Spartans.
True, there is a legend according to which the Spartans were descendants of Hercules.
Events
The Spartans were very warlike and gradually conquered the surrounding territories. The inhabitants of the Messenia region desperately resisted, so the Spartans had to fight them twice:
- VIII century BC- the first war of Sparta against Messenia. Annexation of Messinia.
- VII century BC- uprising of the Messenians under the leadership of Aristomenes. Second war of Sparta against Messenia: Messenia is completely conquered, after which Sparta became the largest polis in Greece.
Sparta was ruled by:
- Two kings. Their power was inherited. The main task of kings is to lead the army during war.
- Council of Elders of 28 people. The council members were elders in the truest sense of the word: they were all over 60 years old.
- People's Assembly. Unlike in Sparta, at a public meeting it was impossible to make a speech to the people and express one’s opinion. You could only vote “for” or “against”.
All residents of Sparta were divided into three categories:
- Spartiates (Spartans) are the upper class. Only the Spartiates were full citizens.
- Perieki - intermediate class. The Perieci were free, but were not considered citizens of Sparta. They were mainly engaged in crafts.
- Helots come from territories conquered by Sparta. They were engaged in agriculture and did hard work. They worked for the Spartans.
The way of life of the Spartans (the upper class of Sparta) was very unusual. It is believed that the rules of social order were given to the Spartans by Lycurgus.
- The main occupation of the Spartans was military affairs.
- Manual labor, trade and crafts were despised.
- The Spartans were equal in property. There were no rich and poor.
- Life was strictly disciplined, as in wartime.
- Raising children was considered a state matter, not a family matter. Only strong babies were allowed to live.
- From childhood, boys were taught to endure hardships, to be fearless, and not to be afraid of quarrels and fights.
- Much attention in education was paid to physical development and the ability to fight.
- The Spartans were obliged to speak briefly and precisely, to speak concisely.
- The Spartans were very pious.
- It was a shame for a Spartan to flee from the battlefield.
- Spartans were forbidden to travel abroad.
Participants
Legendary legislator of Sparta. Whether Lycurgus actually existed is unknown.
Aristomenes- leader of the uprising in Messinia.
Rice. 1. Peloponnese Peninsula ()
The Dorians were citizens of the Spartan state. The Spartans enslaved most of the population of Laconia and neighboring Messenia (Fig. 1), and they began to be called helots.
It just so happened that in the spring the Spartans came to the villages of the helots and killed whomever they wanted. However, they never touched women and old people. They chose young and strong men, those who could fight back. For the young Spartans it was a game. Like wolf cubs, hiding in haystacks, they burst into huts and killed people taken by surprise. And if the young man does not kill a single helot, the old men will laugh at him: “You are not a Spartan, you are a pathetic coward!”
The entire land of Laconia and Messenia was divided into equal sections. Spartan families received a plot of land without the right to sell or donate it. Helots lived and worked on these plots. From each plot, each Spartan family received the same amount of grain, olives, vegetables and other products grown by the helots.
The Spartans shrouded their state in a shroud of secrecy, not allowing either strangers to come to them or their citizens to leave the borders of the community. Even merchants did not bring goods to Sparta - the Spartans did not buy or sell anything. Sparta was like a military camp; it was a gloomy and inhospitable city. There was no noisy market, no theater, no stone statues, no temples. On the streets there are detachments of marching warriors, since the backbone of the army was infantry, which did not know what fatigue and retreat were. The Spartans were proud that their city, the only one in Hellas, had no walls, for its walls were the courage of the young warriors.
The sage Lycurgus was able to strengthen the Spartan state (Fig. 2). The figure of Lycurgus raises many questions. First of all, about whether it was the name of a deity or a real historical figure. According to the surviving data, he gave laws to Sparta and made sure that they became eternal. According to legend, Lycurgus went to Delphi, taking an oath from the Spartans not to change the laws until his return. At Delphi he committed suicide. So the Spartan laws remained unchanged.
The government of Sparta was very simple and remained almost unchanged from the 8th to the 3rd centuries BC. The state was headed by two kings - commanders from different clans - and a Council of 30 elders (geronts), which decided all important issues. The most important of them were discussed by a general meeting of Spartan warriors (Fig. 3).
Rice. 3. Governance in Sparta
Raising children was also special in Sparta. There was a custom in Sparta. If a Spartan had a son, the parents carried him to show the elders. If the baby was weak, as they would say frail, the elders’ sentence was harsh: such a child should not live, he was thrown from a cliff, and the parents were consoled by the fact that they would still give birth to healthy and strong children.
Boys from the age of 7 were taken away from their parents and raised in military units. They slept on mats of prickly reeds and walked barefoot. Once a year they were given a cloak, which they wore on their naked bodies. Hair was cut bald. Adults made sure that children quarreled and fought more often, so that in fights their character was strengthened and courage appeared. They were trained to endure hardship and hunger, they were fed poorly, and they were encouraged to steal from other people's gardens and storerooms. Having learned about the tricks of his sons, the father rejoiced: “Well done, they will be able to feed themselves during a military campaign, they will not be afraid of difficulties!” If the boys are caught, they will be flogged.
Young Spartans were taught to speak briefly and give precise and precise answers. (Such speech is called laconic - after the name of the Laconia region).
The Athenians called the Spartans ignoramuses because the boys learned little to read and write. But they worked hard at running, gymnastics, discus and javelin throwing, showing courage and dexterity. The boys spent hours learning war songs to the sound of a flute, with which the Spartans went into battle. Young Spartans glorified those who died for Sparta, sang courage and bravery.
References
- A.A. Vigasin, G.I. Goder, I.S. Sventsitskaya. History of the Ancient World. 5th grade - M.: Education, 2006.
- Nemirovsky A.I. A book to read on the history of the ancient world. - M.: Education, 1991.
- Clan-rw.ru ()
- Travel-in-time.org ()
Homework
- How were the living conditions of the inhabitants of Sparta and Athens different in the 7th-6th centuries? BC eh?.
- What did you like and what didn’t you like about raising Spartan boys? Why?
- What should the Spartans' speech be like?
Ancient Sparta was an ancient state, a city-polis, located in the southern part of the Balkan Peninsula, in the Peloponnese.
The name of the province of Laconia gave the second name to the Spartan state in the ancient period of history - Lacedaemon.
History of origin
In world history, Sparta is known as an example of a militarized state in which the activities of each member of society are subordinated to a single goal - to raise a strong and healthy warrior.
In the ancient period of history, in the south of the Peloponnese there were two fertile valleys - Messenia and Laconia. They were separated from each other by a difficult mountain range.
Initially, the city-state of Sparta arose in the Lakonica valley and represented a very insignificant territory - 30 X 10 km. Access to the sea was blocked by swampy terrain and nothing promised this tiny state world fame.
Everything changed after the violent conquest and annexation of the Messenia Valley and during the reign of the ancient Greek philosopher and great reformer Lycurgus.
His reforms were aimed at forming a state with a certain doctrine - to create an ideal state and eradicate such instincts as greed, selfishness, and the thirst for personal enrichment. He formulated basic laws that concerned not only government administration, but also strictly regulated the private life of each member of society.
Gradually, Sparta turned into a militarized state whose main goal was its own national security. The main task is to produce soldiers. After the conquest of Messenia, Sparta recaptured some lands from Argos and Arcadia, its neighbors in the northern Peloponnese, and adopted a policy of diplomacy backed by military superiority.
This strategy allowed Sparta to become the head of the Peloponnesian League and play the most important political role among the Greek states.
Government of Sparta
The Spartan state consisted of three social classes - the Spartans or Spartiates, the Perieki, who inhabited the conquered cities, and the Spartan slaves, the helots. The complex, but logically coherent structure of political governance of the Spartan state was a slave system with remnants of tribal relations preserved from primitive communal times.
It was headed by two rulers - hereditary kings. Initially, they were completely independent and did not report to anyone else or report to anyone. Later, their role in government was limited to the council of elders, the gerousia, which consisted of 28 life-elected members over 60 years of age.
Ancient state of Sparta photo
Next - a national assembly, in which all Spartans who had reached the age of 30 and had the necessary means for a citizen took part. Somewhat later, another body of government appeared - the ephorate. It consisted of five officials chosen by the general meeting. Their powers were practically unlimited, although they did not have clearly defined boundaries. Even the ruling kings had to coordinate their actions with the ephors.
The structure of society
The ruling class in Ancient Sparta were the Spartiates. Each had his own land plot and a certain number of helot slaves. Using material benefits, the Spartiate could not sell, donate or bequeath land or slaves. It was the property of the state. Only Spartiates could enter government bodies and vote.
The next social class is the Perieki. These were residents of the occupied territories. They were allowed to trade and engage in crafts. They had the privilege of enlisting in military service. The lowest class of helots, who were in the position of slaves, were state property and came from the enslaved inhabitants of Messenia.
warriors of Sparta photo
The state leased helots to the Spartiates to cultivate their land plots. During the period of the greatest prosperity of Ancient Sparta, the number of helots exceeded the ruling class by 15 times.
Spartan upbringing
The education of citizens was considered a state task in Sparta. From birth to 6 years of age, the child was in the family, and after that he was transferred to the care of the state. From 7 to 20 years old, young men underwent very serious physical training. Simplicity and moderation in an environment full of hardships from childhood accustomed a warrior to the strict and harsh life of a warrior.
The 20-year-old boys who passed all the tests completed their studies and became warriors. Upon reaching 30 years of age, they became full members of society.
Economy
Sparta belonged to the two most fertile regions - Laconia and Messenia. Arable farming, olives, vineyards, and horticultural crops predominated here. This was an advantage of Lacedaemonia over the Greek city-states. The most basic food product, bread, was grown, not imported.
Among the grain crops, barley predominated, the processed product of which was used as the main one in the diet of the inhabitants of Sparta. The wealthy Lacedaemonians used wheat flour as a supplement to the main diet in public meals. Among the general population, wild wheat, spelled, was more common.
Warriors needed adequate nutrition, so cattle breeding was developed at a high level in Sparta. Goats and pigs were raised for food, and bulls, mules, and donkeys were used as draft animals. Horses were preferred for forming mounted military units.
Sparta is a warrior state. He needs, first of all, not decorations, but weapons. Luxurious excesses were replaced by practicality. For example, instead of painted, elegant ceramics, the main task of which is to delight, the craft of making vessels that can be used on long trips reaches perfection. Using rich iron mines, the strongest "Lakonian steel" was made in Sparta.
A mandatory element of a Spartan's military equipment was a copper shield. History knows many examples when politicking and power ambitions destroyed the most durable economy and destroyed statehood, despite all its military power. The ancient ancient state of Sparta is a clear example of this.
- In Ancient Sparta, they cared for healthy and viable offspring very cruelly. Newborn children were examined by elders and the sick or weak were thrown into the abyss from the Taygetos rock. Healthy ones were returned to their families.
- Girls in Sparta participated in athletics just like boys. They also ran, jumped, threw javelin and discus to grow strong, resilient and produce healthy offspring. Regular physical exercise made Spartan girls very attractive. They stood out for their beauty and stateliness among the rest of the Hellenes.
- We owe to the ancient Spartan education such a concept as “laconicism.” This expression is due to the fact that in Sparta young men were taught modest behavior, and their speech had to be short and strong, that is, “laconic.” This is what distinguished the inhabitants of Laconia from the people of Athens who loved to speak.
Sparta is one of the states located on ancient Greek territory (Pelloponesus), which made a significant contribution to the development of military affairs. The principles developed there are used by modern armies. Our article will discuss Sparta.
State structure
The ancient history of Sparta begins from the 11th century BC. e. the emergence of the city of the same name in Laconia (southern region of Pelloponnese). The territory was first developed by the Achaeans, and in the 10th century BC. e. conquered by the Dorians (ancient Greek tribes).
The legislator of the state structure of Sparta is considered to be King Lycurgus (9th century BC), who transformed it from a military democracy into a slave-owning republic. The aristocratic state established strict rules for the existence of residents and limited the development of private property. The aristocracy had to master only sports and the art of war, and the common people and slaves - agriculture, trade, and crafts.
The main emphasis was on the army. Through successful military operations, Sparta consolidated its superiority in Pelloponnese.
The country was headed by two rulers (archagetes). The highest authorities were:
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- Apella (people's assembly) : consisted of men over 30 years of age with full citizenship; using voting, a decision was made or rejected;
- College of Ephors : consisted of 5 aristocrats chosen by the people's assembly; was engaged in legal proceedings;
- Gerusia (council of elders) : consisted of 28 full citizens over 60 years of age and two kings; resolved issues of foreign and domestic policy, controlled civil servants.
Rice. 1. The territory of Ancient Sparta.
Social division
The population of Ancient Sparta was divided into:
- Aristocracy (Spartans or Spartiates) : Gomians are full citizens; parthenii (lower gomoi) - children of unmarried Spartan women;
- Populace : hypomeions - citizens partially deprived of rights due to loss of condition or health; mophaki - people of low origin, but received a Spartan education; perieki - powerless but free population;
- Dependent Population: helots - state slaves, residents of occupied lands; epeinacts - helots freed from slavery for marrying Spartan widows; Erikteri - helots serving aristocrats in the army.
Rice. 2. Helots in Sparta.
In Sparta there was a rather specific education system aimed at physical development and endurance (hence the unconfirmed reports that weak children were thrown into the abyss). From 7 to 20 years of age, children of free citizens studied in military boarding schools, considered the property of the state. They were instilled with thoughtless devotion to the country.
Army
From childhood they studied military disciplines and trained the corresponding qualities (decisiveness, patriotism).
Spartans were well armed. Fighters in full uniform (spear, short sword, shield, helmet, greaves, armor) were called hoplites. Warriors of additional units carried bows, javelins or light spears.
Horsemen (hippeas) They were a detachment of the royal guard (300 people) and fought together with the infantry formation.
The world-famous story about the valor of the 300 Spartans is based on real events. The detachment died in a battle with the Persians in the Thermopylae gorge.
>>Ancient history
Ancient history Sparta
Laconia constituted the southeastern part of the Peloponnese and received its name from the plywood of the local inhabitants, to put it laconically.
It was hot in Laconia in summer and cold in winter. This climate system, unusual for other countries, according to historians, contributed to the development of cruelty and energy in the character of the inhabitants.
The main city of Laconia was called Sparta for no reason.
In Sparta there was a ditch filled with water so that the inhabitants could practice throwing each other into the water. The city itself was not fenced with steppes: the courage of the citizens was supposed to serve as its protection. This, of course, is cheaper for the local city fathers than the worst stockade.
After this, fearing too ardent gratitude from the expansive people, he hastened to starve himself to death.
Why leave to others what you can do yourself! - were his last words.
The Spartans, seeing that the bribes were smooth from him, began to pay divine honors to his memory.
The population of Sparta was divided into three classes: Spartiates, Periacians and Helots.
The Spartiates were local aristocrats, they did gymnastics, walked naked and generally set the tone.
Periekam gymnastics was prohibited. Instead they paid taxes.
The worst of all was the rafts, or, as the local wits put it, “underdogs.” They cultivated the fields, went to war and often rebelled against their masters. The latter, in order to win them over to their side, came up with the so-called cryptia, that is, simply, at a certain hour they killed all the oncoming rafts. This remedy quickly made the rafts come to their senses and live in complete contentment.
The Spartan kings received much respect but little credit. The people believed them only for a month, then forced them to swear allegiance to the laws of the republic again.
Since two kings always reigned in Sparta and there was also a republic, all this together was called an aristocratic republic.
According to the laws of this republic, the Spartans were prescribed the most modest, according to their concepts, way of life. For example, men were not allowed to dine at home; they gathered in a cheerful company in so-called restaurants - a custom observed by many people of an aristocratic bent even in our time as a relic of hoary antiquity.
Their favorite food was black soup, prepared from pork broth, blood, vinegar and salt. This stew, as a historical memory of the glorious past, is still prepared in our Greek kitchens, where it is known as “brandahlysta”.
The Spartans were also very modest and simple in their clothing. Only before the battle did they dress up in a more complex costume, consisting of a wreath on their heads and a flute in their right hand. In ordinary times, they denied themselves this.
Raising children
Raising children was very harsh. Most often they were killed outright. This made them courageous and resilient.
Education they received the most thorough: they were taught not to scream during the spanking. At the age of twenty, the Spartan passed an exam in this subject for a matriculation certificate. At thirty he became a spouse, at sixty he was released from this duty.
Spartan girls practiced gymnastics and were so famous for their modesty and virtue that rich people everywhere tried to get a Spartan girl to be a nurse for their children.
Modesty and respect for elders was the first duty of young people.
The most indecent thing about a Spartan young man was his hands. If he was wearing a cloak, he hid his hands under the cloak. If he was naked, he put them anywhere: under a bench, under a bush, under his interlocutor, or, finally, sat on them himself (900 BC).
From childhood they learned to speak laconically, that is, short and strong. To the long, florid curse of the enemy, the Spartan answered only: “I hear from a fool.”
A woman in Sparta was respected, and she was also occasionally allowed to speak succinctly, which she took advantage of while raising children and ordering dinner from the helot cook. So, one Spartan woman, giving her shield to her son, said laconically: “With it or on it.” And another, giving the cook a rooster to fry, said laconically: “If you overcook it, it will swell.”
The following story is given as a high example of the masculinity of a Spartan woman.
One day a woman named Lena, who knew about an illegal conspiracy, so as not to accidentally reveal the name of the conspirators, bit off her tongue and, spitting it out, said laconically:
Dear sirs and dear madams! I, the undersigned Spartan woman, have the honor to tell you that if you think that we Spartan women are capable of base acts such as:
a) denunciations,
b) gossip
f) extradition of his accomplices and
d) slander,
then you are very mistaken and will not expect anything like this from me. And let the wanderer tell Sparta that I spat out my tongue here, faithful to the laws of gymnastics of my fatherland.
The stunned enemies inserted another “e” into Lena, and she became Leena, which means “lioness.”
Learning to perceive a humorous work...
What features of phrase construction help satirical depiction of historical events?
2. Read texts, emphasizing the humorous and satirical direction of the stories with intonation.
Check out another excerpt from this book prepared by O. Dymov (real name Osip Isidorovich Perelman) - prose writer, playwright, journalist. Before leaving for the USA in 1913, he published collections of stories: “Solstice”, “Spring Sorrow”, etc. His favorite writer was A. Chekhov, he took his pseudonym from Chekhov’s story “The Jumper”.
Literature, 8th grade. Textbook for general education institutions. At 2 o'clock/automatic state. V. Ya. Korovin, 8th ed. - M.: Education, 2009. - 399 p. + 399 pp.: ill.
