Why Is Sparta So Weird? Ancient Sparta & The Spartan Mirage (Part One)

Season 6 // Episode 463

This episode originally aired on January 10, 2023. Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

In this introduction to the new series on ancient Sparta and the Spartan Mirage, Liv gives a rundown on the history of Archaic and Classical Sparta, truths and misconceptions. Help keep LTAMB going by subscribing to Liv's Patreon for bonus content!

CW/TW: far too many Greek myths involve assault. Given it's fiction, and typically involves gods and/or monsters, I'm not as deferential as I would be were I referencing the real thing.

Sources: The History of Herodotus, translated by G. C. Macaulay as found on Project Gutenberg; “Sparta: Reconstructing History from Secrecy, Lies and Myth.” by Anton Powell from A Companion to Sparta; Pausanias' Description of Greece translated by WHS Jones; Plutarch's Life of Lykourgos, translated by Bernadotte Perrin; upcoming conversation episodes also contributed to sourcing. Check out BadAncient.com for misconceptions on the ancient world.

Attributions and licensing information for music used in the podcast can be found here: mythsbaby.com/sources-attributions.