This episode explores the historical myths surrounding ancient Sparta, specifically challenging the popular image of Spartans as austere, uncompromising super-soldiers. Against the backdrop of the "Spartan Mirage," a concept highlighting historical distortions and inventions, the podcast dissects the legendary figure of Lycurgus and his supposedly all-encompassing constitution. More significantly, the narrative questions the historicity of Lycurgus's laws, particularly the practice of infanticide, citing Plutarch as a late and unreliable source unsupported by archaeological evidence. For instance, the podcast reveals the anachronistic nature of Lycurgus's ban on gold coins, predating their existence in Greece. The podcast argues that the "Spartan Mirage" is a product of invented traditions, evolving to suit the needs of different historical periods and political ideologies, from the French Revolution to Nazism. Ultimately, the episode concludes by suggesting that a nuanced understanding of Sparta requires separating fact from fiction, emphasizing the city-state's unique status as a slave-owning society and the influence of the Messenian Wars on its social structure.
