Religion In Spartan Society

Religion within Spartan society was a fundamental aspect to enforce values and ethics onto the people of Sparta. Sparta was an extremely respected and feared militaristic state, affects and differentiates from the majority, conveying the absolute and imperative attitude the Spartans held towards their religion. The role of gods and goddesses, festivals, the kings and funeral customs convey compelling insights into the importance of religion and furthermore the basis of Spartan society.

All the gods and goddesses within the ancient greek religion were heavily worshipped by the Spartans, in particular Artemis Orthia, Poseidon and Apollo. The gods convey the society’s values and ethics. Artemis Orthia, was the combination of two deities, who

The two kings of Sparta were thought to be descendants of Herakles, a prominent greek heroine, infamous for his endless strength. Furthermore as commentary from Xenophon reveals that the kings were of “divine descent” underscores the belief that the kings were semi-divine. The kings enforced the religion by being ‘living proof’ for the Spartans of their belief system and the kings belonging to the linage of Herakles further accentuates the values and ethics of the society, being that physical strength was a crucial section of the Spartan society. The kings were the chief priest of the spartan state and Herodotus writes that the kings carried out the sacrificial ceremonies and consistently consulted and protected the Pythians in Delphi. The sacrifices performed on behalf of the state were only performed by the kings, displaying their religious role as holding an enormity of importance for conciliating the gods. Through the constant contact with the Pythians, Apollo’s transcendental wisdom was cast upon the kings. The religious roles further accentuates the kings divine status and connection with the gods offering physical evidence for the Spartans of their gods through the kings and the society value to alleviate gods through the sacrifices performed by the

Acts such as death in battle or childbirth were seen as accomplishments, and would be allowed at tomb stone to be remembered by all. The individual desire to die for the state reflects the values and ethics within the combatant society and outright devotion the society had for the spartan state. The kings, as stated by Plutarch, had elaborate funerals and special burial rites such as compelling the people to attend the funeral, communal displays of grief and praise for the dead king. The differing rituals reflects the kings higher status within the society, however if a king died in battle a statue made of him, mirroring the individual desire to die for the state that had been enforced through the social values and ethics. Religion was valued to the Spartans as it was believed it would allow for the state to prosper, which was the crucial aspect of the Spartan society.

Within the Spartan society, religion mirrored their values and ethics of a militaristic state, being physical strength and social cohesion. However, the absolute necessity to appease their gods and goddess through festivals and the religious roles of the kings reflects the society’s obligation to religion over everything. Funerary customs and rituals reflect that dying for the state was of uttermost importance correlating with the Spartans values and ethics ultimately giving prominence to religion being the fundamental aspect of