Where does the phrase living like a Spartan come from? Sparta is a military state in Greece. Spartan ambassadors, when asked why Sparta does not have walls to defend itself, answer proudly that Sparta has a wall of men. The grueling training of a Spartan soldier is fierce. When Spartan boys turn 7 years old, they are taken away from their families and tested for physical fitness. If they pass the test, they are then brought to barracks to train for the rest of their military life. If they don’t pass the test, they are left on a mountain to die.
Spartan boys are well educated. One of the first things they learn is how to dance and how to wrestle, because dancing makes you more agile and wrestling strengthens your muscles. This kind of physical and academic education continues until the Spartan boys are about 12 years old. Then they start training with weapons. Each year there are contests such as the so-called Cheese Run during which the rank and status of the Spartan boys is determined. The last boy standing in these often brutal contests is proclaimed the toughest and has a higher status. When boys turn 20, they join the army, but they are not allowed to get married until they are 30. However, although they are married, Spartan men keep living in the barracks, they can not live with their wives until they turn 60. At the age of 60, Spartan warriors retire to live with their family.
While Spartan boys are training to become warriors, Spartan girls enjoy a certain amount of freedom. Other Greek city states disapproved of this kind of freedom, because they thought girls were supposed to stay at home as servants. While in Sparta, girls and women were expected to be strong and in charge of their household, including the slaves that they owned. Spartans also believe that a fitter woman would give birth to stronger children.
Life as a Spartan was certainly unforgiving, demanding and tough. Discipline was considered to be one of the highest values, no matter how grueling or unpleasant the task was. That’s the story behind the phrase to live like a Spartan.