THIS IS SPARTA

What is a "laconic expression"? This ability to express your thoughts briefly and clearly. Probably not everyone knows that this concept is taken from Sparta, which was located in Lakonia, one of the regions of ancient Greece. In Sparta did not like long speeches, it was necessary to speak briefly and in essence. By the way, the expression "with a shield or on a shield" also appeared in Ancient Sparta. This is how mothers were instructed by sons who went on a military campaign. The dead soldiers were brought to the shields, and death in battle was honorable. According to the laws of the time, names on tombstones were written only in men who died in battle or in women who died during childbirth.
Ancient historian Plutarch wrote that the Spartans are very harsh and cruel, therefore, newborn children were brought to the elders to determine how healthy the child is. The weak and the sick were thrown from the cliff. With the light hand of Plutarch this version has reached even now. But, Greek historians refute this myth. Archaeologists from the University of Athens conducted excavations in the gorge, where according to legend abandoned children were thrown. Scientists, indeed, found there a lot of bones, but they belonged to adult men from 18 to 35 years. It turns out that either rumors about the cruelty of the Spartans are exaggerated, or they were looking not where they needed to be. The Spartans had to eat from the common pot. Warlord Agis, returning from the campaign, decided to break this rule and ordered to serve dinner home. He was refused, in addition, Agis was punished in the form of a fine.
The only craft that the Spartans owned perfectly was military art. But physical work was considered a humiliating occupation in Sparta. For this, slaves were used-helots. In addition, the helots were forced to drink wine to show the youth - in whom a drunken man turns. Children were considered the property of the state. At the age of seven, boys were taken from the family and transferred to military schools. Conditions here were, indeed, Spartan - the inmates had to undergo rigorous training and become fearless warriors. They were fed meagerly, encouraging theft of food. But, if someone came across him, he was punished twice: for stealing and for being caught. Military service Spartan borne up to 60 years.
The well-known Spartan legislator Lycurgus, decided that the state system created by him should be respected forever. To do this, he took a desperate step - went on a trip to the city of Delphi, taking from the inhabitants of Sparta vow that before his return they will not change any of the existing laws. To link this oath to the Spartans forever, Lycurgus starved himself in Delphi. There is an interesting legend about the dissolution of Sparta. In 404, the Spartans captured the untold treasures of the Persian king. And what to do with this wealth? The Persians advised to share all this with each other. That's where it all began. The Spartans turned into greedy and weak-willed people. By the beginning of our era, Sparta was already a part of the Roman Empire.