Time traveller’s handbook

Ancient Greece, C. 800 – 192 BCE

Top tips to survive in Ancient Sparta

This Ancient Greek state is a world where discipline rules. In a society that prides itself on its warriors, boys as young as seven are already undergoing the agōgē, a strict education and training regime that is compulsory for all male Spartans except the king’s firstborn son.

It is a society of three parts.

At the top sit the Spartans, who enjoy a state-financed education regardless of their gender, with each man expected to do his bit to make Sparta great. In the middle are the perioikoi, who were craftspeople and weapon smiths, and at the bottom are the helots, enslaved prisoners responsible for performing the chores and labour that the Spartan men, busy training and fighting, cannot.

This is a state that expects loyalty from every citizen. Built on war, its enemies are many and its appetite for conquering is undiminished. Tread carefully here.

WHERE to Stay

Unfortunately, Spartans don’t put a lot of emphasis on luxury hotels and mod cons, so why not join the locals and stay in a Spartan barracks? These quarters are the home of Spartan boys from the age of seven until their 30th birthday. They can’t even leave it when they get married – they are expected to sneak out at night to visit their wives! You don’t get much privacy in the communal barracks but there’s plenty to do during your stay. With a rigidly structured physical training programme compulsory for every resident, you’ll never be at a loss for how to spend your time.