91–100 of 224 posts
I don't understand the point of changing words like "many" to "mony" or "man" to "mon". I mean if you're anyway writing the entire thing in modern day English then why do this. Is it just for the effect of it I.e., making it look sophisticated? or is it some kind of attempt at retaining the originality/authenticity?
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Aside from Sports (where competition is the whole point outside of the Ivy League), Sparta is always portrayed as cruel and inhumane, deservedly so. On the other hand, they were, apparently, good at waging war one way or another. I've not seen it associated with philosophy and civilization as Athens was, among others.
> “…Sports (where competition is the whole point outside of the Ivy League)…” the point of sports in the ivy league is also competition, whether they’re able to be as competitive as other leagues or not.
If the focus were on winning then they’d recruit like the other schools for their sports teams (pac10, bigEast, etc. I know some have expanded and names have changed)
Myke Cole has written a new book on Spartan society and military, The Bronze Lie: https://www.amazon.com/Bronze-Lie-Shattering-Spartan-Suprema... His previous work on the Roman legion vs the Greek phalanx was very interesting and well-researched. https://www.amazon.com/Legion-versus-Phalanx-Struggle-Suprem...
The essential philosophy of Sparta: Survival of the fittest.
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Great series! I came out with the feeling that the Spartans were like the genteel Antebellum plantation owners of Greece: seemingly noble and stoic, but in reality terribly cruel, corrupted, and decadent.
I had been thinking about fantasy stories and what the maximumly evil evil empire you could write in a story and still have it somewhat believable. After reading that, I think Sparta is probably it, if not a little beyond it.
I don't understand the point of changing words like "many" to "mony" or "man" to "mon". I mean if you're anyway writing the entire thing in modern day English then why do this. Is it just for the effect of it I.e., making it look sophisticated? or is it some kind of attempt at retaining the originality/authenticity?
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Great series! I came out with the feeling that the Spartans were like the genteel Antebellum plantation owners of Greece: seemingly noble and stoic, but in reality terribly cruel, corrupted, and decadent.
I had been thinking about fantasy stories and what the maximumly evil evil empire you could write in a story and still have it somewhat believable. After reading that, I think Sparta is probably it, if not a little beyond it.
On the topic of Spartan societey in general, a really good read is https://acoup.blog/category/collections/this-isnt-sparta/ by Dr. Bret Deveraux. Long read but well worth it for interested people.
That is a very biased article that is playing up all the aspects of Spartan society that modern audiences would find repulsive for internet likes. At the end of the day it is not unlike the film it criticises (300) except it's going all the way to the other end and painting a portrait of a grim, evil empire. It is good to keep in mind that pretty much all ancient societies had norms and customs that we find repulsive…
We do talk about contemporary totalitarian societies and near part totalitarian societies.
The expectation that we will heroise past society, to feel good, to make them sound awesome, is on itself a bias.