Plutarch's vivid and engaging portraits of the Spartans and their
customs are a major source of our knowledge about the rise and fall of
their remarkable Greek city-state between the sixth and third centuries
BC. Through his Lives of Sparta's leaders and his recording of memorable
Spartan Sayings, he depicts a people who lived frugally and mastered
their emotions in all aspects of life, who disposed of unhealthy babies
in a deep chasm, introduced a gruelling regimen of military training for
boys, and treated their serfs brutally. Rich in anecdote and detail,
Plutarch's writing brings to life the personalities and achievements of
Sparta with unparalleled flair and humanity.
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