In a way worthy of Sparta: the honor among the Spartans in the fifth and fourth centuries b.C.

• Grant number: 15/05504-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: September 01, 2015
• End date: February 02, 2018
• Field of knowledge: Humanities - History - Ancient and Medieval History
• Principal Investigator: Norberto Luiz Guarinello
• Grantee: Gabriel Cabral Bernardo
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Filosofia, Letras e Ciências Humanas (FFLCH). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated scholarship(s): 16/16856-0 - 'In a way worthy of Sparta': honour in the constitution of the Lacedaemonians, BE.EP.MS

Abstract

The present research project intends to analyse the influence that values traditionally sensed as "honor" had at the spartan polis and among its citizens during the fifth and fourth centuries B.C.. Considering that most of the studies about Sparta happen on a political level (dissecting the polis and its institutions "peculiar" functioning) or chronologic (seeking to define precise dates to significant events), the analysis of the influence of an everyday value represents a good opportunity for two reasons. The first of them would be the possibility of a better compreension of the civic political thought at one of the most influents poleis of the Ancient Hellas. The second would be the humanization of the picture: when we invert the focus - from the institutions to the individuals - we can observe those who animated and perpetuated the polis structures alreary deeply studied. The methodology consists in the analysis of relevant writers (Herodotus, Thucydides, Xenophon and Plato) works; justified by the provision of visions about a group of individuals (from helots to diarcs) that little tell us about themselves and by their record e discussion of moralists episodes and contexts, directly or indirectly connected to the notion of honor. Considering the period that Sparta is visible in the chosen corpus (c. 500 - 360 B.C.), I alsointend to contribute to the debate around the definition of honor, seeking to identify in each author what are honoreble attitudes and how this opinion interferes at the spartans portrait (mens and womens with full citzen rights). Then, comparing the results, we will have a solid base to judge in what level, how and with what goals the "honor" used to influence (or not) the daily lives of the spartan polis during its period of most greatest historical visibility. (AU)

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

BERNARDO, Gabriel Cabral. Honour and Philotimía in fourth century Sparta. 2018. Master's Dissertation - Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Faculdade de Filosofia, Letras e Ciências Humanas (FFLCH/SBD) São Paulo.