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Herodotus on the Burial Procedure of the Spartan Kings
 
PIIS032103910014639-5-1
DOI10.31857/S032103910014639-5
Publication type Article
Status Published
Authors
Larisa Pechatnova 
Affiliation: Saint Petersburg State University
Address: Russian Federation, Saint Petersburg
Journal nameVestnik drevnei istorii
EditionVolume 82 Issue 3
Pages580-596
Abstract

The article offers a historical commentary on Herodotus’ account of the funeral of the Spartan kings. The author tries to explain why over the centuries the royal funeral rite continued to exist unchanged, although it was too magnificent for the ascetic Sparta. Particular attention is paid to the analysis of the socio-ethnic structure of the participants in the funeral ceremony. It is argued that the participation of representatives of the lower classes – helots and perioikoi – in the funeral ceremony contributed to the separation of elites from both categories of the Spartan subordinate population. The funeral ceremony performed an important ideological and propaganda function: it served as a unifying moment for all ranks of society and instilled in them the conviction of eternity and immutability of the royal power, and with it the entire Spartan state.

KeywordsHerodotus, Plutarch, Spartiates, helots, perioikoi, Spartan kings, Sparta
Received10.05.2022
Publication date26.09.2022
Number of characters45256
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