[lit-ideas] Spartakeia

 
 
 
 
Further to the notes, I have read (sort of) Sargent for  ref. to Sparta and I 
notice he claims TWO 'founding myths', as the translation  goes, are 
especifically Spartan. 

(i ) The well-known one of Hyacinthus  -- refs from Liddell/Scott online 
"Greek Lexicon" below.
More interestingly,
 
(ii) The Elakatas myth --. 
 
 
(He suggests references of the Hyppolitos myth as well, etc.)
 
For (ii) I have not been able to find much outside Sargent's book.  One 
website, which I have not checked, goes:
 



_Associazione O-zone | L’erotismo nel mondo antico: greci, etruschi  ..._ 
(http://www.associazioneozone.net/territorio/ricerca-e-valorizzazione/lerotismo-ne
l-mondo-antico-greci-etruschi-e-barbari/) - [ _Translate this page_ 
(http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=it&u=http://www.associazioneozone.net/te
rritorio/ricerca-e-valorizzazione/lerotismo-nel-mondo-antico-greci-etruschi-e-
barbari/&sa=X&oi=translate&resnum=1&ct=result&prev=/search?q=Elakatas&hl=en&ie
=UTF-8)  ]     ... radici nel mito di Apollo e Giacinto;  un’altro mito 
considerato fondatore per la società spartana era quello di  Heracle (erastes) 
Elakatas (eromenos). ...
_www.associazioneozone.net/.../ricerca-e-valorizzazione/www.associazioneozone.
net/.../ricerca-e-valorizzazio_ 
(http://www.associazioneozone.net/.../ricerca-e-valorizzazione/lerotismo-nel-mondo-antico-greci-etruschi-e-barbari/)
 
 
For (i) 
 
A. Hyacinthus, a Laconian youth, beloved by Apollo, who killed him by an 
unlucky  cast of the discus, E.Hel.1469  (lyr.), Apollo.3.10.3, Paus.3.1.3: cf. 
Huakinthia. 
 
B. as Appellat.,  
I. huakinthos ,  , hu. sparte Thphr. HP6.8.2 ; said to have sprung up from 
the blood of  Hyacinthus








[with the interjection AI AI deciphered in the petals  being the expression 
of Apollo's grief]





Huakinthia [u^], ta (sc. hiera), a Laconian festival in  honour of 
Hyacinthus, 

Herodotos.9.7,11, Thucydides 5.23, Xenophon Historia Graeca  4.5.11, etc. 






---- Sargent's point is that both are foundational myths  for Sparta (this is 
the second time I'm trying to write this post -- it got  deleted by mistake: 
this copying and pasting can be a bore), and you know how  trying is to retry 
a post), so I'll be brief.
 
Both were names of months and part of the military calendar. The Hiacinthia  
was celebrated south of Sparta (males and females) alike, to provide a tribute 
 to the 'resurrection' of their brave soldier (now underground). The 
Elakateia  marked the end of the yearly campaign and involved some contest with 
 
wreath-runners. 
 
Nothing earth-shattering, but I think it's good to know what we are talking  
about when we talk "Spartan" and try to 'overuse' the term to mean almost  
"everything you always wanted to know about military austerity -- but were  
afraid to ask". And Helm is right that it all went to the dogs when they  
(Spartans) became successful and wealthy. 
 
 
Cheers,
 
JL
 
 



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