Episode 2: The Women of Sparta, Part 1

It's only fitting to begin our exploration of the Warrior Archetype with ancient Sparta. But let's not start with the men. Let's start with the women. Spartan women were famous as the most beautiful and the free-est in the ancient world. But they were also the toughest-minded and the fiercest enforcers of the warrior ethos to which their husbands, sons, and fathers aspired. Let's begin this series with them.
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[@KateStantonSings]

COVID-19 has cracked open the wounds that now need to be properly healed in our nation. Life truly is about helping others--we are all connected. When one of us hurts, it hurts another and so on...

[@jesseivesmusic]

What a great series! Great writer and storyteller! I think I found the only other person as much of a laconophile as I! Much love sir!

[@lavendergirl3752]

Wow, fantastic series so far. Thank you for breathing such life into Greek history. I'll be back for more. And alongside this, I'm reading Tides of War and loving it :)

[@dianebarron8362]

I LOVE , NEED AND APPRECIATE YOUR WORK, THANK YOU

[@solomail]

thank you for this! any thought of posting the audio as podcasts as well?

[@OscarSalasLopez]

How is it possible that this has so little views o_O!???

[@jaket.mullery4105]

Thank you Mr. Pressfield for this video. It would be interesting to hear you and Sebastian Junger discuss the book Tribe and how today's society and the Warrior Culture compare and contrast.

[@shrapmagnet]

I retired from the army 11 years ago after 23 years. I will be 54 soon. After I retired, I worked OCONUS as a security contractor for 4 years. I carry many old injuries. I still PT 5 days a week, and work out at the dojo 3x a week- training with people who are mostly in their 20's. I go to the range 2x a month (it was every week until ammo became so scarce). During hunting season, I am in the woods 2x a week. My family and civilian friends don't get it.

[@AnniceMichelle]

Sir I was raised in a military family and what you said about the warrior culture of our military is so true. It is the very reason I often have found myself resenting the civilian culture as we call it of American society. There is no place for all this concern over color, sexuality, money, or anything else that is causing strife today.

[@shadowbaby4238]

#Spartan

[@shadowbaby4238]

#Military

[@kenwilliamsvoice]

You describe today's American culture. Go back to WWII era of American culture. Mother's were like those Spartan women. That culture began to unravel starting in 1950s corporate push for consumerism. You're also correct that the warrior spirit still exists in isolated pockets. The burden, however are the few having to defend the many. That's also breaking down. WE warriors are getting exhausted by loathsome masses.

[@ashannahensley3288]

She wasn't taken by Paris, but Aphrodite. Technically we'll never know the full historical story. But the story recounted by homer had the War Goddess (pre-Greece watering her down. And yes. She was a War Goddess and a Love Goddess (even though only Sparta and an island near them, every worshipped her as such)), toss Helen of Troy at Paris for her winning a popularity contest. Now. Historically. Eris didn't throw a Golden Apple, stirring things up. And Aphrodite Areia didn't kidnap the Spartan Queen just because she won. But just like with Perseus and Medusa. There are Historical undertones, that we currently are unaware of. (Kind of pissed that the Perseus Myth was King Perseus invading Libya, murdering the priestesses of a Life Cult, and stealing their horse. Then making a story on how heroic he was to murder defenseless women ... Then you remember the myth. Medusa was minding her own business as she was want to do. Then Perseus went in while she slept, and murdered her in her sleep ... not that far off from reality. In that they both couldn't defend themselves.)

[@johndeerman2105]

So these are good stories but are they true stories or mythological stories made by a society to enforce an ideal to live up to. Plenty of societies have made stories like these to train their people in ways they wanted them to act but in reality this way of living wasn't wide spread.

[@pastricemoretti254]

Mr. Pressfield, Going back to Genesis 3:16b, God told Eve that her desire will be for her husband and he will rule over you. Why was this Eve's punishment, because God has originally made male and female to rule equally.

[@deSerresFamJam]

The warrior ethos so far seems to be lacking in humanity. Specifically when taken to extremes, as it seems here. I'm curious to see where you take it from here.

[@user-et4vd2kp1b]

The warrior ethos is what gives a culture the ability to be humane

[@Namsproc]

You're wrong, Stephen. Warrior society lives in the military. Missions to kill savages are the same today as they were hundreds of years ago.

[@blue_mara]

This warrior culture seems to be a culture of abuse

[@sethheath9568]

If you're weak.

[@blue_mara]

@@sethheath9568 what is strength to you?

[@Colesign]

The military historian blogger on this website (acoup.blog/) wrote articles about Sparta and its abusive practice, pointing out in particular how the Agoge was functionally identical to the modern day indoctrination of child soldiers.

[@ericcallcut]

By your wording, Steven, you seem to be placing the Spartan warrior culture above your hypothetically non-warrior American culture. Firstly, during a number of nationalistic frenzies over the past decades, it could be argued that America is indeed a warrior culture. Secondly, you appear to explain and root what is in your opinion America's non-warrior culture by American's selfishness and individualism. Are you upholding that only selfish and individualistic people could be non-warriors? (I underline that this video is about "external" warriorship, not "internal" warriorship (cf. your 1st video of the series) - so we're talking here about killing, not about internal struggles)... If that is what you're upholding.... I'll be watching a few more videos to check it out... and spending my time more constructively if that does turn out to be your message. In peace, Eric.