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This is of course completely inexcusable and condemns this edition altogether. This does not include Plutarch's Lives of Agesilaos or of Lysander, both incredibly important figures in Sparta and in international Greek politics of the mid- and late-Classical period. There is some faint, stupid excuse for not including the Life of Lysander as the Penguin "Rise and Fall of Athens" includes that; but there can be no possible excuse for omitting the Life of Agesilaos, for Agesilaos was one of the most important figures of 4th century BC Aegean history.
It is still a very interesting read and I am encouraged to try some other 'Lives'. Probably very readable for those already closely acquianted with historical and mythological references. I prefer footnotes mixed with the text as I have seen in most other translations of the ancients.
Likewise did Plutarch, who was a later Greek historian living from 46-120 AD during the period of Roman Imperial ascendacy. I enjoy to ponder parallels between late Spartan reformer-Kings and the Roman Emperor Julian Apostate.
This edition is a good editing and compilation and the first version of Plutarch's writings on Sparta that I would recommend readers select. Plutarch's book is required reading for students of Sparta.
Amidst all the contemporary historical deconstructionist prattling over the Spartans, the views and words of the more proximate historians among the ancients shine out like stars in a dark firmament. They are archetypal stories of heroic-tragic figures who strive greatly to resurrect a noble but dying people and their way of life.
Plato and Aristotle had much to say of the Spartan constitution.
In this book there is much instructive and readable biographical information on prominent Spartan lives, as well as explantions of culture and customs surrounding the "Laws of Lycurgus." There are Spartan tales and aphorisms as well and the inclusion of the tragic stories of the later reformers are invaluable inclusions taken from the perspective of time.
Those who wanted to sin by amassing great wealth, needed vast granaries. Moreover, the city needed children from the best men (eugenics). Plutarch's book tells the immensely sad story of the relentless warring between the Greek City States: `Alas for Greece, how many men have you killed with your own hands.'His masterly brushed picture of Sparta is not less than astonishing. Nepotism was impossible because children didn't privately belong to the fathers, but jointly by the city. Barbarous methods were used in the military education of the youth: thousands of human targets (helots) were killed in nightly survival exercises.The ultimate goal of the State was to create an army of bees swarming around their leaders and capable of defending Sparta's 4 villages against any outside enemy.For Plutarch, Sparta went under when it replaced its defence policies by offensive one: `empire and sovereignty war by force - unnecessary elements for maintaining the happy life of any State.' It was beaten by Epaminondas' Theban army.Sparta was the ideal State for Plato, of whom Plutarch adopted his anti-democratic reflexes: `those politicians, whose sights are set on glory, are servants of the crowd, even though they are called rulers.'This book is a must read for all those interested in the history of mankind. Sparta has been one of the purest communist States on earth.In order to stamp out arrogance, envy, crime, luxury, wealth and poverty among its citizens, the kings imposed redistribution of land, common messes for all Spartans, no free travel (foreign morals should be hidden) and no immigration (could be teachers of evil practices). Gold and silver coins were declared invalid and replaced by iron ones.
When Hamilton, Jay and Madison write "The Federalist Papers" they use many examples of good and bad leadership traits that they read in Plutarch's work. He was a proud Greek that was equally effected by Roman culture, a Delphic priest, a leading Platonist, a moralist, educator and philosopher with a deep commitment as a first rate writer. Thomas Jefferson wrote to his nephew that there were three books every gentleman had to have familiarity with; Plutarch's "Lives", Livy's "History of Rome" and Virgil's Aeneid. Plutarch's "Lives", served as the sourcebook for Shakespeare's Roman Plays "Julius Caesar", "Antony and Cleopatra" and "Coriolanus".
Plutarch in his "Lives Of The Noble Grecians And Romans" written around 100 C.E., sheds new light on Greek and Roman history from their Bronze Age beginnings, shrouded in myth, down through Alexander and late Republican Rome. His biographies are a great study in human character and what motivates leaders to decide and act the way they do, this masterpiece has proven to be still prescient today.If you are truly interested in a classical education, put this book on the top of your list. In fact all the founding fathers of note had read Plutarch and learned much from his fifty biographies of noble men of Greece and Rome. Plutarch is the lens that we use today to view the Greco-Roman past; his work has shaped our perceptions of that world for 2,000 years.
By the way Plutarch is even the only contemporary source of all the biographical information on Cleopatra, whom he writes about in his biographies of Julius Caesar, Mark Antony and Octavian. I recommend this book to anyone who is interested in political philosophy, and history. Plutarch writes of the rise of Roman Empire while Gibbon uses his scholarship to advance the story to write about its decline. Being a Roman citizen, Plutarch was afforded the opportunity to become an intimate friend to prominent Roman citizens and a member of the literary elite in the court of Emperor Trajan.Plutarch's influence and enormous popularity during and after the Renaissance is legendary among classicist.
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