Spartan Literacy Revisited

Abstract

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Brill's Companion to Herodotus

“…Representations of Spartan laconism probably reflect the disciplined and authoritarian nature of the Spartan social and political system. 21 Yet, as Ellen Millender (2001 ) argues, this feature is probably sharpened in this and other anecdotes to emphasize the contrast between democratic Athens and oligarchic Sparta, and hence the anecdote may be influenced by democratic ideology. The only historically secure element of the story is that the Spartans did in fact agree to help the Samians.…”

‘Do I have to spell it out?’ Dyslexia, Lexism, and an object of comparison

“…Wittgenstein () gave the example of St Augustine's ‘picture’ of language as an example of a widespread conception of language. I adopt a similar approach: first, I examine Millender's () description of ancient Athenians’ conception of literacy, which conflates literacy with citizenship and progress. Second, I outline Gibbon's () conceptions of literacy and being literate as the foundation of rationality.…”

“…Millender () argues that in the ancient Athenian conception of literacy, there was an association between illiteracy and backwardness. Millender () demonstrates how ancient Athenian writers fraudulently claimed that the Spartans were illiterate, and, as a direct result of this, argued that the Spartans were therefore inferior. Millender () notes the growing ideological importance of literacy in Athens, from the fifth century BC onwards, as a means of self‐identity.…”

“…Millender () demonstrates how ancient Athenian writers fraudulently claimed that the Spartans were illiterate, and, as a direct result of this, argued that the Spartans were therefore inferior. Millender () notes the growing ideological importance of literacy in Athens, from the fifth century BC onwards, as a means of self‐identity. Millender (, p. 156) also gives an interpretation of this process:

‘Similarly to those who both today and in the past have identified literacy with civilisation, progress, and rationality, Athenians of this period attached much ideological importance to literacy as a natural and necessary concomitant of their democracy.

…”

“…Millender () notes the growing ideological importance of literacy in Athens, from the fifth century BC onwards, as a means of self‐identity. Millender (, p. 156) also gives an interpretation of this process:

‘Similarly to those who both today and in the past have identified literacy with civilisation, progress, and rationality, Athenians of this period attached much ideological importance to literacy as a natural and necessary concomitant of their democracy. In turn, illiteracy, as a sign of political and cultural backwardness … became the possession of Sparta’.

…”