Spartan quotes (and more)...

[kdrakak]

Those of you who read the regional description of Lakonike, probably noticed the quotes I inserted where they matched, or where I think they did.
I got these from here if you are interested in many many more of them:

http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Plutarch/Moralia/Sayings_of_Spartans*/main.html

edit: I'll get that signature fixed soon... that picture is too big...

[Maeran]

Thanks for posting this link. Very interesting reading.

I'm curious(but don't expect to find out) why several of the quotes have Spartans speaking in Scots.
e.g. When the ambassadors of the Samians spoke at great length, the Spartans said to them, "We hae forgot the first part, and the later part we did na ken because we hae forgot the first."

[Arjos]

I'm curious(but don't expect to find out) why several of the quotes have Spartans speaking in Scots.

Most of the translations, found on the net, are from the later XIX° or early XX° centuries and sometimes you get a "contemporary" revision/take on people...
While not so objective and can fall on stereotypes, imo it has merits anthropologically (common approaches of military/warring societies) and historically (coincidentally we get a look on the "mind" of people from the translations' time) for example :)

Even ancient ones were the same, more parallels for mankind throughout the ages :P, like Herodotos or, in the OP's case, Ploutarchos writing in opposition to what he felt as a time of amorality among Hellenes...
This however doesn't mean they are to discard, "history books" as we consider them weren't really widespread among the literate public. Actually from what we can gather, in the Hellenistic Period, texts on quotes or specific episodes of life at court, often verging on entertainment and scandals unfortunately, were the most common of the books written and Ploutarchos most likely used such sources...

[kdrakak]

Thanks for posting this link. Very interesting reading.

I'm curious(but don't expect to find out) why several of the quotes have Spartans speaking in Scots.
e.g. When the ambassadors of the Samians spoke at great length, the Spartans said to them, "We hae forgot the first part, and the later part we did na ken because we hae forgot the first."

Well at least it is funnier that way right?

[moonburn]

to represent that the scots where not as sophisticated as the other greeks

actually if you read the quotes properly you´ll understand that spartans considered sophists and the likes as useless at best and dangerous at worst (particulary those parts about being taught evil things from the athenians) so if given a chance i guess spartans would prefer to be described as akin to the scots rather then to the fat indulging americans arrogant brits overly pious irish and so forth so the choice to make a translation not just of the words but of the state of mind of most spartans is positive if it was done to a broader audience

gotta say i loved the ones about qomanly quarters or our borders are as vast as where our spears can reach altough i suspect that had they faced steppe people they would be screwed

[kdrakak]

The Scythians fled before the Persians of Darius, and Alexander, despite setbacks, was able to build a reputation for being the devil among nomads of Transoxiane. It is not as simple as it seems in a game battle. Had the Spartans reached that far there is no telling what might have happened. Of course a stationary phalanx receiving a rain of arrows will not do for much. But bear in mind that there were always many more conditions to be factored in. Demographics to mention one.

And why are there two pictures in my signature. I only show one in my settings.

[Ludens]

to represent that the scots where not as sophisticated as the other greeks

actually if you read the quotes properly you´ll understand that spartans considered sophists and the likes as useless at best and dangerous at worst (particulary those parts about being taught evil things from the athenians) so if given a chance i guess spartans would prefer to be described as akin to the scots rather then to the fat indulging americans arrogant brits overly pious irish and so forth so the choice to make a translation not just of the words but of the state of mind of most spartans is positive if it was done to a broader audience

Except that the Scots were never opposed to philosophy - nor do I see many parallels betweens Scottish and Spartan culture. I guess the author just wanted to make the Spartans sound old-fashioned. (That's the problem with using stereotypes as a parallel - it depends on the reader having the same preconception as the author.)


And why are there two pictures in my signature. I only show one in my settings.

I guess you have selected the "extra signature image" option - confusingly, this one is found in the "edit profile" menu rather than "edit signature".

[kdrakak]

I guess you have selected the "extra signature image" option - confusingly, this one is found in the "edit profile" menu rather than "edit signature".

Thanx man... other members will be thankful too. You just helped make that big Spartan disappear!

[HFox]

"When you said ten to one I thought you meant their chance of winning" Leonidas just as the Persian camp came into view. ;)

[Cadwalader]

Thanks for posting this link. Very interesting reading.

I'm curious(but don't expect to find out) why several of the quotes have Spartans speaking in Scots.
e.g. When the ambassadors of the Samians spoke at great length, the Spartans said to them, "We hae forgot the first part, and the later part we did na ken because we hae forgot the first."

I'm not entirely sure here, but I seem to remember reading that Scots was used in the theatre to represent Doric Greek.
There is a dialect og Scots today that is called "Doric":
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doric_dialect_%28Scotland%29