Jonathan Hall’s “big man” theory

1. Jonathan Hall’s “big man” theory • band • tribe • chiefdom • state Does this apply to the Homeric heroes – the basileis who lead their communities? Does it apply to Theseus of Athens as described by Plutarch?

2. Theseus: Athens’ “Big Man” Theseus slaying the Minotaur, 420 BCE Red-figure kylix (drinking cup) Theseus slaying the Minotaur, 480 BCERed-figure kylix interior

3. Labors of Theseus Red-figure kylix, 440 BCE

4. Theseus, Aegeus and the Pythia Aegeus, father of Theseus, consults the Pythian priestess of DelphiRed-figure kylix, 450 BCE

5. Synoikism of Attica  Athens

6. Does Theseus fit Hall’s definition of a “big-man”?Θήσευς < τίθημι(tithêmi), “to place, acknowledge, to establish,” so “the Establisher” (Plutarch tries to link his name to the tokens “placed” under the rock, or that his father “acknowledged” him as his son) What are the key characteristics of a “big-man”? What are the key characteristics of Theseus as presented by Plutarch? Do these qualities map on to Hall’s theory, which is adopted from 20th c. sociological studies? DoesLycurgus of Sparta fit these characteristics?

7. This is Sparta Corinthian Gulf Delphi Isthmus ACHAEA Athens Corinth ELIS Olympia ATTICA ARGOLID ARCADIA Argos Saronic Gulf Tegea PELOPONNESOS LACONIA Aegean Sea MESSENIA Sparta

8. Mt. Taygetos range from Sparta, looking west towards Messenia

9. Mt. Taygetos from Sparta, looking west towards Messenia

10. Menelaion, Sparta, with evidence of heroon (of Menelaus and Helen?) ca. 8th-7th c. BCE--earliest evidence of monumental building above the foundation level at Sparta, ca. 650-600

11. Mt. Taygetos range from Sparta, looking west towards Messenia Thucydides History of the Peloponnesian War1.10.2 [2] For I suppose if Lacedamon were to become desolate, and the temples and the foundations of the public buildings were left, that as time went on there would be a strong disposition with posterity to refuse to accept her fame as a true exponent of her power. And yet [the Spartans] occupy two-fifths of the Peloponnese and lead all of it, not to speak of their numerous allies outside. Still, as the city is neither built in a compact form nor adorned with magnificent temples and public edifices, but composed of villages after the old fashion of Hellas, one would think it inadequate.

12. Archaic Spartan sculpture – 7th/6th centuries:canonical representations of two Spartan sisters Menelaus and Helen reunite Clytaemnestra kills Agamemnon

13. What do we learn about Sparta from the primary sources?Tyrtaeus – mid-7th c. BCE Spartan poet in his poemsHerodotus – mid-5th c. BCE historian in his HistoriesAristotle – mid-4th c. BCE philosopher in his PoliticsPlutarch, early 2nd c. CE biographer in his Life of Lycurgus? History? Political culture? Social systems? Traditions? Values? Gender roles?

14. Sparta’s conquests: Messenia 740s(?) and mid-7th c.; Tegea mid-6th c. ally

15. Visualizing the Spartan Rhetra:how did the Spartan “constitution” work? • Ephors (“overseers”): • 5 elected annually; serve only once • Gerousia(“elders”): • 28> 60yrs. old + 2 kings; serve for life • Basileis: • 2 kings < 2 royal families; inherited, serve for life • Apellaor ekklesia: • damos in assembly to consider proposals from the gerousia • citizens = Spartiates or Lakedaimonioi • 3 tribes – Hylleis, Dymanes, Pamphyloi • 5 synoikized villages – Limnai, Mesoa, Kynosura, Pitane, and Amyklailater • Perioikoi (“those who live around”): • non-citizens with limited rights • Helotes(“those seized”): • not bought and sold but “home-grown” • connected to the land, under annual threat from the Spartiates but could serve as aides in the army damos