James timothy hooker (1 Ergebnisse)

Hardcover. Zustand: Good. Zustand des Schutzumschlags: Good. 1st Edition. Hardcover, 254pp + 24 pages of glossy b&w plates, NOT ex-library. Extensive faint age-discolourations and owner's initials on endpapers. A gentle tear in the side margin of page 213. Else interior in great shape, clean and bright, untanned, with unmarked text, free of stamps, firmly bound. Dusty spotted upper outer page edges. Untorn dust jacket with a sunned spine, gentle edgewear, a bit of spotting to the edges. -- This scholarly historical and archaeological study seeks to separate the historical reality of Sparta from the pervasive "Spartan Mirage" - the idealized and often distorted image created by ancient Athenian and later European writers. Core Themes and Historical Scope: - Archaeological Evidence: Unlike many Spartan histories that rely solely on literary sources (like Plutarch or Xenophon), Hooker places a heavy emphasis on archaeological finds. He uses Laconian pottery, ivory carvings, and bronze work to prove that early Sparta was a culturally vibrant and artistic society, challenging the stereotype of a purely austere military state. - The Origins of Sparta: The book examines the transition from the Mycenaean period through the "Dark Ages" to the establishment of the classical Spartan state. It analyzes the Doric migration and the early social structures of Laconia. - Political and Social Systems: Hooker provides a detailed breakdown of the unique Spartan constitution (the Rhetra), the dual kingship, the Gerousia (Council of Elders), and the Ephors. He also scrutinizes the social hierarchy, including the Spartiates, the Perioikoi (dwellers-around), and the Helots (serfs). - The Agoge and Military Life: The text explores the rigorous educational system (the Agoge) and the evolution of the Spartan hoplite phalanx, while questioning how much of the "military extremism" was a later historical exaggeration. Hooker was a respected classicist at University College London, and this work is noted for its cautious, evidence-based approach. He famously argues that Sparta did not suddenly become a "military barracks" in the 7th century BC due to a single lawgiver (Lycurgus), but rather evolved gradually in response to the internal threat of Helot revolts. The volume includes numerous maps, site plans, and black-and-white plates of Laconian art.…