Of the Sayings of Spartan Women the same may be said as of the Sayings of Spartans. It truly represents the work of Plutarch, and many of the sayings are repeated elsewhere in his writings; others perhaps in his writings that are now lost. Whether the sayings were collected in this form by Plutarch or by someone else is a matter of minor importance. Argileonis, the mother of Brasidas, when her son had met his death, and some of the citizens of Amphipolis arrived at Sparta and came to her, asked if her son had met his death honourably and in a manner worthy of Sparta. And when th ey proceeded to tell of his greatness, and declared that he was the best of all the Spartans in such enterprises, she said, “Sirs, my son was a gude and honourable mon, but Sparta has mony a mon better than him.”
Ἀργιλεωνὶς ἡ Βρασίδου μήτηρ, τελευτήσαντος αὐτῇ τοῦ υἱοῦ, ὡς παραγενόμενοί τινες τῶν Ἀμφιπολιτῶν εἰς Σπάρτην ἧκον πρὸς αὐτήν, ἠρώτησεν εἰ καλῶς καὶ ἀξίως τῆς Σπάρτης ὁ υἱὸς ἐτελεύτα· μεγαλυνόντων δʼ ἐκείνων καὶ λεγόντων ἄριστον ἐν τοῖς τοιούτοις ἔργοις ἁπάντων Λακεδαιμονίων εἶναι, εἶπεν ὦ ξένοι, καλὸς μὲν ἦν κἀγαθὸς ὁ παῖς μου, πολλοὺς δʼ ἄνδρας Λακεδαίμων ἔχει τήνου κάρρονας.
2.1. Gorgo, daughter of king Cleomenes, when Aristagoras of Miletus was urging her father to enter upon the war against the Persian king in behalf of the Ionians, promising a vast sum of money, and, in answer to Cleomenes’ objections, making the amount larger and larger, said, “Father, the miserable foreigner will be your ruin if you don’t get him out of the house pretty soon!”
2.1. Γοργὼ βασιλέως Κλεομένους θυγάτηρ, Ἀρισταγόρου τοῦ Μιλησίου παρακαλοῦντος αὐτὸν ἐπὶ τὸν πρὸς βασιλέα πόλεμον ὑπὲρ Ἰώνων καὶ ὑπισχνουμένου χρημάτων πλῆθος καὶ ὅσῳ ἀντέλεγε πλείονα προστιθέντος, καταφθερεῖ σε ἔφη ὦ πάτερ τὸ ξενύλλιον, ἐὰν μὴ τάχιον αὐτὸν τῆς οἰκίας ἐκβάλῃς.
2.2. Once when her father told her to give some grain to a man by way of remuneration, and added, “It is because he showed me how to make the wine taste good,” she said, “Then, father, there will be more wine drunk, and the drinkers will become more intemperate and depraved.”
2.2. προστάξαντος δέ ποτε αὐτῇ τοῦ πατρὸς δοῦναί τινι σῖτον εἰς μισθοῦ λόγον, καὶ προστιθέντος ἐδίδαξε γάρ με τὸν οἶνον χρηστὸν ποιεῖν, οὐκοῦν, ὦ πάτερ ἔφη ὃ τʼ οἶνος πλείων ἐκποθήσεται καὶ οἱ πίνοντες θρυπτικώτεροι καὶ χείρονες ἔσονται.
2.3. When she had watched Aristagoras having his shoes put on and laced by one of the servants, she said, “Father, the foreigner hasn’t any hands!”
2.3. τὸν δʼ Ἀρισταγόραν ὑπό τινος τῶν οἰκετῶν ὑποδούμενον θεασαμένη πάτερ ἔφη ὁ ξένος χεῖρας οὐκ ἔχει.
2.4. When a foreigner made advances in a mild and leisurely way, she pushed him aside, saying, “Get away from here, you who cannot play a woman’s part either!”
2.4. ξένου δέ τινος μαλακῶς καὶ σχολῇ προσάγοντος, παρωσαμένη αὐτὸν οὐκ ἄπει ἐντεῦθεν εἶπεν οὐδὲ τὰ τῆς γυναικὸς δυνάμενος;
2.5. Being asked by a woman from Attica, “Why is it that you Spartan women are the only women that lord it over your men,” she said, “Because we are the only women that are mothers of men.”
2.5. ἐρωτηθεῖσα δὲ ὑπό τινος Ἀττικῆς διὰ τί ὑμεῖς ἄρχετε μόναι τῶν ἀνδρῶν αἱ Λάκαιναι; ὅτι ἔφη καί τίκτομεν μόναι ἄνδρας.
2.6. As she was encouraging her husband Leonidas, when he was about to set out for Thermopylae, to show himself worthy of Sparta, she asked what she should do; and he said, “Marry a good man, and bear good children.”
2.6. προτρεπομένη δὲ τὸν ἄνδρα Λεωνίδαν ἐξιόντα εἰς Θερμοπύλας ἄξιον τῆς Σπάρτης φανῆναι, ἠρώτα τί χρὴ πράττειν· ὁ δὲ ἔφη ἀγαθὸν γαμεῖν καὶ ἀγαθά τίκτειν.
3.1. Gyrtias, when on a time Acrotatus, her grandson, in a fight with other boys received many blows, and was brought home for dead, and the family and friends were all wailing, said, “Will you not stop your noise? He has shown from what blood he was sprung.” And she said that people who were good for anything should not scream, but should try to find some remedy.
3.1. Γυρτιάς, Ἀκροτάτου ποτὲ τοῦ θυγατριδοῦ αὐτῆς ἔκ τινος τῶν παίδων μάχης πολλὰς πληγὰς λαβόντος καὶ ἀπενεχθέντος οἴκαδε ὡς τεθνηκότος, κλαιόντων τῶν οἰκείων τε καὶ γνωρίμων, οὐ σιωπήσετε; ἔφη· ἔδειξε γὰρ οἵου αἵματος ἦν, καὶ οὐκ ἔφη δεῖν τοὺς ἀγαθοὺς βοᾶν ἀλλʼ ἰατρεύεσθαι.
3.2. When a messenger came from Crete bringing the news of the death of Acrotatus, she said, “When he had come to the enemy, was he not bound either to be slain by them or to slay them? It is more pleasing to hear that he died in a manner worthy of myself, his country, and his ancestors than if he had lived for all time a coward.”
3.2. ὅτε ἄγγελος ἦλθεν ἐκ Κρήτης τὸν Ἀκροτάτου θάνατον ἀπαγγέλλων, οὐκ ἔμελλεν ἔφη πρὸς τοὺς πολεμίους ἥκων ἢ αὐτὸς ὑπʼ ἐκείνων ἀποθανεῖσθαι ἢ κατακανεῖν ἐκείνους; ἥδιον δʼ ἀκούειν ὅτι ἀπέθανε καὶ ἑαυτῆς καὶ τῆς πόλεως ἀξίως καὶ τῶν προγόνων, ἢ εἰ ἔζη τὸν ἅπαντα χρόνον κακὸς ὤν.
4.1. Damatria heard that her son had been a coward and unworthy of her, and when he arrived, she made away with him. This is the epigram referring to her: “Sinner against our laws, Damatrius, slain by his mother, Was of the Spartan youth; she was of Sparta too.”
4.1. Δαματρία τὸν υἱὸν δειλὸν καὶ ἀνάξιον ἑαυτῆς ἀκούσασα, παραγενόμενον ἀνεῖλε τὸ δʼ ἐπίγραμμα ἐπʼ αὐτῆς τόδετὸν παραβάντα νόμους Δαμάτριον ἔκτανε μάτηρ,ἁ Λακεδαιμονία τὸν Λακεδαιμόνιον.
5.1. Another Spartan woman made away with her son, who had deserted his post, on the ground that he was unworthy of his country, saying, “Not mine the scion.” This is the epigram referring to her:Off to your fate through the darkness, vile scion, who makes such a hatred, So the Eurotas flow not e’en for the timorous deer.Worthless whelp that you are, vile remnant, be oif now to Hades; Off! for never I bore Sparta’s unworthy son.
5.1. ἑτέρα Λάκαινα τὸν υἱὸν λιποτακτήσαντα ὡς ἀνάξιον τῆς πατρίδος ἀνεῖλεν, εἰποῦσα οὐκ ἐμὸν τὸ φίτυμα ἐφʼ ἧς τὸ ἐπίγραμμα τόδεἔρρε κακὸν φίτυμα διὰ σκότος, οὗ διὰ μῖσοςΕὐρώτας δειλαῖς μηδʼ ἐλάφοισι ῥέοι.ἀχρεῖον σκυλάκευμα, κακὰ μερίς, ἔρρε ποθʼ ᾍδαν,ἔρρε· τὸ μὴ Σπάρτας ἄξιον οὐδʼ ἔτεκον.
5.2. Another, hearing that her son had fallen on the field of battle, said:Let the poor cowards be mourned, but, with never a tear do I buryYou, my son, who are mine, yea, and are Sparta’s as well.
5.2. ἄλλη ἀκούσασα τὸν υἱὸν ἐν παρατάξει πεσόντα ἔφη δειλοὶ κλαιέσθωσαν· ἐγὼ δέ σε, τέκνον, ἄδακρυς καὶ ἱλαρὰ θάπτω τὸν καὶ ἐμὸν καὶ Λακεδαιμόνιον.
5.3. Another, hearing that her son had been saved and had run away from the enemy, wrote to him, “Ill report is spread about ye; aither clear yersel’ of this or stop yer living.”
5.3. ἀκούσασά τις τὸν υἱὸν σεσῳσμένον καὶ πεφευγότα ἐκ τῶν πολεμίων, γράφει αὐτῷ κακὰ φάμα τευ κακκέχυται· ἢ ταύταν νῦν ἔκνιψαι ἢ μὴ ἔσο.
5.4. Another, when her sons had run away from battle and come to her, said, “Where have you come now in your cowardly flight, vile varlets? Do you intend to slink in here whence you came forth?” And with these words she pulled up her garment and showed them.
5.4. ἄλλη, τῶν υἱῶν φυγόντων ἐκ μάχης καὶ παραγενομένων ὡς αὐτήν, ποῖ φησὶν ἥκετε δραπετεύσαντες, κακὰ ἀνδράποδα; ἢ δεῦρο ὅθεν ἐξέδυτε καταδυσόμενοι; ἀνασυραμένη καὶ ἐπιδείξασα αὐτοῖς τὴν κοιλίαν.
5.5. One woman, observing her son coming towards her, inquired, “How fares our country?” And when he said, “All have perished,” she took up a tile and, hurling it at him, killed him, saying, “And so they sent you to bear the bad news to us!”
5.5. προσάγοντά τις τὸν υἱὸν θεασαμένη ἐπύθετο τί πράσσει ἡ πατρίς· εἰπόντος δὲ πάντες ἀπολώλασι, κεραμίδα ἄρασα ἐπαφῆκεν αὐτῷ καὶ ἀνεῖλεν, εἰποῦσα σὲ οὖν κακάγγελον ἔπεμψαν ἡμῖν;
5.6. As a man was narrating to his mother the noble death of his brother, she said, “Isn’t it a shame, then, to have missed his company on such a journey?”
5.6. διηγουμένου τινὸς τῇ μητρὶ γενναῖον θάνατον τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ, εἶτʼ οὐκ αἰσχρόν εἶπε τῆς τοιαύτης συνοδίας ἀποτυχεῖν;
5.7. One woman sent forth her sons, five in number, to war, and, standing in the outskirts of the city, she awaited anxiously the outcome of the battle. And when someone arrived and, in answer to her inquiry, reported that all her sons had met death, she said, “I did not inquire about that, you vile varlet, but how fares our country?” And when he declared that it was victorious, “Then,” she said, “I accept gladly also the death of my sons.”
5.7. ἐκπέμψασά τις τοὺς υἱοὺς αὑτῆς πέντε ὄντας ἐπὶ πόλεμον, ἐν τοῖς προαστείοις εἱστήκει καραδοκοῦσα τί ἐκ τῆς μάχης ἀποβήσοιτο· ὡς δὲ παραγενόμενός τις πυθομένῃ ἀπήγγειλε τοὺς παῖδας ἅπαντας τετελευτηκέναι, ἀλλʼ οὐ τοῦτο ἐπυθόμην εἶπε κακὸν ἀνδράποδον, ἀλλὰ τί πράσσει ἡ πατρίς. φήσαντος δὲ ὅτι νικᾷ, ἀσμένη τοίνυν εἶπε δέχομαι καὶ τὸν τῶν παίδων θάνατον θάπτουσά τις τὸν υἱόν, ὡς γραΐδιον εὐτελὲς προσελθὸν αὐτῇ ὦ γύναι τᾶς τύχας εἶπε, νὴ τὼ σιὼ ἀλλὰ τᾶς καλᾶς γʼ ἔφη·
5.8. Another was burying her son, when a commonplace old woman came up to her and said, “Ah the bad luck of it, you puir woman.” “No, by Heaven,” said she, “but good luck; for I bore him that he might die for Sparta, and this is the very thing that has come to pass for me.” When a woman from Ionia showed vast pride in a bit of her own weaving, which was very valuable, a Spartan woman pointed to her four sons, who were most well-behaved, and said, “Such should be the employments of the good and honourable woman, and it is over these that she should be elated and boastful.”
5.8. καὶ γὰρ αὐτὸν οὗ ἕνεκεν ἔτεκον, ἵνʼ ὑπὲρ τᾶς Σπάρτας ἀποθάνῃ, τοῦτό μοι συνέβη σεμνυνομένης γυναικός τινος Ἰωνικῆς ἐπί τινι τῶν ἑαυτῆς ὑφασμάτων ὄντι πολυτελεῖ, Λάκαινα ἐπιδείξασα τοὺς τέσσαρας υἱοὺς ὄντας κοσμιωτάτους, τοιαῦτα ἔφη δεῖ εἶναι τὰ τῆς καλῆς καὶ ἀγαθῆς γυναικὸς ἔργα καὶ ἐπὶ τούτοις ἐπαίρεσθαι καὶ μεγαλαυχεῖν.
5.10. Another, hearing about her son that he was conducting himself badly in a foreign land, wrote to him, “Ill report is spread about ye; pit this from ye or else stop yer living.”
5.10. ἄλλη ἀκούσασα περὶ τοῦ υἱοῦ, ὡς κακῶς ἐπὶ τῆς ξένης ἀναστρέφοιτο, ἔγραψε κακά τευ φάμα κακκέχυται· ἢ ταύταν ἀπόθευ ἢ μὴ ἔσο.
5.11. Of somewhat similar character is this: Chian exiles came to Sparta, and accused Paedaretus of many misdeeds; whereupon his mother Teleutia sent for them and, after listening to their complaints, feeling that her son was in the wrong, sent him this letter: “Mither to Paedaretus. Aither dae better, or stay whare ye are, and gie up hope o’ gaen back safe to Sparta.”
5.11. παραπλησίως δὲ καὶ Χίων φυγάδες; ἐλθόντες εἰς Σπάρτην πολλὰ Παιδαρήτου κατηγόρουν· μεταπεμψαμένη δὲ αὐτὸν ἡ μήτηρ αὐτοῦ Τελευτία καὶ ἀκούσασα ὧν ἐνεκάλουν, ἐπεὶ ἐδόκει αὐτῇ ἁμαρτάνειν ὁ υἱός, ἐπέστειλεν ἁ μάτηρ Παιδαρήτῳ. ἢ βελτίονα πρᾶσσε ἢ αὖθι μένε, ἀπογνοὺς τὰν ἐς Σπάρταν σωτηρίαν.
5.12. Another, when her son was being tried for some offence, said to him, “My child, either rid yourself of the charges, or rid yourself of life.”
5.12. ἑτέρα ἐπʼ ἀδικήματι τῷ παιδὶ κρινομένῳ τέκνον εἶπεν ἢ τᾶς αἰτίας; ἢ σεαυτὸν τοῦ ζῆν ἀπόλυσον.
5.13. Another, as she accompanied a lame son on his way to the field of battle, said, “At every step, my child, remember your valour.”
5.13. ἄλλη χωλὸν υἱὸν ἐπὶ παράταξιν προπέμπουσα, τέκνον εἶπε κατὰ βῆμα τῆς ἀρετῆς μέμνησο.
5.14. Another, when her son came back to her from the field of battle wounded in the foot, and in great pain, said, “If you remember your valour, my child, you will feel no pain, and be quite cheerful.”
5.14. ἄλλη, τοῦ παιδὸς αὐτῇ ἀφικομένου ἀπὸ παρατάξεως τετρωμένου τὸν πόδα καὶ σφόδρα ἀλγοῦντος, ἐὰν τῆς ἀρετῆς εἶπε μέμνῃ, ὦ τέκνον, καὶ ἄπονος ἔσῃ καὶ θαρρήσεις.
5.15. A Spartan, wounded in battle and unable to walk, was crawling on all fours. He was mortified at being so ridiculous; but his mother said to him, “How much better to be joyful over your bravery rather than to be mortified at silly laughter.”
5.15. Λάκων τρωθεὶς ἐν πολέμῳ καὶ βαδίζειν μὴ δυνάμενος, τετραποδιστὶ ὥδευεν. αἰσχυνομένῳ δʼ αὐτῷ ἐπὶ τῷ γελοίῳ ἡ μήτηρ καὶ πόσῳ βέλτιον, ὦ τέκνον εἶπε μᾶλλον ἐπὶ τῇ ἀνδρείᾳ γεγηθέναι ἢ αἰσχύνεσθαι ἐπὶ γέλωτι ἀνοήτῳ;
5.16. Another, as she handed her son his shield, exhorted him, saying, “Either this or upon this.”
5.16. ἄλλη προσαναδιδοῦσα τῷ παιδὶ τὴν ἀσπίδα καὶ παρακελευομένη τέκνον ἔφη ἢ ταύταν ἢ ἐπὶ ταύτας.
5.17. Another, as her son was going forth to war, said, as she gave the shield into his hands, “This shield your father kept always safe for you; do you, therefore, keep it safe, or cease to live.”
5.17. ἄλλη προϊόντι τῷ υἱῷ ἐπὶ πόλεμον ἀναδιδοῦσα τὴν ἀσπίδα ταύτην ἔφη ὁ πατήρ σοι ἀεὶ ἔσῳζε· καὶ σὺ οὖν ἢ ταύτην σῷζε ἢ μὴ ἔσο.
5.18. Another, in answer to her son who said that the sword which he carried was short, said, “Add a step to it.”
5.18. ἄλλη πρὸς τὸν υἱὸν λέγοντα μικρὸν ἔχειν τὸ ξίφος εἶπε καὶ βῆμα πρόσθες.
5.19. Another, hearing that her son had been slain fighting bravely in the line of battle, said, “Yes, he was mine.” But learning in regard to her other son that he had played the coward and saved his life, she said, “No, he was not mine,” Another, hearing that her son had been killed in battle on the spot where he had been placed, said, “Lay him away, and let his brother take his place.”
5.19. ἄλλη ἀκούσασα, ὅτι ὁ υἱὸς αὐτῆς ἐν παρατάξει ἀνδραγαθήσας ἀπέθανεν, ἐμὸς γὰρ ἦν εἶπε. περὶ δὲ τοῦ ἑτέρου πυθομένη ὅτι ἀποδειλιάσας σῴζεται, οὐ γὰρ ἦν ἐμός ἔφη. ἑτέρα ἀκούσασα ὅτι ὁ υἱὸς αὑτῆς τέθνηκεν ἐν μάχῃ καθάπερ ἐτέτακτο κάτθετε αὐτόν ἔφη, ἀναπληρωσάτω δὲ τὴν ἐκείνου τάξιν ὁ ἀδελφός.
5.21. Another, engaged in conducting a solemn public procession, heard that her son was victorious on the field of battle, but that he was dying from the many wounds he had received. She did not remove the garland from her head, but with a proud air said to the women near her, “How much more noble, my friends, to be victorious on the field of battle and meet death, than to win at the Olympic games and live!”
5.21. ἄλλη πομπὴν τελοῦσα πάνδημον ἤκουσεν ἐπὶ τῆς παρατάξεως νικᾶν τὸν υἱόν, ἐκ δὲ τῶν τραυμάτων πολλῶν γενομένων θνήσκειν. οὐ περιελομένη οὖν τὸν στέφανον, ἀλλὰ σεμνυνθεῖσα πρὸς τὰς πλησίον εἶπεν ὡς πολλῷ κάλλιον, ὦ φίλαι, ἐστὶν ἐν παρατάξει νικῶντα τελευτᾶν ἢ τὰ Ὀλύμπια περιγινόμενον ζῆν.
5.22. As a man was relating to his sister the noble death of her son, she said, “As glad as I am for him, I am sorry for you that you were left behind when you might have gone in such brave company.”
5.22. διηγουμένου τινὸς τῇ ἀδελφῇ γενναῖον θάνατον τοῦ παιδὸς αὐτῆς, ἐκείνη εἶπεν ὅτι ὅσον ἐπʼ ἐκείνῳ γέγηθα, τοσοῦτον ἐπὶ σοὶ ἄχθομαι, ἐναρέτου συνοδίας ἀπολειφθέντι.
5.23. A man sent to a Spartan woman to ask if she were inclined to look with favour upon seduction; she replied, “When I was a child I learned to obey my father, and made that my practice. Then when I became a married woman, my husband took that place. So if the man’s proposal is honourable, let him lay the matter before my husband first.”
5.23. Λακαίνῃ τις προσέπεμψεν, εἰ φθορᾷ συνεπινεύει. ἡ δʼ ἔφη παῖς μὲν οὖσα ἔμαθον τῷ πατρὶ πείθεσθαι, καὶ τοῦτο ἔπραξα· γυνὴ δὲ γενομένη τῷ ἀνδρί· εἰ οὖν δίκαιά με παρακαλεῖ, τούτῳ φανερὸν ποιησάτω πρῶτον.
5.24. A poor girl, being asked what dowry she brought to the man who married her, said, “The family virtue.”
5.24. παρθένος πενιχρὰ ἐρωτηθεῖσα τίνα δίδωσι τῷ γαμοῦντι προῖκα, τὴν πάτριον ἔφη σωφροσύνην.
5.25. A Spartan woman, being asked if she had made advances to her husband, said, “No, but my husband has made them to me.”
5.25. Λάκαινα ἐρωτηθεῖσα εἰ ἀνδρὶ προσελήλυθεν, οὐκ ἐγώ εἶπεν ἀλλʼ ὁ ἀνὴρ ἐμοί.
5.26. A girl had secret relations with a man, and, after bringing on an abortion, she bore up so bravely, not uttering a single sound, that her delivery took place without the knowledge of her father and others who were near. For the confronting of her indecorum with decorum gained the victory over the poignant distress of her pains.
5.26. κρύφα τις διαπαρθενευθεῖσα καὶ διαφθείρασα τὸ βρέφος οὕτως ἐνεκαρτέρησε μηδεμίαν προενεγκαμένη φωνήν, ὥστε καὶ τὸν πατέρα καὶ ἄλλους πλησίον ὄντας λαθεῖν ἀποκυήσασα· τὸ γὰρ μέγεθος τῶν ἀλγηδόνων τῇ ἀσχημοσύνῃ τὸ εὔσχημον προσπεσὸν ἐνίκησε.
5.27. A Spartan woman who was being sold as a slave, when asked what she knew how to do, said, “To be faithful.”
5.27. Λάκαινα πιπρασκομένη καὶ ἐρωτωμένη τί ἐπίσταται, ἔφη πιστὰ ἦμεν.
5.28. Another, taken captive, and asked a similar question, said, “To manage a house well.”
5.28. ἄλλη αἰχμαλωτευθεῖσα καὶ ἐρωτωμένη παραπλησίως εὖ οἰκεῖν οἶκον ἔφη.
5.29. Another, asked by a man if she would be good if he bought her, said, “Yes, and if you do not buy me.”
5.29. ἐρωτηθεῖσά τις ὑπό τινος, εἰ ἔσται ἀγαθή, ἂν αὐτὴν ἀγοράσῃ, εἶπε κἂν μὴ ἀγοράσῃς.
5.30. Another who was being sold as a slave, when the crier inquired of her what she knew how to do, said, “To be free.” And when the purchaser ordered her to do something not fitting for a free woman, she said, “You will be sorry that your meanness has cost you such a possession,” and committed suicide.
5.30. ἄλλη πιπρασκομένη, τοῦ κήρυκος πυνθανομένου τί ἐπίσταται, ἐλευθέρα εἶπεν ἦμεν. ὡς δὲ ὁ ὠνησάμενος προσέτασσέ τινα αὐτῇ οὐχ ἁρμόζοντα ἐλευθέρᾳ, εἰποῦσα οἰμώξῃ φθονήσας σεαυτῷ τοιούτου κτήματος ἐξήγαγεν ἑαυτήν.