True Spartans Hearts

"True Spartan Hearts", circa. 1915. Sparta was the great rival to Athens in ancient Greece. A militaristic state that ordered all native Spartan males into the army between the ages of 20 and 60. Before this, Spartan boys trained in the army from the age of 7. Spartan girls were also fiercely trained and expected to be strong and healthy. Unhealthy children were abandoned in the hills to die. Beneath the native Spartans were a huge underclass of slaves that outnumbered the native population by ten to one. This picture shows a representation of two native Spartans, one male and one female. The female kneels spinning wool in a purple tunic and gray shawl. The man stands in a dark red toga, the symbol of the Spartan military. His hair is graying but he would still be serving in the army. In the background, the countryside of Greece. The print is 11" x 7".

Very Good condition with some foxing / browning.

Source: The Queen`s & Princess Mary Gift Book, Hodder and Stoughton, London, New York and Toronto.

$19.99 + postage & packing.