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Explain the importance of the role or religion in Spartan Society.

Religion in Sparta, like in many societies, had a purpose. Religion was important in Sparta to support the ideals of a militaristic utopian society which, after the Messenian wars, the governing forces were aiming to create. “Those who honour the gods most finely with choruses are best in war” [Socrates]. The Spartan ideal of an elite military state influenced the approach to religion and the ways in which religion would be moulded to suite state doctrine, therefore highlighting the importance of religion in upholding the values of Spartan society. Religion in Sparta was interpreted to uphold Spartan values some of which are endurance, loyalty, obedience, conformity, and skill. A role of religion was to support military organisation, hence supporting the state. Another role was to support the political organisation, with religion being used as a way of influencing society to support the governing. Religion was also use to create social coherence, important in promoting conformity and in controlling the society under the ideals of the military state

Spartan religion was interpreted to support the military state. The religious connection to the military can be first seen in the Greek Gods the Spartiates emphasised and worshipped. The principal Spartan Gods were Apollo, Artemis, Athena, Discouri and Zeus. Apollo, Artemis and Athena more explicitly demonstrate the militaristic nature of Sparta with the three Gods associated with victory, wisdom, and skill in battle. Even Gods that were not usually known for battle were given militaristic traits, like the statue of the Armed Aphrodite [Goddess of love] in Thornax. The principal God however would have been Apollo who was also a master archer and an athlete and was seen as the model youth and a guardian of young men. His twin sister, Artemis, was the guardian of young women. The worship of Apollo and Artemis and their high status reflects the military value of Spartan society in training the youth for future defence. Such devotion to Apollo and Artemis can be seen in the Sanctuary of Apollo at Amyclae where coins in the likeness of Apollo were found and at the Temple of Artemis Orthia where votive offerings were found and it was known to be a centre for blood sacrifices.
Rites of passage within Spartan society were also carried out at the Art...

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...ial control making an example of those who did not adhere to Spartan values, promoting social cohesion, and conformity. For example, as social control the Gymnopaediae was used as an opportunity to oppress the large population Helots who were forced to perform ridiculous song and dance, therefore religion in Sparta promoted social cohesion in this was important to uphold the ideals of a disciplined military nation.

Spartan religion can easily be related to the society that produced it and to the Spartan discipline and values. Religion was taken very seriously, the gods were to be obeyed unsuspectingly, based on the mutual respect that in return ‘the gods were on their side and would assist them in all their legitimate ventures’ [Welch]. Mary Douglas states that the forms of social discipline in a society are reflective of its conceptions of divine power. Spartan religion was interpreted to assume the roles of a military organisation, political organisation and a force of social coherence. The importance of such roles and they way in they were approached ultimately reflect the ideal of the elite Spartan military state and the roles were represented to support state doctrine.

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