Gymnopaedia
The Gymnopaedia was an annual festival celebrated exclusively in ancient Sparta, which helped to define Spartan identity.
[4] The Gymnopaedia was primarily in honour of Apollo, but also celebrated Artemis and Leto, who served as representations of the childhood which would soon be left behind by the young participants.
[2] The festival came to an end during the full moon which fell closest to the heliacal rising of the star Sirius being visible in Sparta.
[4] The festival took place at the hottest time of the year in Sparta, which meant most of the activities happened under very harsh sun.
[5] The festival lasted for several days and took place in multiple areas, as different sources describe different locations for the activities of the Gymnopaedia.
[5] Pausanias writes of an area of the Spartan agora known as the choros or "dancing ground" because of the significant role it played in the Gymnopaedia.
[5][10][11][12] Due to how little remains of structures or landmarks in Ancient Sparta we cannot be certain the exact location of the agora or potential "theatres".
The major element of celebration during the Gymnopaedia was the songs and dances performed by choruses of naked men as a form of competition.
[13] Because all of Sparta would gather to partake in or view the events of the Gymnopaedia, it helped to develop a communal identity and sense of being a part of a single group.
[5] Physical ability was an important aspect of becoming a citizen in many Ancient Greek poleis, but Sparta was the only polis which celebrated this so prominently.
[2] Scholars consider the actions of the Gymnopaedia to be both a crucial part of Spartan education and a test of endurance for the children coming of age.
[6] The festival was of such importance to the Spartans that even king Agesilaus participated despite his lameness, but was hidden in the back of the group so no one could see his physical flaws.
[23] The news of Spartan loss at the battle of Leuctra reached Sparta during the final day of the Gymnopaedia.
[12] Despite the large negative effect this news would have on Sparta's power, the ephors would not allow any dances to be cancelled or for the celebrations to be changed.
[24] Xenophon expands on this information, saying that the ephors instructed the families of the dead to suffer their grief in silence so as not to disrupt the festival.
[25] Plutarch says Lichas, a wealthy Spartan, gained fame for entertaining many of the strangers at a "boys gymnastic festival" (Plut.
[27] Plutarch mentions that the city was "full of strangers" during the Gymnopaidia suggesting that non-Spartans and potentially perioikoi would also attend the festival.
[12] Plato seems to have made a reference praising the effects of the songs and rituals of the gymnopaedia in his work Laws (Plat.
