The Spartan Regime_ Its Character, Origins, and Grand Strategy - Paul Anthony Rahe

Paıdeía 21

the poet indicated in the priamel of his most famous work, there was only one

trait truly worthy of celebration:

I would not call to mind a man nor relate a tale of him

Not for the speed of his feet nor for his wrestling skill

Not if he possessed the stature and force of a Cyclops

And could outpace Boreas, the North Wind of Thrace

Not if he were more graceful in form than Tithonos

And exceeded Midas and Cinyras in wealth

Not if he were more fully a king than Tantalid Pelops

And possessed the soft-voiced tongue of Adrastus

Not if he had reputation for all but prowess in battle.^44

Quickness, agility, brute strength, physical beauty, the golden touch, regal

bearing, and even the eloquence evidenced by the poet himself—though men

longed for these, they were of little import when distinguished from and com-

pared with capacity in war.

To support this revolutionary notion, Tyrtaeus introduced a new, fully

political standard for measuring the merit of men. No longer would the Spar-

tans assess a man’s status by anything other than his contribution to the wel-

fare of the pólıs as a whole. After dismissing those qualities which were so

widely thought to be virtues, the poet went on to explain,

For no one ever becomes a man good in war

Unless he has endured the sight of the blood and slaughter,

Stood near, and lunged for the foe.

This is virtue, the finest prize achieved among human kind,

The fairest reward that a young man can carry off.

This is a common good, shared by the entire city and people,

When a man stands his ground, remains in the front ranks

Relentlessly, altogether forgetful of disgraceful flight,

Nurturing a steadfast, patient spirit and soul,

And heartening with words the man posted alongside.

This is a man become good in war:

With a sudden attack, he turns the rugged phalanx

Of the enemy host, sustaining with zeal the wave of assault.^45

Tyrtaeus was the supreme poet of civil courage. The virtue he admired with so

passionate an intensity is the particular excellence of the man who subordi-

nates not just his own mundane concerns but even his ambition and his yearn-

ing for immortal fame to the larger and enduring needs of the community at

large. It would be tempting to conclude that Tyrtaeus simply preferred Hector

to Achilles and Odysseus. But it is virtually certain that the Spartan poet

would have faulted the Trojan champion for the foolish pride evident in his