Sparta represented the pinnacle of military excellence in ancient Greece, and they were both feared and respected for it. But when they were conquered by Rome in the second century BC, they suffered a fate that for many must have seemed worse than death. In an ironic twist, they were turned from the ultimate conquerers into the thoroughly conquered, as the city was converted into the ancient version of the modern amusement park, with the Spartans expected to put on shows for the Roman tourists. The same city-state that produced the legendary 300 warriors who defied the Persian Empire at Thermopylae was transformed into an attraction where visitors could witness performances of what was once an authentic Spartan way of life.
This transformation was not just symbolic, but total. The Romans, fascinated by Sparta’s legacy, turned the city into a fair ground, erecting seating areas and organizing demonstrations to showcase what they believed to be authentic Spartan traditions. This marked one of the most dramatic shifts in history, where a city known for producing the most hardened and determined soldiers became a staging area for entertainment spectacles attended by foreign elites—a humiliating and inglorious fate indeed.
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Sparta’s Shift from Feared Power to Circus Sideshow
Sparta’s decline was a gradual process. At its height in the fifth century BC, it was a dominant power in Greece, feared and respected for its disciplined warriors. However, its fall began with the defeat it experienced at the Battle of Leuctra in 371 BC at the hands of Thebes. By the time Rome completed its conquest of Greece in 146 BC, Sparta had already lost its grip on power, becoming a shadow of its former self.
Ancient Sparta, drawing by John Steeple Davis, 1900. (Public Domain).
Rather than fading into complete obscurity, Sparta took an unusual route. Recognizing that their history and military traditions fascinated outsiders, the Spartans leaned into their past to ensure survival. Rome, which admired Sparta’s discipline and warrior ethos, encouraged this reinvention. As a result, the city gradually evolved into a place where its legendary past was recreated for visitors rather than lived as a daily reality.
While this might have seemed like a sensible adaptation by Sparta’s leaders at the time, needless to say its leaders from a few centuries earlier would have been appalled by the idea, and assuredly would have preferred death.
The Roman authorities invested in infrastructure to facilitate tourism in Sparta. Archaeological discoveries indicate that public viewing stands were constructed, allowing audiences to witness re-enactments of Spartan training and rituals. Once known for rejecting the need for defensive walls, Sparta now embraced a new kind of fortification—one designed to accommodate tourists rather than repel invaders.
A significant moment in this transformation occurred in 195 BC when the Roman general Titus Quinctius Flamininus forced the Spartan ruler Nabis to relinquish all territory beyond the city’s immediate surroundings and abandon its traditional military training. However, after a half-century hiatus, Sparta, now part of the Roman Empire but designated as a "free" (and therefore untaxed) city, was allowed to resume aspects of its former customs. Yet, by this point, the traditions were no longer an integral part of Spartan life but rather a staged spectacle for visitors, as the city had literally been turned into a shadow of its former self.
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The Spartan Spectacle: Rituals and Tourism
One of the most notorious tourist attractions in Roman-era Sparta was the ritual flogging ceremony at the sanctuary of Artemis Orthia. In its original form, this ritual had been a sacred rite of passage, where young Spartan men were whipped at the altar as a test of their endurance and discipline. Under Roman rule, however, it became a blood-soaked public spectacle designed to entertain a people that enjoyed such things immensely. Behaviors we associate with degenerate psychopaths and notorious war criminals today were viewed as highly entertaining by many Roman elites and their minions.
The remains of the Temple of Artemis Orthia in Sparta. (George E. Koronaios/CC0).
Evidence suggests that a small theater-like structure was built around the altar to accommodate audiences eager to watch the flogging ritual. This transformation turned a once-solemn and almost spiritual event into a form of public amusement, catering to warped Roman tastes.
Sparta’s reputation as a tourist hub was further reinforced by visits from prominent Romans. Emperor Augustus himself dined in one of the city’s communal mess halls, while Hadrian visited twice, even earning the title of patronomos, an official responsible for preserving ancient customs. These high-profile visits cemented Sparta’s status as a must-see destination for Roman aristocrats, who were fascinated by the ancient history and culture of a legendary Greek city-state that had seen better days.
Sparta’s Roman-Era Tourism Industry
The scale of tourism in Sparta was substantial. A large theater, constructed in the first century BC, suggests that the city was designed to accommodate significant crowds, far beyond what the local population required. This indicates that Sparta had become a major stop for Roman travelers eager to witness what they believed to be authentic Spartan customs.
Some of the more refined Romans engaged with Spartan culture through literature and historical study. Writers like Cicero and Seneca referenced Sparta frequently, reinforcing its allure as a place where history could be experienced firsthand. Wealthy Romans saw visits to Sparta as both an educational endeavor and a form of elite entertainment, much like modern travelers seeking out cultural heritage sites today.
The city of Sparta today, with Mt. Taygetos in the background. (George E. Koronaios/CC BY-SA 4.0).
However, by the time of the Roman Empire, what visitors saw in Sparta was more of a curated performance than a continuation of its once-formidable traditions. The rituals and displays, while rooted in history, had been adapted to fit Roman expectations rather than Spartan necessity. The city that had once prided itself on its austere and disciplined lifestyle now profited from showcasing a version of its past designed for mass consumption.
Today, the ruins of Sparta still offer reminders of this era. The remains of the Roman theater, built to entertain audiences with staged Spartan traditions, stand as a reminder of how a mighty warrior state transformed into an amusement park for foreign visitors. The city that once defined military supremacy became a relic of its own legacy, recreating a version of itself for those eager to see history brought to life.
Top image: Ruins of the Roman theater in Sparta.
Source: Carole Raddato/Flickr/CC BY-SA 2.0.
