--- product_id: 9439049 title: "On Sparta (Penguin Classics)" price: "NT$1240" currency: TWD in_stock: true reviews_count: 13 url: https://www.desertcart.tw/products/9439049-on-sparta-penguin-classics store_origin: TW region: Taiwan --- # On Sparta (Penguin Classics) **Price:** NT$1240 **Availability:** ✅ In Stock ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** On Sparta (Penguin Classics) - **How much does it cost?** NT$1240 with free shipping - **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.tw](https://www.desertcart.tw/products/9439049-on-sparta-penguin-classics) ## Best For - Customers looking for quality international products ## Why This Product - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Description On Sparta (Penguin Classics) [Plutarch, Talbert, Richard J. A., Pelling, Christopher, Talbert, Richard J. A., Talbert, Richard J. A.] on desertcart.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. On Sparta (Penguin Classics) Review: Spartan lives through the eyes of a nearer historian - Amidst all the contemporary historical deconstructionist prattling over the Spartans, the views and words of the more proximate historians among the ancients shine out like stars in a dark firmament. Plato and Aristotle had much to say of the Spartan constitution. Likewise did Plutarch, who was a later Greek historian living from 46-120 AD during the period of Roman Imperial ascendacy. In this book there is much instructive and readable biographical information on prominent Spartan lives, as well as explantions of culture and customs surrounding the "Laws of Lycurgus." There are Spartan tales and aphorisms as well and the inclusion of the tragic stories of the later reformers are invaluable inclusions taken from the perspective of time. They are archetypal stories of heroic-tragic figures who strive greatly to resurrect a noble but dying people and their way of life. I enjoy to ponder parallels between late Spartan reformer-Kings and the Roman Emperor Julian Apostate. Plutarch's book is required reading for students of Sparta. This edition is a good editing and compilation and the first version of Plutarch's writings on Sparta that I would recommend readers select. Review: Great book! - Fantastic!! I’m learning so much and it’s also quite entertaining! ## Technical Specifications | Specification | Value | |---------------|-------| | Best Sellers Rank | #108,613 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #93 in Ancient Greek History (Books) #207 in Cultural Anthropology (Books) #535 in Sociology Reference | | Customer Reviews | 4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars (320) | | Dimensions | 5.12 x 0.71 x 7.8 inches | | Edition | Revised ed. | | ISBN-10 | 0140449434 | | ISBN-13 | 978-0140449433 | | Item Weight | 7.9 ounces | | Language | English | | Print length | 304 pages | | Publication date | December 27, 2005 | | Publisher | Penguin Classics | ## Images ![On Sparta (Penguin Classics) - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61Zuj1RWW4L.jpg) ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Spartan lives through the eyes of a nearer historian *by S***R on July 2, 2008* Amidst all the contemporary historical deconstructionist prattling over the Spartans, the views and words of the more proximate historians among the ancients shine out like stars in a dark firmament. Plato and Aristotle had much to say of the Spartan constitution. Likewise did Plutarch, who was a later Greek historian living from 46-120 AD during the period of Roman Imperial ascendacy. In this book there is much instructive and readable biographical information on prominent Spartan lives, as well as explantions of culture and customs surrounding the "Laws of Lycurgus." There are Spartan tales and aphorisms as well and the inclusion of the tragic stories of the later reformers are invaluable inclusions taken from the perspective of time. They are archetypal stories of heroic-tragic figures who strive greatly to resurrect a noble but dying people and their way of life. I enjoy to ponder parallels between late Spartan reformer-Kings and the Roman Emperor Julian Apostate. Plutarch's book is required reading for students of Sparta. This edition is a good editing and compilation and the first version of Plutarch's writings on Sparta that I would recommend readers select. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Great book! *by C***O on September 19, 2019* Fantastic!! I’m learning so much and it’s also quite entertaining! ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Interesting and thought-provoking read *by C***S on December 12, 2009* This book is a collection of some lives and excerpts from lives (or biographies) by Plutarch about Spartan kings. It provides a great deal of food for thought and I would recommend it. The book consists of roughly three parts: The first is a collection of biographies of Spartan kings (Lycurgas, etc). The Life of Lysander has been omitted because it is included in another Penguin edition. The second part consists of excerpts of Putarch's writings consisting of sayings which provide insight into Spartan life and culture. The third part is an appendix which includes some of Xenophon's notes about Sparta. The book allows us to ask a number of questions which may provide fruitful, such as the specific relationship between Spartan culture and Plato's ideas in "Republic." In general a lot of things in Republic that seem particularly contrary to the Athenian state are found in Sparta in this book. Perhaps this is why Plutarch places Lycurgus above Plato, saying that the latter wrote books on political theory but the former had invented them and put them in practice. These include descriptions of everything from female public nudity being equivalent to male public nudity to the idea that children should all be wards of the state and not the wards of their fathers. A great number of small details seem to be taken directly from Spartan life in Plato's work and this suggests that Plato, like Xenophon, was fundamentally more sympathetic to Sparta than to Athens. On the negative side, I agree that it would be good to have a more complete reference of Plutarch's references to Sparta in one volume. On the whole, this is an interesting book. 4 stars ## Frequently Bought Together - On Sparta (Penguin Classics) - History of the Peloponnesian War - The Histories --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.tw/products/9439049-on-sparta-penguin-classics](https://www.desertcart.tw/products/9439049-on-sparta-penguin-classics) --- *Product available on Desertcart Taiwan* *Store origin: TW* *Last updated: 2026-05-17*