Lowkey there’s something to be said about how Laconophilia (loving classical Sparta) was - and still is - prominent in white supremacist and fascist circles bc of the hyper militaristic isolationist society but now it’s become a popular in white feminist circles too (especially in retellings) bc *checks notes* upper class women had it easier and can own stuff and uhhh they can do sports? Ig? Let’s ignore that the Heraean games aren’t in Sparta. Nevermind that poor and enslaved women had it rough, Nevermind that most of Sparta’s “population” is mostly made up of slaves and therefore most women were slaves. Nevermind the eugenics of it all. Nevermind that a lot of tuff macho stuff we hear about Sparta was made up by outsiders.
Don’t even get me started on the Helots, who were named after the town Helos which in turn was founded by Heleus son of Perseus. Helots wouldn’t exist in mythology bc Helos wasn’t sacked by Dorians yet, in fact by the time of the Trojan war, Heleus’ children would still be alive.
