What Spartan Warriors Forced the Wives of Defeated Enemies To Do Was Worse Than Death

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Title: Melina’s Journey: From Captivity to Survival

The acrid smell of smoke still clung to Melina’s hair, a haunting reminder of the destruction that had obliterated her life just three days prior. It had been 72 hours since the walls of Decala fell, and the taste of ash lingered on her tongue—a grim echo of the chaos that had engulfed her. Once a respected woman in Athens, the wife of Hypocrates, the Stratagos of the Athenian forces, Melina was now stripped of everything she had known. She stood barefoot in a stone courtyard in Sparta, surrounded by 31 other Athenian women, all of them captives like her, collected from the ruins of their homes.

The courtyard was clean and organized, a stark contrast to the horrific chaos of their capture. Spartan women watched them from the colonnade, their expressions unreadable. Melina felt their eyes assessing her, calculating her worth as if she were livestock. Then, a man approached, a full Spartan citizen marked by his crimson cloak. He delivered a chilling message: they were no longer wives or mothers; they were now property of the Lacedemonian state.

Melina’s heart sank as he explained their fate. Some would become secondary wives, others would serve in temples, while some would be used for breeding. The word “breeding” landed like a physical blow, and the horror of their situation settled in. This was not just violence; it was a systematic process refined over generations, reducing them to mere tools for reproduction..

As Melina was taken for examination, she felt her dignity stripped away. The older woman who conducted the examination treated her like an animal, checking her teeth and probing her body without a hint of compassion. Melina understood that resistance was futile; Sparta cared only for utility and function. Once the examination was over, she was left alone in a room, her mind racing with fear and uncertainty.

The next day, she learned her assignment: she would be given to a Spartan citizen as a secondary wife. The implications of this role were horrifying. She would bear children for the state, and those children would be evaluated at birth—acceptable infants would enter the Aoge, while others would be exposed, left to die in the wilderness. Melina felt cold dread wash over her; she was not just a woman but a breeding vessel.

In the following months, she was assigned to Cleomines, a Spartan warrior who had lost his wife in childbirth. Their encounters were clinical, devoid of affection, but Melina quickly realized that Cleomines was different from many Spartans. He began to confide in her, sharing his fears, his memories of war, and the pain of losing his wife. In those moments, Melina saw a glimpse of humanity in him, a flicker of vulnerability that set him apart.

As time passed, Melina adapted to her new life. She bore Cleomines three children, each one a potential warrior for Sparta. The first, Plearos, was born healthy, and Melina felt a surge of hope as he passed inspection. The second, Aradamos, followed, and finally, Kinisca, a girl who would be allowed to live against the odds. With each child, Melina’s status grew; she was no longer just property but a mother of warriors.

Yet, lurking in the shadows was Lysandros, a captain of the Crypa who had taken an interest in Melina. His previous victims had met grim fates, and Melina knew she had to protect herself and her children from him. She cultivated her relationship with Cleomines, deepening his attachment to her, hoping that his love would shield her from the dangers that threatened.

But as Cleomines began to care for her, he also changed. His peers noticed his hesitation in battle, his reluctance to risk his life. In Spartan society, this was a dangerous transformation. Melina understood that she had created a trap for both of them. Cleomines’ love was a blessing, but it also put them at risk.

One night, in a moment of vulnerability, Cleomines proposed a solution: he would die in battle, securing her and their children a legacy. The thought of losing him shattered Melina. She refused to let him sacrifice himself, insisting that they could escape together instead. It was a bold plan, one that would require cunning and courage.

For two years, Melina plotted their escape, leveraging her connections with Gorgo, a Spartan woman who had her own reasons for wanting revenge against Lysandros. Together, they devised a plan to flee during a diplomatic mission that Cleomines would undertake. Melina prepared her children, teaching them about the life they would lead outside of Sparta.

The night before the embassy departed, Melina gathered her children and shared the plan. Plearos, now 14, struggled with the concept of betraying Sparta, but Melina urged him to consider the system that enslaved them. They would not only survive but also reclaim their humanity.

When the day finally arrived, Melina and her children embarked on their journey, navigating treacherous paths guided by Helots who knew the way. They reached Athenian territory, where Cleomines awaited them, having defected from his mission. The reunion was bittersweet; they had escaped Sparta, but the scars of their experiences would remain.

In the years that followed, Melina rebuilt her life in Athens, nurturing her children and watching them grow into individuals who would never know the horrors of Sparta. Cleomines struggled to adapt, but he found purpose as a military instructor, sharing his knowledge with the next generation. Plearos became a philosopher, questioning the values of the society he had left behind, while Aradamos thrived as a merchant, and Kinisca broke barriers as an athlete.

Melina lived to be 63, cherishing the freedom she had fought so hard to achieve. She had transformed from a captive into a survivor, a mother who defied the odds and reclaimed her identity. Her story became a testament to resilience, a reminder that even in the darkest of circumstances, the human spirit could prevail.

As she sat with Cleomines under the stars, reflecting on their journey, Melina knew that they had won—not through glory or conquest, but through survival, love, and the indomitable will to live. Their legacy would endure, a beacon of hope for those who faced their own struggles, a story of triumph against a system designed to break them.