Among the different cities and states of classical Greece, only two polis have gained the highest remarks and appreciation recognized by the world until today; the diplomatic and scholarly Athens and the tactical and military Sparta. Though both had reached a golden time when their authority and fame was almost unmatched, their vast differences had placed a huge space, setting them widely apart. Athens, in the classical era, had been the cradle for the empowerment of philosophy, learning and the arts.
It was home to the most respected logicians such as Plato, Socrates, and Aristotle, boasting of fine theories and intricate structures like the Parthenon. It had been the birthplace of democracy and was believed to be the frame of the Western civilization. Today, Athens is the capital of Greece and was marked as one of the world’s oldest cities, having a documented history of about three millenniums. On the other hand, Sparta had gained the reputation of being the foremost military power during the classical times, its state being the only standing competitor for Athens during the Peloponnesian war.
Sparta had made use of a well-structured yet vile society wherein the people allowed to live were selected at birth, giving rise to secured capable citizens. Now called Sparti, the state is currently the executive capital of the prefecture of Laconia. Between the two great states, I could relate more with Athens. Not being a brawler myself, nature and philosophy intrigues me more. The environment of Athens and its heritage known today suits my character better than the martial autonomy of Sparta before or the agricultural Sparti of today.