By contrast,
Spartan women enjoyed a status, power, and respect that was unknown in the rest of the classical world. Although Spartan women were formally excluded from military and political life they enjoyed considerable status as mothers of Spartan warriors. As men engaged in military activity, women took responsibility for running estates. Following protracted warfare in the 4 century BC Spartan women owned approximately between 35%
[8] and 40% of all Spartan land and property.
[9] By the Hellenistic Period, some of the wealthiest Spartans were women.
[10] They controlled their own properties, as well as the properties of male relatives who were away with the army.
[8] Spartan women rarely married before the age of 20, and unlike Athenian women who wore heavy, concealing clothes and were rarely seen outside the house, Spartan women wore short dresses
[11] and went where they pleased. Girls as well as boys received an education, and young women as well as young men may have participated in the
Gymnopaedia ("Festival of Nude Youths").
[8][12]