The Historical Alphabet/Qalam
Discovering something new about the world in which our ancestors lived—and our own today—is a truly exciting experience! To share this joy with our readers, the Qalam editorial staff, together with the technology company Citix @citix.me, has created a fascinating project of important and interesting historical facts collected in an alphabet. You can now see them on Citix city smartboards and read more on our website.
Laconicity
The Ability to Express Thoughts Succinctly and Precisely
In general, the inhabitants of Laconia had a reputation for avoiding excesses, and according to the ancient Greeks, this was reflected in their speech because they considered eloquence an excess as well. It was no wonder really, because the center of Laconia was the city of Sparta, a city famous for its simple and austere order of life. In fact, we still use the term ‘Spartan’ to describe habits, customs, or education that prioritize minimalism and discipline.
One of the most famous examples of Spartan brevity is the legend of how Philip II, the king of Macedonia, sent messengers to the Spartans with a letter demanding that they surrender without a fight. He wrote that if his great army entered Sparta, all the crops and property of the Spartans would be destroyed and the inhabitants would be exterminated or enslaved. The Spartans replied with one word—‘If.’
Leonidas statue, Sparta, Greece/Shutterstock
