Pre-classical and classical Sparta may have used iron to store value. And yet, there may be a kernel of truth in it.
So you’d think there’s good reason to raise eyebrows at Plutarch’s story. Plutarch is one of the most unreliable sources we have for classical Sparta. Most of the stories of Spartan exceptionalism that are still popular today - about the Spartan agōgē, killing ‘defective’ babies, military supremacy, and so on - were shaped by centuries of myth-making, long after Sparta’s actual heyday. Now, Plutarch’s story is certainly distorted. For who was going to steal something, or take bribes in it, or steal it, or take it by force, when it wasn’t possible to conceal it, to possess it jealously, or even to make a profit by cutting it up? For the red-hot iron was quenched with vinegar, it’s said, so that the hardening took away its usefulness and value for any other purpose, making it weak and unworkable. When this was ratified, many kinds of crimes disappeared from Lacedaimon. The main piece of ancient testimony comes from Plutarch, a 2nd-century-CE essayist, biographer, and priest:įor first, voided all gold and silver coinage, and decreed that they should use only iron and to this he assigned only a small price for a large weight and volume, so that a value of ten mnai required a lot of storage in the home, and a pair of oxen to transport it. It’s just that there are some solid, sensible reasons why they might have done so. But it’s actually pretty plausible that the early and Classical-era Spartans really did use iron spits as a kind of money. When modern people hear it, they often think it’s a myth, because it sounds pretty daft. Welcome to 2018! Our first topic for this year may not actually be a myth. that’s because sowing is the helots’ job) “By joining WMG, we will be able to expand our international reach, explore new genres, reach new audiences, and take fan experience to a whole new level.We do not sow! Game of Thrones, HBO, 2016 “Our team is made up of devoted fans who are curating the music, themes, and lifestyle brands that they know fellow fans will embrace. “It’s always been our goal to create the most authentic, exclusive products,” said Ernst Trapp. Welcoming EMP will be our latest move to expand our relationships with influencers across the globe.” “It’s also a big part of how music has visible and physical impact on global culture and fashion. “In today’s streaming world, merchandise is still one of the best ways that fans can express their passions and personalities,” said Max Lousada, CEO of Recorded Music, WMG. “Welcoming EMP will be our latest move to expand our relationships with influencers across the globe.” We look forward to bringing Ernst, Jan, and everyone at EMP into WMG’s growing family of brands.” “Their music-led expertise will give us great insight into what audiences love and what they want, and at the same time open up exciting new opportunities for our artists. “EMP has built a powerful lifestyle destination that will be a perfect complement to our global artist development and marketing strategies,” said Stu Bergen, CEO of International & Global Commercial Services, Recorded Music, WMG. The company operates a network of websites serving 18 European countries, with a community of millions of customers. “EMP’s music-led expertise will give us great insight into what audiences love and what they want, and at the same time open up exciting new opportunities for our artists.”ĮMP is led by CEO Ernst Trapp and CFO Jan Fischer, who will continue to manage the company as a fully staffed organization under Warner’s ownership.įounded in Germany in 1986, EMP today offers fans merchandise from acts such as Twenty One Pilots, Panic! At The Disco, Metallica, Motörhead, Guns n Roses, Nirvana, Pink Floyd, AC/DC, The Doors, and many others.īeyond music, the company has established itself as an online e-tailer, selling merch from major entertainment brands such as Disney, Marvel, Star Wars, and Harry Potter gaming brands such as Nintendo and PlayStation sporting franchises such as the NFL and alternative fashion brands such as Vans. (WEA already runs its own in-house merch business, which Warner financially categorizes under ‘Artist services and expanded-rights revenue’ – a division which grew revenues by 5% to $385m in the firm’s FY2017, ended Sept last year.) Once the deal is finalized, EMP will become a standalone, direct-to-fan business unit within WEA, WMG’s global artist and label services division headed by President Tony Harlow. The buyout is yet to be approved by the German regulatory authorities, but is expected to close in October.ĮMP is currently owned by Sycamore Partners, a private equity firm based in New York.
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