Even small shards of history that survive help us to remember who we truly are
One afternoon in autumn I stood at the ruins of the Sanctuary of Artemis Orthia in the ancient city of Sparta. There was little left of the temple except a few stone walls with two eucalyptus trees standing at the edge of the site. The old rituals that were practiced here are mostly forgotten. In deep antiquity Herodotus tells us that human sacrifices took place to keep plague at bay.
In later centuries young girls would form a procession here and make offerings as the star cluster of Pleiades rose in the hour before dawn. Young men were brutally whipped after ritually stealing cheeses until the altar was covered in blood. Their families looked on and encouraged the men to endure the pain and show strength and bravery.
Sparta – famous for its military culture, self-denial and toughness that fostered such an attitude. Famous, too, for their military victories. First at the battle of Thermopylae where a small number of Greeks held the pass against a huge Persian army, preventing them from conquering all of Greece. Then, they were allied with Athens against a common enemy, but in the decades that followed the two main Greek powers became bitter rivals. Sparta finally defeated Athens in 404 BC and became the most powerful city in the Greek world.
hamilton wende
For leaders seeking a powerhouse speaker on high-stakes leadership, Hamilton Wende delivers unforgettable insights on navigating uncertainty and leading teams through crisis.
Based in Johannesburg, this veteran international journalist has spent forty years reporting from the front lines of 17 global conflicts for networks like CNN, the BBC, and National Geographic.
Hamilton translates his unparalleled battlefield experiences into actionable leadership strategies for the corporate world. A multi-year National Press Club Journalist of the Year and Gold Telly Award winner, he is a trusted advisor to multinational corporations, including Nedbank, Bosch, and Transnet, helping executives master crisis communication, narrative branding, and strategic resilience.
A prolific author of nine books and a top-tier keynote speaker, Hamilton blends gripping frontline storytelling with practical business wisdom, showing leaders exactly how to maintain focus, build trust, and drive results when under pressure.
