The Spartan Constitution

1. The Spartan Constitution

2. Social Groups • Spartan Citizens (Equals - homoioi) • Spartans who had lost full citizenship, either as punishment or because they could not pay their way (Inferiors - hypomeiones) • Perioikoi (Around-dwellers): Free persons, but not Spartans. • Neodamodeis (libertines?): Probably former helots and slaves given their freedom • Helots: Public slaves of Sparta • Mothakes: Sons of Inferiors, Foreigners, or even Helots who underwent the agoge as companions (and sometimes, lovers) to high born Spartans, and probably were raised above their status through personal virtue.

3. Spartan Citizens/Inferiors • Divided into three tribes according to blood origin/ties: PamphyloiHylleisDymanes • Also divided into five obai, according to their village of origin. • Agoge was obligatory from the age of 7. • They could rise to the highest offices of the state (Gerousia, Ephors), but not the kingship (hereditary). • Each Spartan had the right and duty to maintain order in his household, and keep his helots under control. If the helots misbehaved, the Spartan was punished • Cowardice was punished • Spartans had more legal rights • Spartans could only be put to death after trial by the gerousia. • All Spartans participated in the Assembly (apella). • The Inferiors often resented their reduced status and in the 4th century this led to a conspiracy to overthrow the constitution.

4. Perioikoi • Free persons, but not Spartans • They lived in towns all around Laconia (except the 5 villages of Sparta), and even in a few Messenian towns. • They seem to be self-governed, but still subject to the Spartans. • Sparta sometimes sends judges to settle differences between perioikoi (as in the island of Kythera) • Serve with Spartans in the army • Pay taxes to Sparta • They were probably the power that made Sparta’s elementary economy run, since the Spartans were not allowed to practice any trade. • They could be put to death by the ephors without trial for a few, very serious offences. • They may have had more privileges initially, but these were eroded in later times

5. Helots • The enslaved (mostly Greek) populations of Laconia and mostly Messenia • They belonged to the state of Sparta, and could not be freed or sold by individual Spartans. • They were assigned to a Spartan citizen, worked his land and provided him with part of the produce • They were often mistreated and had no way of enforcing any rights against their Spartan master • Prominent helots were routinely killed by the secret police of Sparta (krypteia) • The Ephors declared war on the helots each year; thus they could be killed with impunity as enemies • The helots could own goods, and keep money (unlike common slaves), and exceptionally the state could give them their freedom for bravery in battle. • They wore a humiliating outfit, and received a number of lashes each year for no reason, just to be reminded of their status.

6. The Two Kings • Two Royal lines(Agiadai - Eurypontidai) • Constitutional monarchs • Exchanged oaths of adhering to the laws with the Ephors • Outside Sparta the Kings were Army leaders with absolute authority • Inside Sparta they received preferential treatment and universal respect (usually), but had no constitutional power. • Some of the kings were very influential • The rule that a son born after the father had become king had priority over older sons was intended to put to the throne younger men, capable of leading armies in far away campaigns. • The kings were offered good residence next to a lake, plenty of animals for sacrifice, and double the rations • Everyone stood up in their presence except the ephors on their seat of office (ephorikos diphros) • This symbolizes the submission of the kings to the laws, which the Ephors represent.

7. The Gerousia (Council of the Elders) • 28 Elders (over 60) + 2 kings = 30 membres • High court of Sparta • Tried cases which could result in the death penalty, disfranchisement or exile. • It was the only body which could impose the death penalty on Spartan citizens • In its capacity as supreme court it functioned as an overseeer of the constitution deciding what is legal and what is not • It was considered as the most oligarchic component of the Spartan constitution • Like the Athenian boule, it prepared the agenda of the Assembly • It functioned as a balance against the power and prestige of the kings • It could try even the kings

8. The Five Ephors • Not mentioned in the Great Rhetra • May suggest that they were a later addition representing the people as its elected representatives. They were ordinary Spartans who served only once for 1 year. • They could arrest and punish any person at will • They could put to death anyone except a Spartan citizen • They could refer a citizen to the Gerousia for trial • They could and often did get involved in dynastic disputes, installing and removing kings from the throne • They could appoint and recall generals and remove magistrates from office • They oversaw the conduct of every citizen including the kings • They could propose laws and decrees, although they rarely did so • EVERY SPARTAN CONSIDERED IT A PRIVILEGE AND A SIGN OF FREEDOM TO FEAR ONLY THE LAWS OF SPARTA. The five EPHORS were viewed as living representatives of the laws, and were thus feared and respected

9. Athenian Assembly Areopagos Council 9 archons In the end of the 5th century it turns completely democratic (plus Council of 500, popular courts, and a large executive branch led by the 10 generals) Spartan Assembly (Damos) Gerousia + 2 kings 5 Ephors In later centuries it remains unchanged Comparison between Athenian and Spartan Constitution (7th century)