The Spartan Constitution

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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

Comparison between Athenian and Spartan Constitution (7th century)

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