Sparta (1)
- The roles, perspective & influences of elites & groups on Spartan society, & significant beliefs & values of the society
- Key terms and concepts (up to 20 terms)
1. Cleomenes: first son of King Anaxandrides’ 2nd wife
and heir to the Spartan throne
2. Epoch: period / era / time frame
3. Ephor: one from each region, thus 5 were elected each year.
Could not be re-elected after their one-year term.
4. Gerontes: elders
5. Gerusia: council of elders
6. Lakonia/Laconia: The name of the state in which the city of Sparta
is located, yet the city of Sparta has such a dominance, that
we recognise the area of Laconia as Sparta.
7. Perquisite: benefit / privilege
8. Pious: religious / moral
9. Serf: a person who is bound to the land and owned by the feudal lord
10. “Spartans”/Spartiates: usually refers to the specific inhabitants of the 5 Spartan villages, the full citizens of the Spartan polis.
11. Lacedaemonians: can refer to all the inhabitants
of Laconia, inc. the Perioikoi.
12. Euripides: a Greek dramatist who wrote tragedies.
13. Gynecocracy: the rule of women
14. Pythia: The priestess of the Delphic oracle who gave transmitted
the oracles who was more than 50 years of age.
15. Oracles: shrines where ancient Greeks consulted
one of their gods for advice or a prophecy.
- Roles & privileges of the kings
Roles:
In battle:
! The two kings of Sparta were the supreme commanders of the army. Initially, they would both go out to the field together, but according to Herodotus, after a difference in battle between Cleomenes and Demaratus it was decided, “previously both kings had gone out with the army, but this was now made illegal… one had to remain in the capital.” 12
! They had, “the power of declaring war when and where they please. In this, no Spartan may attempt to oppose their decision, under pain of outlawry.” 2
! They would be the first to go out, and the last to return home
! In the field, they had a personal bodyguard of 100 chosen men (‘men’ were males over the age of 13).
Otherwise:
! They were chief priests of the community of Zeus Lacedaemon and of Zeus Uranius (not the only priests in the community though). On the first and seventh days of every month, they offered sacrifices of a full grown animal to Apollo. They also prepared necessary sacrifices before expeditions of war and battles.
! They judged only on three occasions:
- they presided over the adoption of children
- they decided who would marry and heiress if her father had died without betrothing her
- all matters concerning public infrastructure, such as public roads and water supply
Privileges:
! “In peace-time … at all public religious celebrations they are the first to sit down at the dinner which follows the sacrifice; they are served first, each getting twice as much of every dish as anybody else. Theirs is the right to make the first ceremonial libation, and to them belong the hides of all animals offered in sacrifice.” 3
! “At all public games seats of honour are reserved for them” 4
! “If the kings happen not to attend the usual state dinner, two quarts of meal and half pint of wine are sent to each of them at his house; when they do attend, they are served with double quantities of everything…they also enjoy [this] when they are invited to dinner at a private house.” 5
! At public sacrifices, the kings were given the hides of the slaughtered beasts
- Features and structure of government
The fully developed Spartan constitution had four parts - the two kings, the gerusia, the assembly, and the ephors. Lycurgus supposedly created the newly structured political reforms (after the annexation of Messenia). Sparta changed from an oligarchy to a new establishment, where monarchy, democracy and elements of oligarchy worked together. This was the Great Rhetra.
! Two Kings:
Who - It is quite possible that there were two distinct tribes with their own kings. When they joined together to form a large city-state, they decided on a coalition of their kings so neither tribe had to give up their king. The two royal houses were Agids and Eurypontids. Both dynasties traced themselves back to Heracles, possibly being the twin sons of his descendant Aristodemus.
What - Had coequal authority. Headed the aristocracy and were “revered and respected by the Spartan population”. 6
How - When a king died, he was succeeded by his eldest son who was born after his accession to the throne. If there was no surviving son, the rule would be passed to the nearest eligible male regent, who also would act as regent if the king was a minor.
Other - Held judicial superiority
! The Council / The Council of Elders / Gerusia:
Who - Thirty members. Twenty-eight were gerontes, and two were the kings. Had to be aged 60+ (thus making them authentic gerontes/elders of the state). They held their office for life once chosen by the assembly by acclamation.
What it was - According to Bury and Meiggs, “The Council prepared matters which were to come before the Assembly; it exercised, as an advising body, a great influence on political affairs; and it formed a court of justice for criminal cases. … The Council formed an oligarchical element in the Lacedaemonian constitution.” 7
How - Supposedly anyone could become an elder, but in actual fact they had to be of noble birth. They were meant to be chosen by their great moral merits, and membership was described as a ‘prize for virtue’.
Other - The kings simply belonged to the Gerusia because they were kings. Citizens had been divided into tribes, which were then divided into phratriai (clans). The leaders of the phratriai formed the Gerusia.
! The Assembly/ Ecclesia/Apella:
Who - The people’s or warriors; assembly. All Homoioi (full citizens) over the age of 30 were allowed to attend.
What - They elected ephors, elders of the Gerusia and other magistrates.
Were responsible for decision making, such as appointments of military commanders, decisions about peace and war, foreign politics, resolutions for problems regarding kingship, and emancipation of helots.
How - Decided motions by acclamation (clapping and shouting approval)
When - Monthly - presumably on the full moon.
Other - Presided over by kings and the Gerusia, and in C5th, the ephors.
Therefore, in theory, the Spartan constitution was a democracy. 10
! The Ephors:
Who - Elected annually. Represented the 5 villages of the Ecclesia \ represented the people.
What - Swore to protect the kings as long as the kings supported the law. Decided state policy. Supervised community life and could interfere in citizens’ private lives. Later on they accompanied kings on campaigns, and directed legal and moral matters.
Other - The Ephorate was an ancient office which came into being around 550BC.
- Military elite
! Spartans were known, and are still known today for their excellence in war, rather than any other aspect of their culture.
! The Spartan army was reorganised after the crushing of Messenian revolt (mid C.7th).
! After this conquest, the wealth that came from Messenia allowed the “privileged class in Sparta to become a full time army, unlike the farmer-soldiers of other city-states in Greece.” 8 It also allowed high quality weapons for all soldiers, thus reinforcing homoioi.
! The military way was the way of life for all Spartans, including women.
Men ate together in syssitia and acted at all times as though they were under military law.
! The warrior-cultured community of Sparta reinforced the spirit of upholding and maintaining the line against intruders at all costs, as the men were standing with trusted companions.
! The Spartans refused to build city walls, as they believed their army of hoplites provided all the walls they needed
! A city-wide motto of ‘death before dishonour’, and one of the worst crimes was to be a coward and a traitor.
Units -
Most prestigious: the Knights (hippeis).
Helots and perioikoi contributed to the army, with the perioikoi providing up to half the hoplites at Plataea (a place), and many units of lightly armed Helots also contributing.
According to Bury and Meiggs, three hundred ‘horsemen’ formed the kings’ bodyguard. These were selected from the Spartan youths, who in later times fought on foot, with the light infantry generally supplied by the Perioikoi and Helots.
What is a hoplite?
A soldier who held a hoplon (a large bronze shield), on his left arm and held a 2.5 metre thrusting spear on his right.
Tactics
At the start of battle, they moved forward in uniform fashion to the sound of the double oboe (aulos), where others charged at a run to boost their courage.
The hoplite phalanx - Normally eight to twelve ranks deep, but could be up to fifty ranks deep, this tactic was a rectangular formation of heavily armed hoplites. It was indeed a test of utmost strength, as this formation interlocked shields and allowed the Spartans to advance against their similarly armed opponent. Whoever pushed the hardest, won. It not only tested strength, but courage and trust also. The effect of the Spartans mastering the hoplite phalanx was legendary by the beginning of the 5th century BC. They remained undefeated in this manoeuvre until the 4th century BC. The Spartan state trained its soldiers to adapt their tactics to many conditions, another reason for the undefeated status throughout the 5th century BC.
Helots and perioikoi (and their roles in society)
Helots:
! State-owned serfs, enslaved Messenians
! Allowed to own their own property
! The state was the only one who could emancipate a Helot (give them freedom). A Spartan did not have this privilege or power, nor did they have the power to sell a Helot to another.
! In times of war, they had opportunity to show their bravery and loyalty to Sparta. If they did so outstandingly, it was a possibility that they could be emancipated. This is why a class of freed men arose in society, known as neodamōdes, or new demesmen.
! Mothōnes - offspring of illegitimate unions between citizens and Helot women.
! Lived with their families
! Often treated with complete disrespect. According to Xenophon, they were made drunk so that they could be an example to the Spartan children not to drink too much.9
! Ready to rebel whenever an opportunity arose - serious revolts broke out repeatedly. This may be part of the reason why Sparta was constantly ready for battle.
! They were important to the Spartan system, as they produced all the food. Therefore, many of the laws of Sparta were created to maintain control of the helots.
Duties
! Worked the land and allowed to keep a portion of everything they produced
! They were ‘allocated’ to Spartans - the Spartans did not own them.
! Supplied the Spartan military of light infantry
! They kept busy by doing all agricultural activities and household chores.
Perioikoi (‘dwellers around’)
! Citizens of the small villages of Laconia and Messenia.
! They were tradesmen, craftsmen and manufacturers, and thus had a fair amount freedom… only a few became farmers
! Very important to the Spartan system
! Allowed to rule themselves on two conditions: that they not break away from Sparta, or join forces with the Helots.
! Controlled all passes and waterways into Laconia
! Some became very successful
! They were expected to fight with the Spartans if needed
! Allowed participate in some religious festivals
! Did not have full citizen rights
Lived in their own communities and provided weaponry and other commercial products for the Homoioi.