Sparta Definitions

Sparta – Definitions

Laconia – land east of Taygetus ranges covering the middle and eastern peninsulas of the Southern Peloponnese.

Gymnopaediae – Festival of athletic competitions held among boys and men in July. A display of endurance and warrior hardship.

Hyakinthia – Most important festival, held at shrine of Amyclae. Mythically proclaimed by Apollo to commemorate the death of vegetation god Hyakinthos. Account left by Athenaeus. Mourning of Hyakinthos and praise of Apollo.

The Great Rhetra – Spoken system of law mythically given to Lycurgus by Delphi

Assembly (or Apella, Ecclesia) – All citizen males over 30. Voted on laws proposed by Gerousia, could not make policy. And addition to Great Rhetra. Important as separated Spartiates from the rest.

Gerousia -'council of elders' – the two kings and 28 men over 60, elected for life by acclamation. Basis for emphasis on tradition.

Agoge – the Spartan education system. Training program designed to create a warriot people form birth.

Syssitia – military mess of about 15 men, to which each man was expected to contribute food.

Perioikoi – 'dwellers around' – merchant class allied to Sparta. Commanded all passes/waterways into Sparta, provided some of the army & were essential for trade and craft.

Helots – Agricultureal slaves/serfs of the Spartans who were owned by the state. Were assigned to masters and allowed sole focus on military activities. Had to pay a proportion of their produce to their 'owner'. Constant state of war declared against them to justify subjugation. Were allowed to live in family units and occasionally served as light infantry or even hoplites.

Krypteia – bands of young warriors allowed to terrorise young helots as part of their training.

Phalanx – massed battle formation of ranks 8-12 deep, heavily armed infantry.

Hoplite – Spartan heavy infantry, equipped with a long spear, sword, cuirass, round bronze shield (bronze was chosen, according to Xenophon, by Lycurgus because it was “quick to polish and slow to tarnish”) bronze helmet and leg greaves, red cloak (least effeminate, warlike, intimidating, associated with Greek amulets for warding off danger.

Menelaion – Sactuary dedicated to Helen and Menelaus in Laconia.

Hypomeiones – Spartans who had lost citizen rights through not passing the agoge or contributing to the syssitia.

Spartiates – full Spartan citizens who had passed the agoge and were members of a syssitia, (a.k.a 'homoioi' = equals)

Eunomia – Greek concept of “good order”, usually conservative form of government.

Ephors – Five elected magistrates, executive of state, administrates laws/were public directors of policy. Held office for 1 year and could be outvoted by fellows.

Pythians – 2 Ambassadors sent to Delphi, one by each king.

Chattel Slavery – Mainly Athenian system in which individuals bought and sold slaves. Helots were publicly owned.