Sparta on the Map
Ancient Sparta developed in a fertile valley formed by this river.
Eurotas River
According to Spartan tradition, this lawgiver was responsible for many of Sparta's famous social and political reforms.
Lycurgus
Sparta's two hereditary kings came from these two royal families.
Agiads and Eurypontids
These were the three major groups into which Spartan society was divided by the fifth century BC.
Spartiates, Perioeci/Perioikoi and Helots
Spartan boys normally left their families and entered the agoge at this age.
seven years old
These two mountain ranges bordered Sparta to the west and east, helping to isolate it from other regions.
Taygetus Mountains and the Parnon Mountains
This Spartan term can mean a law, enactment or public pronouncement and was associated with oral rather than written law.
rhetra
This council contained 28 elected elders plus Sparta's two kings, giving it 30 members in total.
Gerousia
Their name meant roughly “dwellers around,” and they were free communities that performed much of Sparta's trading, manufacturing and craft work.
Perioikoi/Perioeci
This secretive institution supposedly sent selected young Spartans into the countryside to control and kill helots.
krypteia
Rather than taking part in widespread Greek colonisation to solve land hunger, Sparta attacked this neighbouring region and greatly increased its agricultural resources.
Messenia
Meaning approximately “good order” or “good government,” this concept was fundamental to the Spartan system.
eunomia
Members of this assembly could vote “yes” or “no” on proposals but could not debate, alter motions or initiate legislation themselves.
Ekklesia/Ecclesia
To qualify for this elite status, a male needed the correct birth, successful completion of the agoge and election to a syssition.
Spartiate
At age 18, Spartan youths entered this class, becoming combatants who also helped supervise younger boys.
eirens/eirenes
Spartan dominance of the Greek world came to an end following defeat at this battle in 371 BC.
Battle of Leuctra
This historian writes provides us with the most information about Lycurgus and the development of the Great Rhetra
Plutarch
Five of these magistrates were elected each year and exercised powers over finances, education, foreign policy and even the kings.
ephors
This institution brought groups of Spartan men together for communal meals and helped create strong bonds of military comradeship.
syssition/syssitia
This elite group of 300 selected Spartan soldiers appears to have served primarily as the bodyguard of the kings.
hippeis
This term describes the distorted impression of Sparta created largely from non-Spartan writers whose accounts could be either idealising or hostile
Spartan Mirage
The style of government established in Sparta during this period.
Mixed Constitution
These three elements make up the Spartan Mixed Consititution
Monarchy, Oligarchy and Democracy
aking advantage of the disruption caused by an earthquake, members of this social group revolted in 464 BC and established themselves at Mount Ithome.
Helots
This highly disciplined manoeuvre allowed a Spartan phalanx to reverse direction in an organised manner while maintaining cohesion.
Laconian Countermarch