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CLASSES OF SPARTA
Perioeci
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The perioeci (“dwellers around”) were a free and to some extent autonomous
population in Sparta, yet did not hold the equivalent social status as Spartiates
o lived in outlying districts
o possessed their own communities
o local government had agency, local rights of citizenship
o BUT under the domination of the Spartan state, to whom they owed various
obligations
They were an integral aspect of the state, engaged in occupations that were not
filled by the Spartans
o chiefly mining, manufacture and commerce – all mineral resources of Lakonia
and Messenia were in the hands of the perioeci
o Manufactured weapons and armour, garments, chariots etc.
o they shared in the land division under the Grand Rhetra, although the
percentage owned by the perioeci is unclear
o Archaeological evidence shows that most Lakonian craftsmen were perioeci,
many figurines and reliefs found in their communities
Treatment by the Spartans
o Spartan officials were placed in perioeci towns, but did not intervene in local
government matters
o Ephors were responsible for the supervision and authority over perioeci
populations
 able to execute them without trial
 yet only intervened if Spartan interests were at stake
Obligations
o the perioeci owed their security and industry to the Spartiates – therefore,
they were obligated to fulfil certain duties in return
o military service – while not trained, they were expected to provide a number
of hoplites on campaign
 entire male populace liable for service
 until 465 BC, perioeci and Spartan hoplites served separately
(Plaetea), however as Spartiate population fell, perioeci came to
constitute an increasingly significant portion of the army
 Coronea (394 BC): majority of the force perioeci and
neodamodeis.
 they served faithfully, save for one exception in early 480s, during the
earthquake in Messenia when there was a small disaffection
“Inferiors”
Mothones: helot boys who had been playmates with or shared some part of an education
with Spartan youth. Despite sharing an education with Spartan citizens, it is unlikely that
mothaces were given citizenship
Brasideroi: consisted of the 700 helots taken to Chalcidice by Brasidus, and given freedom
for gallantry. They were allowed to live where they pleased, no longer tied to a kleroi. Many
settled in Leprea; whether they obtained status as perioeci is unclear.
Partheniai: The sons of irregular unions during the First Messenian War, who came about as
a need to increase the birth rate due to the lengthy duration for which the Spartiates were
at war. They were refused citizenship and denied kleroi in Messenia, and when their
numbers became too great they were “gotten rid of” (Plutarch). However, due to rising
instability amongst their ranks the “disposal” of them took the form of being sent to
colonise Taras, in southern Italy.
Hypomeiones: all those (not including helots) not in the same social footing as the
Spartiates. They included Spartans who failed to enter syssitia, and those who couldn’t pay
their expected dues to their syssitia.
Neodamodeis: Helots freed by the state for meritorious action, although they never
obtained the full status of peer. They were liable for military action, exemplified by
Agesilaus’ conscription of 2000 for his campaign. This class also consisted of freed slaves,
including “released”, “masterless”, and “controllers”, possibly akin to policemen. Similarly,
seamen also dwelled in this class
SPARTAN ART
Sparta is often characterised as a state void of art and culture, and wrongly so; between the 9th and
5th centuries, art flourished and evolved alongside that of Athens and Argos, coming to a halt due
only to material considerations. Throughout the early Geometric period, between the 9th and early
8th centuries, art in Sparta was influenced heavily by Doric settlers, bringing Central European
inspirations that were applied to pottery and amber work. Spartan pottery, while often similar to
Athenian and Greek pottery in general, is unique for its use of spiral patterns and the metallic sheen
of the black paint used. Bronze animals were also prolific during this period. Moving on, Spartan art
came under the influence of Oriental and other foreign cultures during the 7th century, reflecting the
influence of Eastern trade with Egypt and Ionia. Ivory work during this period reflects the techniques
of Ionian sculptors, and findings in the Artemis Orthia site reveal Egyptian scarabs, and Egyptianised
statuettes. After a renaissance of native art and a blending of this with foreign art, early Doric art
began to disappear, and dwindled in the Early Classical age. This age, marking the accelerated
militarism and shifting material considerations of Sparta, provides an historian with the most meagre
remains, demonstrating the existence of a Spartan art culture that collapsed at the brink of its fame.