S.3: SPARTA: Political structure Flashcards
Political structure
Kings, Gerousia, Ephors, Assembly
Kings
Two kings, Eurypontid and Agiad, held for life
Ephor
5 (representative of each region) annually elected by assembly, all Spartiates over 30
Gerousia
Council/senate, a group of 30 (28 elders 60+ and the 2 kings), serve for life
Assembly/ekklesia
All spartiates (completed agoge and memeber of syssition) 30+, elected by ephors/gerousia
Aristotle on government
Sparta is made up of oligarchy, monarchy and democracy
Pausanias
Regent king 490/Commanded Plataea 479
Hetomaridas
Gerousia, argued against war in 470
Archidamus
King, 469-427, against Peloponnesian war 432, commanded first invasions of Attica
Sthenalidas
Ephor, persuaded Sparta to go to war 432
Brasidas
Ephor, general at Pylos 425 and Amphipolis 422
Alcibiades
Athenian fled to Sparta acting as assistant general during Occupation of Decelea 413
Agis II
King (son of Archidamus), Battle of Mantinea 418/Occupation of Decelea 413
Lysander
Admiral, gained support from Persia
Role of the kings
Command army (with 300 bodyguard), safekeeping of oracles, declared war, members of gerousia, present in adoption, supervised ephors - Herodotus
Limitations of kings
Ephors make sure they uphold the law and accompany king on campaign to keep check, little judicial powers, could be put on trial/deposed
Role of the ephors
Call meetings of gerousia and assembly, judge crime, control periokoi, accompany king to war
Limitation of ephors
Hold office for one year only, can not repeat
Ephors higher than kings?
Not mentioned in Lycurgus’ Rhetra, adopt some of king and gerousias roles in late 5th c., took over foreign policy, put forward motions to assembly/gerousia, exile a king, 5th c. could call war
Role of gerousia
Court for capital offences and kings, remove citizenship/exile, prepared laws for debate, challenge legislation made by ekklesia
Plutarch on gerousia
Control over death and loss of citizenship rights, and the most important matters
generally
Criticisms of gerousia
Bribery and favouritism, old men may not be mentally fit (Aristotle), appointed for life
Role of ekklesia/assembly
Vote for or against proposals of higher office (could not put forward their own), declare war, approve treaties, choose the head king in campaign
Debate in 470s
Over Athenian sea power
Debate in 432
Over war with Athens, Archidamus (king) and Sthenalidas (ephor), Sthenalidas victorious
