Spartan Government System: The Ephorate Flashcards
What was the ephorate?
- A board of five ephors who were the chief magistrates and administrative officials in Sparta
How did the ephorate originate?
- Unknown
What are the three theories of the origin of the Ephorate?
- Originally priests and astrologers
- Created by the kings to carry on the government while they were at war
- Originally connected with the five villages and may have been chiefs who became advisors to the kings
When did the Ephorate win their great political power? How did it develop?
- 7th Century BC
- Their power slowly increased until they had taken over the main powers of the kings
Outline the election process of the Ephorate. Who could stand? How were they elected? When did they take office? What would they do upon appointment?
- Any Spartan over the age of 30 could stand
- Elected by the assembly annually, by acclamation
- Took office at the full moon - after the autumnal equinox
- Upon appointment would issue a proclamation to all citizens to shave their moustaches and obey the laws
What monthly oath did the ephors make?
- To uphold the office of the kings as long as they behaved in accordance with the laws
Were the ephors empowered to depose the king?
- Yes
What are the seven main functions of the Ephorate?
- Checks on the kings (overseers)
- Dealing with foreign policy
- Dealing with the army
- Control over magistrates
- Supervision over training
- The Krypteia
- Dealings with the Gerousia
As representatives of the people and a democratic element, the ephorate were expected to do what? (2)
- Keep a check on the kings both at home and on campaign
- Summon the kings before them for misdemeanours
In terms of foreign powers, what did the Ephorate deal with?
- Foreign embassies
What does Xenophon tell us about the ephors and their control over the borders?
- Before foreign representatives could enter Sparta they had to halt at the border and wait the permission of the ephors
Who did envoys make their proposals or demands to? What was then decided?
- The ephors
- If they should go before the assembly
What did ephors do when war was declared? (3)
- Decided which age classes should go
- Issued orders mobilising the army
- Gave instructions to the generals and recalled them if they failed
What did the ephorate do in terms of controlling magistrates? What happened after a magistrate´s year in office?
- Held great power over lesser magistrates
- At the end of a magistrate’s year in office, he gave an account of himself to the ephors, who then decided if any punishment was in order
What did the ephorate do in terms of supervising training? (3)
- Had total control over training and discipline of the youth
- Any misconduct was reported to the ephors and Spartan youths were given a regular physical examination
- Chose the three captains of the elite corps of the Spartan army
What is the name of the secret police organisation that was under orders from the ephors
- The Krypteia
How has the Krypteia been portrayed?
- As a tyrannical and vicious weapon - used to murder helots indiscriminately
What two sources mention the role played by the Krypteia and the removal of the helot population
- Plutarch and Aristotle
Was a secret police organisation common practice in the Ancient Greek world?
- No. This was unique to Sparta and never adopted by other Greek states
Give a quote from Aristotle about the Krypteia
- “the ephors used to declare war on the helots - so that they could be massacred without offending the gods”
Give a quote from Plutarch about the Krypteia
“(The Krypteia)” killed all the helots they could light upon”
Who was in the Krypteia? Why? How so? (2)
- Most probably a body of eighteen to twenty year old youths - at the disposal of the ephors for special service
- Membership formed part of the training of the youths
- In that they:
- Served for two years
- Provided a useful method for removing undesirables - specifically helots
What was the ephorate’s relationship with the Gerousia? What did the ephors preside over? What did they initiate? What did they do with the Gerousia? What sort of judges were they?
- They summoned and presided over sessions of the Gerousia and the Assembly, as well as initiating legislation
- With the Gerousia they acted as a court of criminal justice and carried out punishments
- They were criminal judges in cases involving perioikoi and together constituted the Supreme Civil Court
What are the two limitations of the Ephorate?
- Answerable to the public body
- Despite their great powers, they were subject to certain restrictions
