Spartan soldiers, while in training had to learn how to successfully stalk and ambush an enemy. This was done by sneaking up on and attacking field slaves called Helots. Since Spartans trained for real situations, the art of the ambush was completed with the death of the unlucky Helot tending fields. (Changed Hoplite to Helot in the above paragraph. Helots were Spartan slaves, the Hoplites were a Greek military unit). However, as a historian, I can assure you there is a GREAT deal of debate about what the goals of this process, called the Krypteia, were. Some insist the Krypteia was the final test for all Spartan soldiers where they learned stealth and killing. Others say the Krypteia were a secret police force, chosen from only the best Spartan soldiers, who patrolled their society (particularly that of Helot slaves) looking for signs of rebellion or sedition and killing anyone the Krypteia suspected of fomenting it. Ultimately, the Krypteia could be any of these: -A rite of passage into manhood -An elite special forces unit whose final training was to stalk and kill a man -A secret police force -A final test in the Spartan military school, the Agoge. It is almost impossible to know for certain.
The Spartan government was a fusion of monarchy, oligarchy and demoracy.It consisted of the two kings, the Gerousia, the Ephors and the Ecclesia/Apella:Gerousia - It consisted of the two kings plus 28 elders. They prepared and presented proposals for the vote of the assembly. They were elected.Ephor - There were 5 ephors. They advised and checked the kings, controlled the Krypteia, watched for divine signs about the kings rule, supervised the life of the people and called the assembly.Ecclesia - The assembly consisting of Spartiate men over the age of 30. They voted on the Gerousia's proposals.
The Spartan government was a fusion of monarchy, oligarchy and demoracy.It consisted of the two kings, the Gerousia, the Ephors and the Ecclesia:Gerousia - It consisted of the two kings plus 28 elders. They prepared and presented proposals for the vote of the assembly. They were elected.Ephor - There were 5 ephors. They advised and checked the kings, controlled the Krypteia, watched for divine signs about the kings rule, supervised the life of the people and called the assembly.Ecclesia - The assembly consisting of Spartiate men over the age of 30. They voted on the Gerousia's proposals.
The Spartan government was a fusion of monarchy, oligarchy and demoracy.It consisted of the two kings, the Gerousia, the Ephors and the Ecclesia/Apella:Gerousia - It consisted of the two kings plus 28 elders. They prepared and presented proposals for the vote of the assembly. They were elected.Ephor - There were 5 ephors. They advised and checked the kings, controlled the Krypteia, watched for divine signs about the kings rule, supervised the life of the people and called the assembly.Ecclesia - The assembly consisting of Spartiate men over the age of 30. They voted on the Gerousia's proposals.
Sparta had a government that consisted of two kings (one from the Agrid family and one from the Eurypontid family), five Ephors (supreme magistrates), the Gerousia (council of elders) and the Apella (the assembly of equals - all Spartan men over the age of 30). The kings and the Ephors made all the most important decisions about the state and battle and education and the Gerouisa had a big input in law but even if they all make a unanimous decision it can still be overruled by the whole Apella. In that sense it is an almost democratic government except that woman or slaves cannot have a say.The Spartan government was a fusion of monarchy, oligarchy and demoracy.The government of Sparta consisted of the two kings, the Gerousia, the Ephors and the Ecclesia/Apella:Gerousia - It consisted of the two kings plus 28 elders. They prepared and presented proposals for the vote of the assembly. They were elected.Ephor - There were 5 ephors. They advised and checked the kings, controlled the Krypteia, watched for divine signs about the kings rule, supervised the life of the people and called the assembly.Ecclesia - The assembly consisting of Spartiate men over the age of 30. They voted on the Gerousia's proposals.Oligarchy
Krypteia was an institution of young men from Sparta. It is unknown exactly what the purpose of the institution was because it was a secret group.
Spartan soldiers, while in training had to learn how to successfully stalk and ambush an enemy. This was done by sneaking up on and attacking field slaves called Helots. Since Spartans trained for real situations, the art of the ambush was completed with the death of the unlucky Helot tending fields. (Changed Hoplite to Helot in the above paragraph. Helots were Spartan slaves, the Hoplites were a Greek military unit). However, as a historian, I can assure you there is a GREAT deal of debate about what the goals of this process, called the Krypteia, were. Some insist the Krypteia was the final test for all Spartan soldiers where they learned stealth and killing. Others say the Krypteia were a secret police force, chosen from only the best Spartan soldiers, who patrolled their society (particularly that of Helot slaves) looking for signs of rebellion or sedition and killing anyone the Krypteia suspected of fomenting it. Ultimately, the Krypteia could be any of these: -A rite of passage into manhood -An elite special forces unit whose final training was to stalk and kill a man -A secret police force -A final test in the Spartan military school, the Agoge. It is almost impossible to know for certain.
The helots were the state-owned serfs of the Spartans. They were most likely Laconian and Messenian. There was a greater number of helots than Spartans, therefore each year when a Spartan Magistrate took office he declared war on the helots. This meant that the helots could be murdered at any time. The Krypteia, or the Spartan secret police, also routinely killed helots.
If you were a slave back in ancient Greece, you would prefer to be a slave in Athens. A Spartan slave would constantly be afraid for his life. Every year, the Spartans declared war on their slaves and they even had a 'special-ops' group called the Krypteia who were allowed to kill any slave they believed was plotting against the city. The killing of slaves was openly accepted in Sparta.
The Spartan government was a fusion of monarchy, oligarchy and demoracy.It consisted of the two kings, the Gerousia, the Ephors and the Ecclesia/Apella:Gerousia - It consisted of the two kings plus 28 elders. They prepared and presented proposals for the vote of the assembly. They were elected.Ephor - There were 5 ephors. They advised and checked the kings, controlled the Krypteia, watched for divine signs about the kings rule, supervised the life of the people and called the assembly.Ecclesia - The assembly consisting of Spartiate men over the age of 30. They voted on the Gerousia's proposals.
The Spartan government was a fusion of monarchy, oligarchy and demoracy.It consisted of the two kings, the Gerousia, the Ephors and the Ecclesia/Apella:Gerousia - It consisted of the two kings plus 28 elders. They prepared and presented proposals for the vote of the assembly. They were elected.Ephor - There were 5 ephors. They advised and checked the kings, controlled the Krypteia, watched for divine signs about the kings rule, supervised the life of the people and called the assembly.Ecclesia - The assembly consisting of Spartiate men over the age of 30. They voted on the Gerousia's proposals.
The Spartan government was a fusion of monarchy, oligarchy and demoracy.It consisted of the two kings, the Gerousia, the Ephors and the Ecclesia:Gerousia - It consisted of the two kings plus 28 elders. They prepared and presented proposals for the vote of the assembly. They were elected.Ephor - There were 5 ephors. They advised and checked the kings, controlled the Krypteia, watched for divine signs about the kings rule, supervised the life of the people and called the assembly.Ecclesia - The assembly consisting of Spartiate men over the age of 30. They voted on the Gerousia's proposals.
The Spartan government was a fusion of monarchy, oligarchy and demoracy.It consisted of the two kings, the Gerousia, the Ephors and the Ecclesia/Apella:Gerousia - It consisted of the two kings plus 28 elders. They prepared and presented proposals for the vote of the assembly. They were elected.Ephor - There were 5 ephors. They advised and checked the kings, controlled the Krypteia, watched for divine signs about the kings rule, supervised the life of the people and called the assembly.Ecclesia - The assembly consisting of Spartiate men over the age of 30. They voted on the Gerousia's proposals.
There were a lot of cultural activities associated with Ancient Sparta. Here are a few. 1. The "Agoge" was a form of education/military training which the Spartans followed and were famous for. 2. The "gymnopedia" was a major annual festival. 3. The "krypteia" was the organized and clandestine killing of random Helots by young members of the Spartan class. (Helots were Spartan slaves.) 4. The festival of Artemis Orthia was an annual festival honoring a prominent Spartan goddess. 5. Infant exposure was probably practiced elsewhere in Ancient Greece, but it was particularly unforgiving in Sparta. 6. The Spartans had a set of unique laws and Lycurgus was one of their famous early law givers. 7. The Spartans had a tradition of speaking in a brief and pointed fashion. Consequently, there are extensive collections of Spartan saying which have survived the centuries. (We also get the term "laconic" from that aspect of Spartan culture.) The list could go on, but this is decent start.
Sparta had a government that consisted of two kings (one from the Agrid family and one from the Eurypontid family), five Ephors (supreme magistrates), the Gerousia (council of elders) and the Apella (the assembly of equals - all Spartan men over the age of 30). The kings and the Ephors made all the most important decisions about the state and battle and education and the Gerouisa had a big input in law but even if they all make a unanimous decision it can still be overruled by the whole Apella. In that sense it is an almost democratic government except that woman or slaves cannot have a say.The Spartan government was a fusion of monarchy, oligarchy and demoracy.The government of Sparta consisted of the two kings, the Gerousia, the Ephors and the Ecclesia/Apella:Gerousia - It consisted of the two kings plus 28 elders. They prepared and presented proposals for the vote of the assembly. They were elected.Ephor - There were 5 ephors. They advised and checked the kings, controlled the Krypteia, watched for divine signs about the kings rule, supervised the life of the people and called the assembly.Ecclesia - The assembly consisting of Spartiate men over the age of 30. They voted on the Gerousia's proposals.Oligarchy
The Spartan government was a fusion of monarchy, oligarchy and demoracy.The government of Sparta consisted of the two kings, the Gerousia, the Ephors and the Ecclesia:Gerousia - It consisted of the two kings plus 28 elders. They prepared and presented proposals for the vote of the assembly. They were elected.Ephor - There were 5 ephors. They advised and checked the kings, controlled the Krypteia, watched for divine signs about the kings rule, supervised the life of the people and called the assembly.Ecclesia - The assembly consisting of Spartiate men over the age of 30. They voted on the Gerousia's proposals.