The role of the helots in 'educating' the Spartans

L.G. Pechatnova

St. Petersburg State University, St. Petersburg, 199034 Russia

E-mail: pechatnova@mail.ru

Received August 2, 2022

ORIGINAL ARTICLE

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DOI: 10.26907/2541-7738.2022.6.108-117

For citation: Pechatnova L.G. The role of the helots in “educating” the Spartans. Uchenye Zapiski Kazanskogo Universiteta. Seriya Gumanitarnye Nauki, 2022, vol. 164, no. 6, pp. 108–117. doi: 10.26907/2541-7738.2022.6.108-117. (In Russian)

Abstract

This article considers and analyzes the ancient sources mentioning the role played by the helots in the upbringing of sons of Spartan citizens. The focus is on the ways and forms through which the helots were exploited to educate the young generation there. The status of the helots poses a significant challenge to researchers because there are few sources on this issue, mostly dated back to a later period. Thus, all observations and reasoning can be only hypothetical at present.

The system of public education in Sparta assumed complete separation of the civilian youth from other groups of residents, especially from the helots, in order to cultivate a sense of being chosen among them: they were forced to believe that a deep abyss existed between them and the helots. To widen and aggravate this impairment, a number of rules were introduced, such as obligatory helotic clothes making those wearing them stand out in the crowd. The analysis of the sources shows that the helots were cast in a poor light as an important part of the ideological education of the Spartans. They were exposed as living examples of the worst behaviors that were allegedly inherent in them and unacceptable to other citizens. It was a common practice to portray the helots as drunkards or freaks to inspire contempt and disgust for them in the young people of Sparta. By absorbing this ideology, the latter were prepared for the crypteia, when they had to attack the helots or, possibly, even carry out their mass executions. The strict segregation imposed in Sparta became the basis of the relations between the Spartans and the helots, impeded social mobility, and consolidated the social hierarchy.

Keywords: Sparta, Spartans, helots, crypteia, upbringing, Critias, Xenophon, Plutarch

Acknowledgements. This study was supported by the Russian Foundation for Basic Research (project no. 20-09-00455).

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