LEONIDAS
Greetings, visitor.
You stand in Sparta's political center, where
all of the city's most important decisions
were made.
You should feel honored.
LEONIDAS
My name is Leonidas.
I am a king of Sparta, but do not think me
some idle aristocrat softened by luxury.
LEONIDAS
When Spartans go to war, I stand alongside
them shield to shield, and my spear tastes
the same blood as those of my men.
LEONIDAS
Spartans may be unequalled on the battlefield,
but some situations are better solved by a
meeting of minds than a clash of swords.
LEONIDAS
Not many, mind you.
But some.
LEONIDAS
Sparta's political system was unique in the
Greek world.
LEONIDAS
While Athenians wasted hours on end whining
and wagging their tongues at each other, -
LEONIDAS
- Spartan kings made their decisions swiftly
and deliberately.
They preferred action over words.
LEONIDAS
Come find me again when you finish your visit.
We will speak more then.
Farewell.
NARRATOR
Sparta's political system differed from most
of Greece's.
NARRATOR
One of its most distinctive features was that
it was ruled by two kings.
NARRATOR
These kings belonged to two separate dynasties:
the Eurypontids and the Agiads, both of which
were said to be descended from Herakles.
NARRATOR
Both kings shared equal powers, and disputes
between them required the intervention of
special magistrates known as ephors.
NARRATOR
However, if one of the kings were more charismatic
or experienced, they could influence the weaker
king's choices.
NARRATOR
Spartan kings had several responsibilities
and functions.
NARRATOR
As lifetime magistrates, they were technically
Sparta's priests and strategists, and their
duties encompassed everything from politics
to justice.
NARRATOR
Originally, both kings would lead military
campaigns in times of war.
NARRATOR
However, from 507 BCE onwards, only one of
the two kings could be head of the army.
NARRATOR
On the battlefield, kings were accompanied
by three hundred elite soldiers for protection.
NARRATOR
But being a king wasn't only about working
and fighting.
They enjoyed special privileges as well.
NARRATOR
Spartan kings lived at the expense of the
city, owned royal estates in the surrounding
períoikic cities, and received the majority
of the spoils of war.
NARRATOR
When they passed away, they were buried with
special honors, and the population mourned
them for a period of ten days.
NARRATOR
The kings of Sparta enjoyed many important
religious honors.
NARRATOR
They were in charge of sacrifices both during
military campaigns and at home.
NARRATOR
The kings received double portions of the
meat at all communal meals, and they were
also the first to pour libations.
NARRATOR
They also personally conducted public sacrifices
as priests, which helped remind their subjects
of their divine connection to Herakles and
Zeus.
NARRATOR
The ephors, or overseers, were five magistrates
elected by the Spartan assembly.
NARRATOR
They were chosen from amongst Spartan citizens
over thirty, and served for one year with
no possibility of re-election.
NARRATOR
The ephors played a large part in administrating
the city, and were considered the most democratic
agents in the Spartan political system.
NARRATOR
They had judicial power, and ordered the dispatching
of the Spartan army during wars.
NARRATOR
They also met and negotiated with representatives
from other states, in addition to running
the agoge, the Spartan education system.
NARRATOR
While not as powerful as the two kings, the
ephors still held great sway over Sparta's
affairs.
NARRATOR
The Gerousia was the Spartan council of elders.
NARRATOR
It was made up of the two current kings, as
well as twenty-eight elders called gerontes.
NARRATOR
They were Spartan citizens over the age of
sixty - the cut-off age for military duty.
NARRATOR
They were elected for life by the Spartan
assembly.
NARRATOR
The Gerousia, similar to Athens's boule, handled
legislative and financial matters.
NARRATOR
It could submit bills and motions to the assembly,
and could also cancel assembly decisions with
the power of veto.
NARRATOR
To ensure that the right of veto did not weaken
the assembly, ephors were introduced to keep
the Gerousia in check and maintain a steady
balance of power.
NARRATOR
This allowed Sparta to include more just elements
in its political system.
NARRATOR
The Spartan assembly, or the apella, was made
up of Spartan citizens who were over thirty
years old.
NARRATOR
Its exact meeting place remains unknown, but
it was presided over by a special member of
the ephors called the "Eponymous Ephor".
NARRATOR
The apella had limited authority, since any
decision it made could be overruled by the
Gerousia, -
NARRATOR
- but thanks to the efforts of the ephors,
it still played an important role in Spartan
society.
NARRATOR
The apella dealt with topics like foreign
affairs, war declarations, peace negotiations,
and more.
NARRATOR
They also elected ephors and Gerousia members,
and could both grant political rights to foreigners
and remove them from Spartan citizens.
NARRATOR
Unlike the myriad sources on the functions
of the Athenian assembly, the exact details
of the apella's decision-making process are
unknown.
LEONIDAS
I see you've finished.
I hope you feel more knowledgeable about the
inner-workings of Spartan politics.
LEONIDAS
Our way of ruling was not conventional, to
say the least, but it served our purposes
well.
LEONIDAS
What would you like to do?
LEONIDAS
Are you?
We shall see.
Let's begin.
LEONIDAS
What was the name of the Spartan assembly?
LEONIDAS
The helots were slaves.
They had no political rights and could not
be part of the assembly.
Try a different answer.
LEONIDAS
No, although ephoros helped the assembly reach
decisions.
Keep trying.
LEONIDAS
The Gerousia was the council of elders.
Try again.
LEONIDAS
What was the name of the Spartan assembly?
LEONIDAS
Correct.
The Spartan assembly was known as the apella.
LEONIDAS
Question two.
LEONIDAS
How many members did the Gerousia have?
LEONIDAS
No.
Try again.
LEONIDAS
There were twenty-eight gerontes on the council
of elders, but they weren't the only members
of the Gerousia.
LEONIDAS
Keep trying.
LEONIDAS
No, although we Spartans did love that number.
Try a different answer.
LEONIDAS
Yes.
The Gerousia consisted of twenty-eight gerontes,
and the two kings of Sparta.
LEONIDAS
Last question.
LEONIDAS
What was the name of the Spartan education
program?
LEONIDAS
The agora was the central meeting place of
many Greek cities.
Keep trying.
LEONIDAS
The apella was the Spartan assembly.
We have been over this.
Try a different answer.
LEONIDAS
The boule was a Greek council of citizens.
Try again.
LEONIDAS
Correct.
Our rigorous education program was called
the agoge, and it was overseen by the ephors.
LEONIDAS
You've done well, visitor.
Very well.
LEONIDAS
Farewell, visitor.
May your travels be safe and carefree.
