Spartan Government
The system of government and the organisation of the society of Sparta was unique within ancient Greece. The Spartan government had elements of monarchy, oligarchy and democracy, with no political leader or group taking control over another within Sparta. Spartan government was organised so to ensure the supremacy of Spartan military and, like so many other parts of Spartan society, to make sure that everyone was equal. Even though everyone was counted as equal in Sparta there were still different levels within the Spartan government, each having a different amount of power as to what decisions they could make, and what they were allowed to talk about within the Senate.
The first and ‘top’ level was the two kings. The government in Sparta was based around a dual kingship; two kings were selected from the Agiads and Eurypontids families – both of which had royal lineage tracing back for hundreds of years. These kings were the priests of special cults dedicated to certain gods; both kings were also leaders of the army, each going out with a different military force during times of war. As well as those duties, the kings still had their political duties, they were the presiding officers in the Spartan government, the Spartan Senate, and the Spartan kings also had power over the doings of the Spartan Assembly.
Under the two kings was the Gerousia, or the “Old Men”. These were twenty-eight rich Spartiates, over the age of 60, and the two kings of Sparta. The Gerontes, or Senators, were elected by the Assembly of Spartiates for life. The Gerousia could control most of the public business; they controlled the courts of criminal justice, and decide what would be discussed by Assembly.
After that were the Ephors, five Spartiati ‘overseers’. They were elected annually by the Senate and supposedly the most powerful branch within the Spartan government. Their power encompassed judicial, financial, and administrative matters of Sparta, they worked closely with the Gerousia, and even held some power over the Gerousia and the kings, as well as this they also had power over the Krypteia. Any Spartiati could be an Ephor.
Succeeding the Ephors was the Ecclesia, also known as the Apella or Demos, the Spartiate Assembly. This was compiled of any Spartiate over the age of eighteen. They were able to vote yes or no, about decisions being made by the Gerousia and Ephors, by making noise within the senate. Although they did have some power they could only meet when summoned, and the Ephors could only discuss what was submitted to them.
The first and ‘top’ level was the two kings. The government in Sparta was based around a dual kingship; two kings were selected from the Agiads and Eurypontids families – both of which had royal lineage tracing back for hundreds of years. These kings were the priests of special cults dedicated to certain gods; both kings were also leaders of the army, each going out with a different military force during times of war. As well as those duties, the kings still had their political duties, they were the presiding officers in the Spartan government, the Spartan Senate, and the Spartan kings also had power over the doings of the Spartan Assembly.
Under the two kings was the Gerousia, or the “Old Men”. These were twenty-eight rich Spartiates, over the age of 60, and the two kings of Sparta. The Gerontes, or Senators, were elected by the Assembly of Spartiates for life. The Gerousia could control most of the public business; they controlled the courts of criminal justice, and decide what would be discussed by Assembly.
After that were the Ephors, five Spartiati ‘overseers’. They were elected annually by the Senate and supposedly the most powerful branch within the Spartan government. Their power encompassed judicial, financial, and administrative matters of Sparta, they worked closely with the Gerousia, and even held some power over the Gerousia and the kings, as well as this they also had power over the Krypteia. Any Spartiati could be an Ephor.
Succeeding the Ephors was the Ecclesia, also known as the Apella or Demos, the Spartiate Assembly. This was compiled of any Spartiate over the age of eighteen. They were able to vote yes or no, about decisions being made by the Gerousia and Ephors, by making noise within the senate. Although they did have some power they could only meet when summoned, and the Ephors could only discuss what was submitted to them.