Sparta’s Constitution
Most laws in ancient Sparta were passed on generation by generation, mostly orally, morally rather than written on a paper. Sparta’s was a mix of militaristic, democratic, monarchical, oligarchical elements.
Sparta was ruled by two royal clans, the Agiad and the Eurypontid families. Theories vary for the explanation of this, such as it was to avoid absolutism in the future. Every king of Sparta was from one of these families, who were supposed to be descendants of Hercules. The king was in touch with the Sanctuary in Delphi. The Ephors were the judging court. When one king was away on the battlefield, the other one had to be in Sparta. Gerousia came to arise at one point as the dual kingship was bringing rivalries and problems at decisions. Gerousia was the Senate, cinsisted by elders older 60, and 28 of them at number. They were elected for life and as you can imagine they were people with great influence, as they were mostly members or affiliates from the royal families.
The citizen, didn’t have the option to speak of his mind, nor vote negative to something. They could only pick one alternative option for a subject. This only happened by the members of Gerousia (So it was like a parliament). Afterwards they would propose the alternatives to the Dimos, the body of voter Spartan citizens
Generally, if one would excel in the Agoge, he would be privileged afterwards, even a non Spartan or a son of a heilot may hade taken the citizrnship and be upgraded in the first caste of Sparta, that is , if he was excellent in the Agoge.
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