In ancient Sparta, what was a helot?

The helots were a subjugated population group that formed the main population of Laconia and Messenia, the territory controlled by Sparta. According to Critias, they were "slaves to the utmost". Tied to the land, they primarily worked in agriculture as a majority and economically supported the Spartan citizens.

The number of helots in relation to Spartan citizens varied throughout the history of the Spartan state; according to Herodotus, there were seven helots for each Spartan at the time of the Battle of Plataea in 479 BC. Thus the need to keep helot population in check and preventing rebellion was one of the main concerns of the Spartans.

More Info: en.wikipedia.org

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12 Comments

Charlie Chase

There seems to be some confusion about the meaning of helot. According to the Oxford Dictionary, a helot was a member of a class of serfs in ancient Sparta, intermediate in status between slaves and citizens. Another source says that they were slaves. A third source says that they were both. No matter what, it was a poor life to live.

Mark Gavin

"Slave" is not correct. A helot was a serf, which is something different. Certainly serfs were put upon by the ruling classes of Sparta but there status was higher than that of a slave.

David Stokes

A slave is someone who is purchased by and owned by a master/mistress, a serf is a person belonging to a piece of land and is able to move on if they wish and can support themselves,

Fred Zeb Fudpucker

The helots were a subjugated population group that formed the main population of Laconia and Messenia, the territory controlled by Sparta. Their exact status was already disputed in antiquity: according to Critias, they were "slaves to the utmost", whereas according to Pollux, they occupied a status "between free men and slaves".Wikipedia

catmom

Ilias Tsiabardas, Me too.

earlepg

Serf or slave, the word didn't look like a reference to the higher-ups.

Bob the builder

What's in a word we are all slaves to life

Louella Wilson

With all the discussion about serfs and slaves, people are not reading the question! Which says in "ancient Sparta". As Charlie Chase said, but then passed over, "a helot was a member of a class of serfs in ancient Sparta". So slave is close, but wrong.