www.csun.edu Open in urlscan Pro
130.166.238.195  Public Scan

Form analysis
0 forms found in the DOM

Text Content

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

THE GREAT RHETRA

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Plutarch, Life of Lycurgus of Sparta 6:

> So eager was Lycurgus for the establishment of this form of government, that
> he obtained an oracle from Delphi about it, which they call a 'rhetra'. And
> this is the way it runs:
> 
> When thou has built a temple to Zeus Syllanius and Athena Syllania, divided
> the people into phylai, and divided them into 'obai', and established a
> Gerousia of thirty including the Archagetai, then from time to time
> 'appellazein' between Babyka and Knakion, and there introduce and repeal
> measures; but the Demos must have the decision and the power.
> 
> In these clauses, the phylai and obai refer to divisions and distributions of
> the people into parts, some of which are named clans and others obes. By
> Archagetai the Kings are meant, and 'appellazein' means 'to assemble' the
> people, and that the beginning and cause of the constitution was the Pythian.
> The Babyka is now called Cheimarros, and the Knakion the Oineus; but Aristotle
> says that the Knakion is a river and Babyka is a bridge. Between these they
> held their assemblies, having neither halls nor any other kind of building for
> the purpose. For thus Lycurgus thought that good counsel (eubouleia) was not
> promoted, but rather discouraged, since the serious purposes of an assembly
> were rendered foolish and futile by vain thoughts, as they gazed upon statues,
> and paintings, or scenic embellishments ('proscenia of theaters'), or
> extravagantly decorated roofs of Bouleuteria. When the multitude was assembled
> thus, no one of them was permitted to make a motion, but the motion laid
> before them by the Gerontes and Kings could be accepted or rejected by the
> Demos.
> 
> 
> 
> Later, however, when the Demos, by additions and subtractions perverted and
> distorted the sense of motions laid before them, the Kings Polydoros and
> Theopompos inserted the following clause in the Rhetra:
> 
> But if the Demos should choose badly, the Gerontes and Kings shall be
> 'apostateres'
> 
> That is, the should not ratify the vote, but dismiss and dissolve the Assembly
> outright, on the ground that it was perverting and changing the motion
> contrary to the best interests of the state. And they were actually able to
> persuade the city that the God authorized this addition to the Rhetra, as
> Tyrtaeus recalls in these verses:
> 
> Phoebus Apollo's the mandate was which they brought from Pytho
> Voicing the will of the God, nor were his words unfulfilled:
> Sway in the Boule and divine honors belong to the Kings
> Under whose care has been set Sparta's city of charm;
> Second to them are the Gerontes, and then come the men of the people
> duly confirming the straight rhetrai.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

January 26, 2010 9:37 AM

John Paul Adams, CSUN
john.p.adams@csun.edu




| HOME | | Greek & Roman History | | Spartan Materials | | Sparta Bibliography |
| Famous Spartans |