CHAPTER XXX.

Other Courts of Athens. Sparta.

BESIDES the Areopagus, there were ten other courts of justice among the Athenians; four of which took cognizance of homicides, assaults, and other matters of blood; the other six were for civil

causes.

The judges were chosen from all the citizens indiscriminately; the very lowest being eligible. The only pre-requisites were, that they should be thirty years of age, and innocent of any criminality. The number of these judges was about six thousand; but, strictly speaking, they were merely jurymen to assist the presiding magistrate. Óne inducement to become a judge was, that they received for every trial an obolus, about twenty cents, each, and sometimes three oboli.

This recompense occasioned an annual expen

diture to the state of about one hundred and fifty thousand dollars a year. That the profits might be more equally divided, no person was allowed to sit in two courts the same day. Such as were qualified to sit on trials, and had leisure any day for that purpose, attended and gave in their names; a sufficient number was then elected by lot for the different courts for that day.

They received tablets to indicate this, and on presenting them to the officers of the court, were admitted, and received each a sceptre, as an ensign of authority. On leaving the court, and giving back their sceptres, they received their recompense for attendance.

The Athenians were so litigious, that persons went about to seek occasions for commencing a suit, or bringing an accusation against persons of respectability. Many of them indulged in a predominant inclination to chicanery, and all the artifices of pettifogging.

The most distinguishing trait in the character of the Athenians, was their attachment to the arts, to literature and philosophy. Hence arose innumerable distinguished architects, sculptors, poets, historians, and philosophers, who rendered Athens the most splendid and illustrious city on the earth. Their literary character secured to the inhabitants the respect of their conquerors, long after their political power was extinct. From none did they experience this more than from Alexander the Great.

In the different fate which befel Athens and Lacedæmon, or Sparta, we have an example of the superiority which letters give to one nation over another, when that nation has, besides, dis

played military virtues. Lacedæmon was different from Athens in all respects. It was an inland, not a maritime city; its power depended chiefly on its land forces, and not on its fleets; its wealth arose from agriculture, and not from commerce.

Whilst the Athenians indulged in every kind of elegant luxury, the Lacedæmonians gloried in their plain, simple, hardy manner of living, no less exempt from pomp and splendor, than from effeminacy and sensuality. The Athenians were desirous of enjoying the mental and physical pleasures of life; whilst the Lacedæmonians were anxious to form laborious and virtuous citizens, and by the terror of their arms to rule in every state in Greece.

Lycurgus was the great legislator of Sparta, and on his institutions the power of their state was founded. They became the laws of Lacedæmon several hundred years prior to the Christian era, and they were observed, in some particulars, long after the state had submitted to the supremacy of Rome. Apolonius of Tyanæa found them still in force at Lacedæmon, during the reign of Domitian about the year 100 A. D.

There

Lacedæmon, or Sparta, was the chief city of the adjoining territory, called Laconia. were many other towns in the district, confederated with the capital, but much inferior in importance and character. Their deputies however, insisted on deliberations respecting peace or war, or other matters connected with the general welfare of the whole state.

The city of Sparta was built at the foot of Mount Taygetus, on the west side of the river Eurotas; it was of a circular form, and about six

miles in circumference. The ruins still remain, at a little distance from the modern town of Misitra. Sparta anciently had no walls, as it depended for its defence on the characteristic energy of its inhabitants. The houses were little graced with architectural ornaments, but were lofty, and built with great solidity.

The citizens of Sparta consisted of two classes, -such as were born citizens, and such as had been presented with the freedom. On the birth of a child, he was carried to a public place, where the aged persons of his tribe were to judge whether he appeared healthy and well-formed, so as to be likely to prove one of the future defenders of his country. If of a weakly constitution, he was cast into a gulf, for it was not deemed expedient that a deformed or sickly child should live.

When the parents were both Spartans, and the children brought up according to the prescribed institutions, in their thirtieth year they became legitimate citizens, and eligible to bear office in the magistracy, or in the army. Unless the parents were both Spartans the children were not legitimate. Freedom was sometimes bestowed in reward of extraordinary services, but that was of

rare occurrence.

In addition to those enjoying the full privileges of citizens, there was a class of freedmen who had not complied with all the regulations required in their education; these were disqualified for holding offices in the state, but were competent to give their votes.

In Sparta there were more slaves than in any other city of Greece. They were employed in domestic drudgery and laborious occupations.

In a medium condition, between the slaves and the freedmen, were the Helots. The city of Helos had been taken by the Spartans, and all the inhabitants were reduced to subjection, and others afterwards were associated with them.

These acted as farmers on the lands, for which they paid a fixed rent, which it would have been disgraceful in any proprietor to increase. They were also employed in various mechanical arts. In time of war they assisted on board the fleets, and in the land armies; every heavy armed soldier was accompanied by one or more of them.

As the Helots exceeded the freedmen in number, they became a source of terror, and various means were resorted to, to keep them in subjection. As a trait of the Spartan character, history has noticed the Helots, as being compelled at times to drink to excess, and in that condition led into the public halls, that the youth might be impressed with a sense of the disgrace of drunkenness. In any other city, it would have been easy, without compulsion, to find persons who would indulge in drinking to intoxication.

It is certain that the Helots were thought difficult to govern, from their numbers, courage and wealth. In times of imminent danger, they were encouraged to exert themselves by the hope of being admitted to the rights of citizens, which they sometimes obtained. This liberality was not always shown, and they were, in consequence, often induced to join with an invading enemy.

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