DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.13851#0755
GENERAL HISTORY OF THE GRECIAN STATES.
19
or rejecting it, but not of altering it to suit their own yiews. No person could be
elected a senator until he had attained the age of 60 years, a period of life when he
quitted the service of arms, and devoted the rest of his days, with the experience he
had gained, to the civil concerns of his country and the improvement of the youth.
When any vacancy occurred, there was always a number of candidates ambitious of
obtaining this honour. The election took place in public, where the kings, the sena-
tors, the magistrates, and the whole body of the people were assembled. Each can-
didate appeared in the order assigned him by lot, walking through the forum with
downcast eyes, and without the most distant attempt towards moving the affections or
exciting the passions of the spectators. As every one came forward, he was receiv-
ed with shouts of approbation, more or less frequent, according to t e opinion enter-
tained of his talents and virtues. These expressions of the public favour were noted
by certain persons stationed in a neighbouring house, who heard every thing but saw
nothing, and who reported the precise time when the longest and loudest marks of
applause were shewn. The candidate to whom these were known to have been given
was then conducted through every part of the e ty with a garland round his head, at-
tended by a number of young people of both sexes, celebrating his virtues and the hon-
our he had just obtained. After some other pre vious ceremonies were performed, the
new senator entered upon the duties of his office ; some of which regarded the civil
concerns of the state, and others the administration of justice in particular cases, which
the inferior magistrates were deemed incompetent to decide.
The senators were not as at Athens, the represen atives of certain tribes, who might
be guided in their choice by other views than merit and qualification. They were,
as we have just shewn, elected by all the members of the state, in the most public
and open place, where every one manifested as he felt signs of approbation or disap-
probation, in the most unequivocal manner. The Athenian people were apt to be
swayed by various motives in the choice of their representatives. A bold, designing
man, of considerable eloquence and great pretensions, was more likely to succeed,
than a man of strict integrity, modest behaviour and unpopular address. But the
Spartans were not prepared by their previous education, by their habits, manners and
pursuits to be so imposed upon. Among them, it was the contest of virtue with vir-
tue, and talent with talent, exhibited, not in factious debates and low intrigues; not
in cajoling, amusing, corrupting and enflamingthe people with shews, entertainments,
magnificent promises of spoils and triumphs, and violent invectives against every poli-
tical opponent; but with actions already past, services already performed, and virtues
engraven on their remembrance. To these the Spartan senators were indebted for
their election, and they justified by their conduct, on many trying occasions, the praises
which the judicious historian already quoted bestowed upon them. All the great af-
fairs of State, the making of peace and engaging in war ; the forming alliances and
fixing the contributions of dependant provinces, came under their cognizance. In
cases where life and death were at stake, they proceeded with the utmost caution and
deliberation, and never condemned without the e'earest proofs of guilt. Trials of this
kind were extremely rare at Sparta, as the education and discipline of the inhabitants
were better guardians of their virtues, than strict and severe laws enacted against the
commission of crimes.
It has been much disputed whether the Ephori, certain civil officers at Sparta, owed
their origin to Lycurgus, or to Theopompns who reigned about a century after the
death of that legislator. It appears from various authorities, that magistrates under
that name were early established in different parts of Greece, and in Laconia also, as
inspec'ors of the public manners. It is therefore, probable, that Lycurgus allowed
them to exercise the functions with which they were originally invested, which, be-
ing confined chiefly to the regulation of manners and oolice, gave them little conse-
quence and authority in the state. During the wars that were afterwards carried on
with Messenia, the kings were obliged to quit Sparta to head the armies, and continue
the operations of the campaign for many months together ; and in all that time, their
civd duties, the administration of justice, and general superintendence of affairs were
either neglected, or devolved upon the senate. Theopompus is said to have tr<-nsfer-
red this power to the Ephori, who instead of relinquishing it at the conclusion of the
war, were permitted to retain and exercise it. It is not likely that such extensive
power, which they afterwards took care to increase, was granted them by Theopompus
with the view, as Plato asserts, of forming a counterpoise to the weight and authority
of the monarchs and senate. If Theopompus had this in contemplation, he must have
had either more virtue, or less penetration than most men ; for it is very unusual in
sovereigns, and hardly to be expected from those in Sparta, whose power was very
19
or rejecting it, but not of altering it to suit their own yiews. No person could be
elected a senator until he had attained the age of 60 years, a period of life when he
quitted the service of arms, and devoted the rest of his days, with the experience he
had gained, to the civil concerns of his country and the improvement of the youth.
When any vacancy occurred, there was always a number of candidates ambitious of
obtaining this honour. The election took place in public, where the kings, the sena-
tors, the magistrates, and the whole body of the people were assembled. Each can-
didate appeared in the order assigned him by lot, walking through the forum with
downcast eyes, and without the most distant attempt towards moving the affections or
exciting the passions of the spectators. As every one came forward, he was receiv-
ed with shouts of approbation, more or less frequent, according to t e opinion enter-
tained of his talents and virtues. These expressions of the public favour were noted
by certain persons stationed in a neighbouring house, who heard every thing but saw
nothing, and who reported the precise time when the longest and loudest marks of
applause were shewn. The candidate to whom these were known to have been given
was then conducted through every part of the e ty with a garland round his head, at-
tended by a number of young people of both sexes, celebrating his virtues and the hon-
our he had just obtained. After some other pre vious ceremonies were performed, the
new senator entered upon the duties of his office ; some of which regarded the civil
concerns of the state, and others the administration of justice in particular cases, which
the inferior magistrates were deemed incompetent to decide.
The senators were not as at Athens, the represen atives of certain tribes, who might
be guided in their choice by other views than merit and qualification. They were,
as we have just shewn, elected by all the members of the state, in the most public
and open place, where every one manifested as he felt signs of approbation or disap-
probation, in the most unequivocal manner. The Athenian people were apt to be
swayed by various motives in the choice of their representatives. A bold, designing
man, of considerable eloquence and great pretensions, was more likely to succeed,
than a man of strict integrity, modest behaviour and unpopular address. But the
Spartans were not prepared by their previous education, by their habits, manners and
pursuits to be so imposed upon. Among them, it was the contest of virtue with vir-
tue, and talent with talent, exhibited, not in factious debates and low intrigues; not
in cajoling, amusing, corrupting and enflamingthe people with shews, entertainments,
magnificent promises of spoils and triumphs, and violent invectives against every poli-
tical opponent; but with actions already past, services already performed, and virtues
engraven on their remembrance. To these the Spartan senators were indebted for
their election, and they justified by their conduct, on many trying occasions, the praises
which the judicious historian already quoted bestowed upon them. All the great af-
fairs of State, the making of peace and engaging in war ; the forming alliances and
fixing the contributions of dependant provinces, came under their cognizance. In
cases where life and death were at stake, they proceeded with the utmost caution and
deliberation, and never condemned without the e'earest proofs of guilt. Trials of this
kind were extremely rare at Sparta, as the education and discipline of the inhabitants
were better guardians of their virtues, than strict and severe laws enacted against the
commission of crimes.
It has been much disputed whether the Ephori, certain civil officers at Sparta, owed
their origin to Lycurgus, or to Theopompns who reigned about a century after the
death of that legislator. It appears from various authorities, that magistrates under
that name were early established in different parts of Greece, and in Laconia also, as
inspec'ors of the public manners. It is therefore, probable, that Lycurgus allowed
them to exercise the functions with which they were originally invested, which, be-
ing confined chiefly to the regulation of manners and oolice, gave them little conse-
quence and authority in the state. During the wars that were afterwards carried on
with Messenia, the kings were obliged to quit Sparta to head the armies, and continue
the operations of the campaign for many months together ; and in all that time, their
civd duties, the administration of justice, and general superintendence of affairs were
either neglected, or devolved upon the senate. Theopompus is said to have tr<-nsfer-
red this power to the Ephori, who instead of relinquishing it at the conclusion of the
war, were permitted to retain and exercise it. It is not likely that such extensive
power, which they afterwards took care to increase, was granted them by Theopompus
with the view, as Plato asserts, of forming a counterpoise to the weight and authority
of the monarchs and senate. If Theopompus had this in contemplation, he must have
had either more virtue, or less penetration than most men ; for it is very unusual in
sovereigns, and hardly to be expected from those in Sparta, whose power was very