The horrifying reality of being a helot slave in ancient Sparta

The origins of the helots can be traced back to the Messenian Wars, a series of conflicts that took place in the 8th and 7th centuries BCE.

Sparta, driven by the need for arable land and resources, invaded Messenia, a fertile region to their west.

At the end of the first war, which lasted from 743 to 724 BCE, they had conquered the region and subjugated its people. 

These conquered Messenians were reduced to a servile state, becoming the first helots.

Unlike typical slaves in other Greek city-states, helots were not considered personal property; rather, they were owned by the state and were bound to the land they worked.

This unique form of state-sanctioned serfdom set the stage for a complex and fraught relationship between the helots and their Spartan overlords.

The Spartan constitution, attributed to the legendary lawgiver Lycurgus, likely institutionalized the helot system as a means to support a professional standing army.

Every Spartiate male citizen was a soldier by trade, and it was the labor of the helots that allowed them this specialization.

The helots focused on agricultural work, and performed other menial tasks, freeing the Spartiates to focus on military training and governance.

The social structure of ancient Sparta was unique.

At the top were the Spartiates, the full citizens who enjoyed the privileges and responsibilities of military and political life.

Below them were the Perioeci, or 'dwellers around', who were free but non-citizen residents who engaged in trade and craftsmanship.

At the bottom of this social pyramid were the helots, a subjugated class bound to the land and the state.

While the Spartiates were preoccupied with military training and governance, it was the helots who were responsible for the food production for the city-state.

This division of labor was not merely a practical arrangement but a foundational aspect of Spartan society.

By relegating the bulk of economic production to the helots, Sparta could maintain a standing army of Spartiate citizens, a luxury that few other city-states could afford.

This allowed Sparta to become a dominant military power in ancient Greece, but it also created economic dependence on a subjugated class.

Each Spartiate family was assigned a number of helots to work their kleros, a plot of land granted by the state.

The produce from these lands not only sustained the Spartiate family but also contributed to communal meals known as syssitia, which were central to Spartan social life.

In return for their labor, helots were allowed to keep a portion of the produce, but the surplus was claimed by their Spartiate overlords and the state.

This economic model was highly efficient but fraught with moral and ethical complexities.

On one hand, it enabled the Spartiates to dedicate themselves to the art of war; on the other, it perpetuated a system of inequality and exploitation.

From dawn to dusk, helots were engaged in agricultural work, tilling the fields, sowing seeds, and harvesting crops.

They were also responsible for tending to livestock, a crucial component of the Spartan economy.

Yet, despite the harshness of their existence, helots managed to carve out a semblance of normalcy.

They lived in family units, raised children, and even practiced religious rituals, albeit under the watchful eye of their Spartan masters.

The helots also performed a variety of other tasks that Spartiates considered beneath them.

This included domestic chores like cooking, cleaning, and even nursing Spartiate children. 

While the helots were primarily agricultural laborers, their role did not stop at the fields and pastures of Laconia and Messenia.

They were also conscripted into military service, but not as equals to the Spartiates.

Instead, they served in auxiliary roles, as attendants, armor-bearers, and sometimes even as light infantry.

This military service was a double-edged sword for the helots. On one hand, it exposed them to extreme danger and hardship; on the other, it offered a rare opportunity for upward mobility, as helots who distinguished themselves in battle could sometimes earn their freedom, although such instances were rare.

It was documented during the Peloponnesian War in 424 BCE when the Spartan general Brasidas recruited helots for the campaign and promised freedom in return for their service.

The helots' military involvement was not just a matter of practical necessity but also a calculated risk on the part of the Spartans.

The Spartiates were always outnumbered by the helots, sometimes by as much as ten to one, and bringing them into military campaigns required a delicate balancing act.

Too much empowerment could lead to rebellion, while too little could result in inefficiency and low morale.

The Spartans enacted harsh penalties on any helot who was not obeying instructions.

Also, the existence of the Krypteia, a type of secret police force tasked with suppressing potential helot rebellions and assassinations of leaders, helped to keep control of the helot population.  

Despite the oppressive mechanisms in place to keep them subjugated, the helots occasionally rose up against their Spartan masters, exploiting moments of vulnerability to challenge the system that bound them.

One of the most notable uprisings occurred in the aftermath of a devastating earthquake in Sparta, around 464 BCE.

The disaster not only wreaked havoc on the city and killed thousands of Spartiates, but also provided the helots with a rare opportunity to rebel.

Seizing the moment, they staged a large-scale revolt, causing widespread alarm and requiring the Spartans to seek external help to quell the uprising.

Although the revolt was eventually suppressed, it left a permanent mark on the collective psyche of Sparta.

The fear of helot revolts was so pervasive that it influenced Spartan foreign policy, military strategy, and internal governance.

The Spartans became hesitant to commit to long-term military campaigns far from home, fearing that the helots would revolt in their absence.

This fear was not unfounded; the helots had a history of using the absence of the Spartiate warriors as an opportunity to rise against their oppressors.

Yet, despite the often brutal strategies employed by Sparta, and the specter of revolt remained a constant undercurrent in Spartan society.