Politics

​Even though they were at war with one another, none of the neighboring cities became an ally to those who revolted, because it was not in their interest, since they themselves also possessed perioikoi; but to the Lacedaemonians all the neighboring peoples were enemies—Argives, Messenians, and Arcadians. Indeed, in the case of the Thessalians as well, they revolted at first because they were still at war with their neighbors—the Achaians, Perrhaebians, and Magnetes. And it seems that, even if there is nothing else, at least the care itself is a troublesome business, namely in what manner one ought to associate with them; for when they are allowed license they become insolent and claim equality with their masters, but when they live in misery they plot and hate. It is clear, then, that those for whom this happens concerning the Helotry do not discover the best manner. Furthermore, the license concerning women is both harmful to the purpose of the constitution and to the happiness of the city. For just as a husband and a wife are a part of a household, it is clear that one must also consider a city as being divided nearly in half, into the multitude of men and that of women; so that in all constitutions where the state of women is bad, one must consider half of the city as unregulated by law. This is indeed what happened there; for although the legislator wished the whole city to be hardy, he is clearly so with respect to the men, but has neglected the women; for they live without restraint in every kind of intemperance and luxury. Consequently, it is necessary in such a constitution that wealth is honored, especially if they happen to be dominated by women, as is the case with most military and warlike races, except the Celts or any others who have openly honored sexual relations among males. For the one who first told the myth seems not without reason to have yoked Ares to Aphrodite; for all such men appear to be possessed either by association with males or with women. Therefore this condition existed among the Lacedaemonians, and many things were administered by the women during their empire. And yet what difference does it make whether women rule or the rulers are ruled by women? For the result is the same. And while boldness is of no use for any of the ordinary duties, but if at all, for war, that of the Lacedaemonian women was extremely harmful even for this. They showed it at the time of the Theban invasion; for they were of no use, as they are in other cities, but caused more confusion than the enemy. From the beginning, then, the license of the women seems to have occurred naturally to the Lacedaemonians.

​For they spent much time abroad due to military campaigns, being at war with the Argives and again with the Arcadians and Messenians; and when they had leisure, they presented themselves to the legislator already prepared by their military life (for it contains many parts of virtue). But as for the women, they say Lycurgus attempted to bring them under the laws, but as they resisted, he gave up. These, then, are the causes of what happened, so that it is clear that they are also the causes of this error. But we are not considering this, namely who should have excuse and who should not, but what is correct and not correct. And the bad condition of women’s affairs seems, as was said before, not only to produce a certain impropriety in the constitution itself, but also to contribute something to the love of money. For following what has just been said, one might censure the things concerning the inequality of property. For some of them have happened to possess extremely large estates, and others entirely small ones; wherefore the land has come into the hands of a few. And this is also poorly regulated by the laws; for while he made it dishonorable to buy or sell existing land, doing so correctly, he gave the power to give or bequeath it to whomever they wished. And yet the same result must occur in the latter way as in the former. Indeed, nearly two-fifths of the whole land belongs to the women, both because of many becoming heiresses and because of giving large dowries. And yet it would have been better for none, or little, or even a moderate amount to have been prescribed. But now it is possible to give the heiress to whomever one wishes; and if he dies intestate, whoever he leaves as heir, this person gives it to whomever he wishes. Consequently, although the land was capable of supporting fifteen hundred cavalry and thirty thousand hoplites, they were not even one thousand in number. And it became clear through the facts themselves that this arrangement was bad for them; for the city could not withstand a single blow, but perished because of depopulation. They say that during the reigns of the former kings they used to share the citizenship, so that depopulation did not occur then, despite their being at war for a long time, and they say that the Spartans once numbered ten thousand. However, whether these things are true or not, it is better for the city to abound in men through property being equalized. And the law concerning child-production is also contrary to this correction.