Spartan Government: The Gerousia: Body of Elders

 Origins

• The Gerousia was the oligarchic element of the constitution as written in the Politeia of the Spartans by Xenophon
• According to Plutarch, it came as part of Lycurgus' attempt to safeguard the state by 'allaying and qualifying the fiery genius of the royal office'
• It was more likely the result of a conflict between the kings and nobles about the time of the first Messenian War

Membership

• There were 28 members plus the 2 kings (30 in total)
• Membership was restricted to Spartans over sixty years of age, who were therefore no longer liable for military service
• It was a body of elders who held their office for life - and it was regarded as a reward for merit

Highly Honoured Position

• Members were elected by the Spartiates in the assembly
• It is not certain whether the candidates were from noble families or whether 'the best families' mentioned by Aristotle meant those of wealth and renown
• Membership of the council was highly honourable and a much sought-after office
• Plutarch states that they had to be 'the best and most deserving men past sixty years old'

Selection Process

• Selection was done by acclamation (shouting and clapping) and Plutarch describes in some detail the procedures for this
• The candidates were brought in one by one - their order of appearance being decided by lot
• In an adjoining room, selected people listened to the loudness of the shouting for each candidate
• The results were recorded in order
• Once the successful candidate was declared, he was taken in triumphant procession around the city to all the temples - he attended a special banquet and he was honoured in verse and song
• Aristotle disapproved of this method and called it 'childish'

Functions: Preparing Bills

• The Gerousia was a probouleutic body - this meant it prepared and deliberated on bills to be presented to assembly for voting
• If it was not happy with the assembly's vote on an issue it could decline to accept it, by adjourning - in which case the bill would not be passed

Functions: Criminal Court

• The gerontes (members of the gerousia), kings and ephors acted as a court of justice for criminal cases
• They tried cases of murder and treason, and imposed penalties ranging from death to banishment and fines
• This select body of elders exerted a great influence in political affairs

Source Activity

Aristotle

Plutarch

Xenophon

• List the functions of the Gerousia that the sources discuss
• What does each source state about the election process of the Gerontes?
• What qualities did the members of the Gerousia have according to each source? What position do the sources imply they had within Spartan government/society? (i.e are they respected?)
• Plutarch
• Roles/Responsibilities
• "with control over death and loss of citizen rights, and the most important matters generally"
• "sweeping authority in the state"
• Election Process
• Assembly was gathered to vote, some men were placed in a room as independent observers, candidates are selected by lot and presented before the assembly who cheer their preferred candidate, the observers listen to the shouts and note which they think is the loudest, and the loudest shout is the winner - trying to ensure anonymity among the candidates, and the election is fair
• After the candidate is selected he is paraded to all the sanctuaries of the gods followed bt young men and women who sang their praise. They were then taken to their mess and given double portions as a sign of the city's respect. The Gerousia member would then gift his extra portion to the woman who he held in the highest esteem. presenting it as a mark of distinction - she is then also praised by the women
• Qualities of the Gerousia, position in Sparta
• Chosen "not as the swiftest of swift, or the strongest of the strong, but the best and wisest of the good and wise" - military prowess is no longer relevant, but intelligence and character are prized above all
• "merits regarded as most outstanding"
• "lifelong reward for his merits"
• Xenophon
• Roles/Responsibilites
• "supreme judges in capitol cases in which they produce more respect for old age" - punished those who commit fraud, theft or harm towards those in their communities
• Election
• "by placing the election towards the end of life he ensured that they continued to exercise virtue into old age"
• "he did not take into account physical infirmity or poverty"
• "The contest of the Gerousia is correctly regarded as the most important a man can enter" - because the contest is about "nobility of character" rather than physical strength
• Aristotle
• Roles/Responsibilities
• "lifelong supreme power to decide important cases"
• "exempt from scrutiny even from the ephors" - Aristotle condemns this unaccountability
• Election Process
• "the way in which the choice is made is childish" - referring to acclamation (the shouting and clapping)
• Qualities/Characteristics
• "It is known that even the lawgiver himself has no confidence in them as good men"
• He suggests they are corrupt because they are open to "bribes" and "favouritism"
• It is questionable whether people so advanced in old age should be given lifelong appointments "the mind grows old no less than the body"
• Evaluation: The soures are vague about the specifics of their power. Why?
• Because political bodies like the Gerousia were quite common in the Greek world. The sources do not feel the need to describe their power in detail