Epeunacti (Ancient Greek: ἐπεύνακτοι) or Epeunactae (ἐπευνακταί), were a class of citizens in ancient Sparta. They were Helots who either slept with the widows of Spartans when Sparta had manpower shortage because of war casualties, or outright replaced the fallen Spartans as soldiers.[1][2][3]
During a war with the Messenians, the Lacedaemonians lost many men.[4] Being afraid that their enemies will become aware of their situation, they "put Helots into the beds of those who were dead" (that's why the name, from ἐπὶ (into) and εὐνὴ (bed)). Afterwards, they made those men citizens.[1]
In Sicyon, there were people who were called Catonacophori (κατωνακοφόροι) who were very similar to the Epeunacti.[1]
Numa Denis Fustel de Coulanges mentions that there was a hierarchy of classes superposed one above the other in the Spartan society. If the Helots and the Laconians are left out, the hierarchy would be as follows: first there were the Neodamodes (former slaves freed), then the Epeunactae, then the Mothaces (very similar to domestic clients) and then the bastards (who though descended from true Spartans, were separated).[5]
^Harry Thurston Peck, Harpers Dictionary of Classical Antiquities (1898), Epeunacti
^L. G. Pechatnova, A History of Sparta (Archaic and Classic Periods)
^A Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities (1890), Epeunacti
^Page:The Ancient City- A Study on the Religion, Laws, and Institutions of Greece and Rome.djvu/466
April 11, 2024
epeunacti, ancient, greek, ἐπεύνακτοι, epeunactae, ἐπευνακταί, were, class, citizens, ancient, sparta, they, were, helots, either, slept, with, widows, spartans, when, sparta, manpower, shortage, because, casualties, outright, replaced, fallen, spartans, soldi. Epeunacti Ancient Greek ἐpeynaktoi or Epeunactae ἐpeynaktai were a class of citizens in ancient Sparta They were Helots who either slept with the widows of Spartans when Sparta had manpower shortage because of war casualties or outright replaced the fallen Spartans as soldiers 1 2 3 During a war with the Messenians the Lacedaemonians lost many men 4 Being afraid that their enemies will become aware of their situation they put Helots into the beds of those who were dead that s why the name from ἐpὶ into and eὐnὴ bed Afterwards they made those men citizens 1 In Sicyon there were people who were called Catonacophori katwnakoforoi who were very similar to the Epeunacti 1 Numa Denis Fustel de Coulanges mentions that there was a hierarchy of classes superposed one above the other in the Spartan society If the Helots and the Laconians are left out the hierarchy would be as follows first there were the Neodamodes former slaves freed then the Epeunactae then the Mothaces very similar to domestic clients and then the bastards who though descended from true Spartans were separated 5 References edit a b c Athenaeus The Deipnosophists 6 101 Harry Thurston Peck Harpers Dictionary of Classical Antiquities 1898 Epeunacti L G Pechatnova A History of Sparta Archaic and Classic Periods A Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities 1890 Epeunacti Page The Ancient City A Study on the Religion Laws and Institutions of Greece and Rome djvu 466 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Epeunacti amp oldid 1198656066, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
