UISTORY AND ETHNOLOGY. 19 



monies. His office was hereditary, tliough in a great measure the succession 

 was regulated by the voice of tiie people and the will of the gods. The 

 chief qualities demanded in the candidates were, bravery, physical strength 

 and beauty, generosity, and experience. Such qualities, which their prede- 

 cessors had possessed, contributed towards giving them with the people the 

 name of having descended from the gods. Various privileged classes, as 

 it were, the nobility of the state, held rank next to the king. Those 

 among them who were distinguished by age, experience, and courage, 

 and other brilliant qualities, were allowed to assist the king with their 

 advice and admonition in public affairs, and to restrain him from acts of 

 tyranny ; but the great mass of the people enjoyed no share in the 

 government. 



After the heroic ages, we find this form of government entirely abolished 

 in some states, and in others tending to decline. As the history of Greece 

 is sufficiently comprehended under the accounts of Sparta and Athens, so 

 their constitutions may serve as fair specimens of all the rest. We 

 may remark, generally, that in the principles of political government, the 

 Doric states imitated Sparta, and the Ionic, Athens. 



The constitution of Sparta was a mixture of monarchical and repre- 

 sentative powers. Kings indeed were chosen and invested with i-oyal 

 prerogatives ; but their acts were in a measure controlled by the popular 

 assembly. This body had an undisputed vote upon all propositions 

 emanating from the two kings and twenty-eight elders, each of whom must 

 be at least sixty years of age. They were termed the Council of the Elders. 

 The kings performed the functions of priests, and in battle marched at the 

 head of the army. 



Another class of magistrates took the name of Ephori (supervisors). 

 They were five in number, and were elected annually. The kings were 

 bound to submit to their judgment, and might even be dethroned at their 

 pleasure. 



Lycurgus was the great Spartan lawgiver. The basis of his constitution 

 was equality among all citizens. The uniformity of fortune which this 

 required he endeavored to produce by a an equal distribution of landed 

 property. As means to this end he also propounded laws regulating 

 clothing, food, and dwellings, the substitution of iron for a gold and silver 

 ''-urrency, and the education of youth towards a common aim, that of 

 •ecoming brave warriors. 



The constitution of Athens emanated from Solon. His system contem- 

 plated not so much the quality as the liberty of the people. No ruler was 

 admitted ; Athens was a genuine republic. 



The people were divided into four classes, differing from each other not 

 less in number than in rank and importance. 1. The free citizens, whose 

 numbers were not allowed to exceed 20,000. 2. The free commoners, 

 immigrants to whom the prerogatives of the free citizens were refused, but 

 who received protection from the latter. 3. Strangers, persons who merely 

 sojourned for a short while in the city, without making it their place of 

 residence. 4. Slaves, most of whom were captives of war, and who were 



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