Ephor

Ephors (Greek ἔφορος, " overseer " ) were officials in ancient Sparta. The function of the Ephorates is not precisely known. The items of the ephors were probably created at the urging of Apella to oppose the power of the kings and Gerusia something. The ephors called a public meeting and organized the debates. The kings were the ephors parts of civil jurisdiction. The ephors were also as prosecutor in serious offenses and governmental processes in the Gerousia on. They monitored the diet and health as well as the appearance of the young men.

Elected were the five ephors by anyone, even a full every citizen could stand for election. Of this went from a special participatory charm of the whole system, as for other posts were strong constraints ( lineage of kings, age 60 of Gerontes ). The kings and the ephorate were guarantors of the existence of the state, this task has been confirmed between the two institutions through a monthly oath never ceases. Each year five new ephors were chosen. Their decisions are precipitated mainly in their body.

This could also mean that Sparta's policy could change at any time, if a ephors voice umschwenkte. So, for example, BC, when Pausanias three of the ephors persuaded in 403 to send an army into Attica. This was a complete turnaround to Lysander and also of the politics of Sparta.

The ephors played an important role in foreign policy. They led the negotiations with foreign delegations and determined who was allowed to speak of the Messenger before the Apella. The Spartans showed their appreciation for the ephors, by naming the current year, according to the chairman of the ephors. The ephors were over time with influential officials. Two of them accompanied the kings in their military campaigns. Whether that was the monitoring of the ruler, is unknown.

There are known cases in which the ephors severe penalties, up to exile spoke out against Spartan kings. In order to prevent abuse of power, the tenure of the ephors was restricted to the span of one year, the extension was not possible. The ephors enjoyed during her tenure immunity, but it went off after a year. The successor in that office could then sue for malpractice, the former ephors. Earned and respected former ephors were appointed after their term of office for Gerontes.

227 BC fell Cleomenes III. the ephorate by letting commit to the reigning ephors an attack in which four of them were killed. Antigonus III. Doson but it turned it all up, he occupied after the battle of Sellasia Sparta.

Under the rule of the Macedonians and later the Romans, the ephorate disappeared from the life of Sparta.