The  Helots  were  the  original  Achaian  inhabitants  of  South-
ern Laconia,  subdued  in  war,  and  made  the  serfs  of  their  con-
querors. The  name  refers  to  this  circumstance,  —  being  de-
rived either  from  the  verb  that  means  to  capture,  or  from  a
local  name,  Helos,  the  inhabitants  of  which  made  desperate
fight  before  they  surrendered.  I  am  inclined  to  the  former
explanation,  as  more  in  accordance  with  Grecian  usage.  After
the  Spartans  had  conquered  their  neighbors,  the  Messenians,
they  included  them  also  among  the  Helots ;  and  they  continued
enslaved  until  Epaminondas  restored  them  to  liberty  and  their
country,  after  the  battle  of  Leuctra.  The  Helots  had  the
doubtful  privilege  of  belonging  to  the  state,  while  their  ser-
vices only  were  granted  to  indrviduals.  They  cultivated  the
land  to  which  they  were  attached,  paying  their  masters  a  cer-
tain rent  in  a  fixed  proportion  of  the  fruits  of  the  "earth  ;  they
were  domestic  slaves ;  they  waited  on  the  public  tables ;  they
accompanied  the  Spartan  soldiers  to  the  field ;  and  sometimes,
when  they  showed  distinguished  bravery,  or  rendered  great
services  to  the  army,  they  were  emancipated.  These  circum-
stances present  the  bright  side  of  the  picture.  On  the  other
hand,  the  general  cruelty  of  their  treatment,  and  the  impla-
cable hatred  they  cherished  towards  their  masters,  are  too
woll  attested  to  admit  of  a  doubt.  They  were  flogged  for  no
fault,  but  to  keep  their  spirits  down,  and  to  remind  them  that
they  were  slaves.  Those  who  showed  abilities  or  high  quali-
ties of  character,  which  might  be  an  element  of  danger  to  the


24  CONSTITUTIONS  AND   ORATORS   OF   GREECE.
