25. The Spartans Went Out Of Their Way to Humiliate Their Slaves
For their system of mass slavery to work, the Spartans had to keep the conquered Helots constantly cowed, demoralized, and forever fearful of their overlords who missed no opportunity to humiliate their state-owned human property. The fear cut both ways, as the Spartans were always worried about what their Helots might do to them if given half a chance. They went around armed and armored, were constantly on the lookout for an attack that might come at any moment, and kept their doors securely locked.
As to humiliations inflicted upon the Helots, third century BC historian Myron of Priene wrote: “They assign to the Helots every shameful task leading to disgrace. For they ordained that each one of them must wear a dogskin cap and wrap himself in skins and receive a stipulated number of beatings every year regardless of any wrongdoing, so that they would never forget they were slaves. Moreover, if any exceeded the vigour proper to a slave’s condition, they made death the penalty; and they allotted a punishment to those controlling them if they failed“. Unsurprisingly, as seen below, the Helots were unhappy with their lot.
