Mothax ( grc, μόθαξ, ''mothax'', pl.: μόθακες, ''mothakes'') is a
Doric Greek
Doric or Dorian ( grc, Δωρισμός, Dōrismós), also known as West Greek, was a group of Ancient Greek dialects; its varieties are divided into the Doric proper and Northwest Doric subgroups. Doric was spoken in a vast area, that included ...
word meaning "stepbrother".
The term was used for a sociopolitical class in ancient
Sparta, particularly during the
Peloponnesian War
The Peloponnesian War (431–404 BC) was an ancient Greek war fought between Athens and Sparta and their respective allies for the hegemony of the Greek world. The war remained undecided for a long time until the decisive intervention of th ...
(431–404 BC). The mothakes were primarily either offspring of
Spartiate fathers and
helot mothers or children of impoverished Spartiates. Mothakes were not able to contribute to the
syssitia
The syssitia ( grc, συσσίτια ''syssítia'', plural of ''syssítion'') were, in ancient Greece, common meals for men and youths in social or religious groups, especially in Crete and Sparta, but also in Megara in the time of Theognis of ...
, the core civic daily institution for citizens, and thus were not allowed to maintain an "equal" status. They were, however, permitted to fight as troops along with
perioeci.
Though free, they were not Spartan citizens but were brought up alongside Spartan boys as their foster brothers. Due to the expenses of providing extra mess contributions, their rearing was usually sponsored by wealthy families. Some mothakes such as
Gylippus
Gylippus (; el, Γύλιππος) was a Spartan general (strategos) of the 5th century BC; he was the son of Cleandridas, who was the adviser of King Pleistoanax and had been expelled from Sparta for accepting Athenian bribes in 446 BC and fle ...
,
Lysander and
Callicratidas rose to prominence; the former's father exiled for treason and the latter raised in poverty.
References
* Hodkinson, Stephen. ''Property and Wealth in Classical Sparta'' (The Classical Press of Wales, 2000)
* Pomeroy, Sarah B., et al. ''Ancient Greece''. New York, New York: Oxford UP, Inc, 1999. 483.
External links
Mothax
Sparta
Social classes of Sparta
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