The ''trophimoi'' ( Greek: τρόφιμοι, students or pupils, from τροφός ''trophós'' food) were children of non-Spartan citizens (

perioeci The Perioeci or Perioikoi (, ) were the second-tier citizens of the ''polis'' of Sparta until 200 BC. They lived in several dozen cities within Spartan territories (mostly Laconia and Messenia), which were dependent on Sparta. The ''perioeci'' ...

or foreigners), who underwent Spartan education. The ''trophimoi'' were temporarily adopted by a Spartan ''oikos''. The trophimoi sons of Perioeci represented, like the '' neodamodes'' and the ''nothoi'' (natural sons of slaves and citizens), an intermediate class at

Sparta Sparta was a prominent city-state in Laconia in ancient Greece. In antiquity, the city-state was known as Lacedaemon (), while the name Sparta referred to its main settlement in the Evrotas Valley, valley of Evrotas (river), Evrotas rive ...

. They could rise to the status of citizens. According to

Plutarch Plutarch (; , ''Ploútarchos'', ; – 120s) was a Greek Middle Platonist philosopher, historian, biographer, essayist, and priest at the Temple of Apollo (Delphi), Temple of Apollo in Delphi. He is known primarily for his ''Parallel Lives'', ...

, Agis IV intended them to strengthen the citizenry, which had become too meagre for Sparta's wartime necessities. The foreign ''trophimoi'' normally left Sparta to return to their native towns, where they increased Sparta's influence. Thus, on the invitation of Agesilaus II,

Xenophon Xenophon of Athens (; ; 355/354 BC) was a Greek military leader, philosopher, and historian. At the age of 30, he was elected as one of the leaders of the retreating Ancient Greek mercenaries, Greek mercenaries, the Ten Thousand, who had been ...

had raised his own sons at Sparta. However, some ''trophomoi'' preferred to remain, and fought in the civic army. That was the case, for example, of the army that Agesipolis I sent to besiege

Phlius Phlius (; ) or Phleius () was an independent polis (city-state) in the northeastern part of Peloponnesus. Phlius' territory, called Phliasia (), was bounded on the north by Sicyonia, on the west by Arcadia, on the east by Cleonae, and on the ...

in 381 BC:

There followed with him also many of the Perioeci as volunteers, men of the better class, and aliens who belonged to the so-called foster-children .e. Trophimoiof Sparta, and sons of the Spartiatae by Helot women, exceedingly finelooking men, not without experience of the good gifts of the state. (Xénophon '' Hellenica''
V. 3

References

* Edmond Lévy, ''Sparte : histoire politique et sociale jusqu’à la conquête romaine'' (''Sparta: Political and Social History Until the Roman Conquest''), ''Points Histoire'',

Paris Paris () is the Capital city, capital and List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, largest city of France. With an estimated population of 2,048,472 residents in January 2025 in an area of more than , Paris is the List of ci ...

, 2003 ({{ISBN, 2-02-032453-9). Social classes of Sparta