Role and privileges of the two Kings

Background

Role

Privileges

Drawn from two royal families

The Agiads

The Eurypontids

Dual Kingship + required to have strong generalship

Aristotle: refers to them as "hereditary Generals"

Herodotus: one king would go to war and the other remain in Sparta

Were the leaders but only one at a time as one led the army on campaign

Were chief priests of the state and kept oracles from Delphi

given special meats from sacrifices and double rations in mess

Limited Judicial powers

Members of the Gerousia

Had voice in foreign affairs debates

were supervised by the ephors

political power = limites

swore oath to ephors that would uphold the law

could be put on trial and deposed