CHAP. V

Summary

The divisions of the citizens and public assemblies in the Doric states.

1. Having now considered the subject classes in the several Doric states, we next come to the free citizens properly so called, who, according to an old Grecian principle, which was actually put in practice in Sparta, were entirely exempted from all care for providing themselves with the necessaries of life. The exact distinction between these ranks, and the advantageous position of the latter class, rather raised its estimation, and the value of the rights of citizenship; hence also Sparta, above all, shewed itself tenacious of admitting foreigners to a share in it Before then we consider the body politic, as made up of free citizens, in its active dealings, it will be proper first to direct our attention to its component members, to its division into smaller societies, such as tribes, phratriæ, families or clans, &c.

In every Doric state there were three tribes, Hylleis, Dymanes (or Dymanatæ), and Pamphyli. This threefold division belonged so peculiarly to the nation, that even Homer called it “the thrice-divided” (τριχάïκες), which ancient epithet is correctly explained in a verse of Hesiod, as implying the division of the territory among the people.