What does helot mean?

Definitions for helot
ˈhɛl əthelot

This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word helot.

Princeton's WordNet

  1. serf, helot, villeinnoun

    (Middle Ages) a person who is bound to the land and owned by the feudal lord

Wiktionary

  1. helotnoun

    An individual of the ancient Spartan class of serfs.

  2. helotnoun

    A serf; a slave.

  3. Etymology: Helotes, from (Εἵλωτες), possibly from ἁλίσκομαι.

Wikipedia

  1. helot

    The helots (; Greek: εἵλωτες, heílotes) were a subjugated population that constituted a majority of the population of Laconia and Messenia – the territories ruled by Sparta. There has been controversy since antiquity as to their exact characteristics, such as whether they constituted an Ancient Greek tribe, a social class, or both. For example, Critias described helots as "slaves to the utmost", whereas according to Pollux, they occupied a status "between free men and slaves". Tied to the land, they primarily worked in agriculture as a majority and economically supported the Spartan citizens. The number of helots in relation to Spartan citizens varied throughout the history of the Spartan state; according to Herodotus, there were seven helots for each Spartan at the time of the Battle of Plataea in 479 BC. Thus the need to keep the helot population in check and prevent rebellion was one of the main concerns of the Spartans. Helots were ritually mistreated and humiliated. Every autumn the Spartans would declare war on the helots so they could be mistreated by a member of the Crypteia without fear of religious repercussion. Uprisings and attempts to improve the lot of the helots did occur, such as the Conspiracy of Cinadon.

ChatGPT

  1. helot

    A helot is a member of a class of serfs in ancient Sparta, intermediate in status between slaves and citizens. They were bound to the land and required to perform labor for the Spartan state. The term is often used more generally to refer to a person in subjugation or bondage.

Webster Dictionary

  1. Helotnoun

    a slave in ancient Sparta; a Spartan serf; hence, a slave or serf

  2. Etymology: [L. Helotes, Hilotae, pl., fr. Gr. E'e`lws and E'elw`ths a bondman or serf of the Spartans; so named from 'Elos, a town of Laconia, whose inhabitants were enslaved; or perh. akin to e`lei^n to take, conquer, used as 2d aor. of .]

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary

  1. Helot

    hē′lot, or hel′ot, n. one of a class of slaves among the ancient Spartans.—ns. Hē′lotage, the state of a Helot; Hē′lotism, the condition of the Helots in ancient Sparta: slavery; Hē′lotry, the whole body of the Helots: any class of slaves. [Gr.; said to be derived from Helos, a town in Greece, reduced to slavery by the Spartans.]

Etymology and Origins

  1. Helot

    The name given by the Spartans to a slave from the Greek town of Helos, whose inhabitants they reduced to slavery.

Matched Categories

Usage in printed sourcesFrom: 

Anagrams for helot »

  1. hotel

  2. thole

How to pronounce helot?

How to say helot in sign language?

Numerology

  1. Chaldean Numerology

    The numerical value of helot in Chaldean Numerology is: 6

  2. Pythagorean Numerology

    The numerical value of helot in Pythagorean Numerology is: 6


Translations for helot

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"helot." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 9 Oct. 2024. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/helot>.

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