Mothax (, ''mothax'', pl.: μόθακες, ''mothakes'') is a
Doric Greek
Doric or Dorian (), also known as West Greek, was a group of Ancient Greek dialects; its Variety (linguistics), varieties are divided into the Doric proper and Northwest Doric subgroups. Doric was spoken in a vast area, including northern Greec ...
word meaning "stepbrother".
The term was used for a sociopolitical class in ancient
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 ...
, particularly during the
Peloponnesian War
The Second Peloponnesian War (431–404 BC), often called simply the Peloponnesian War (), was an Ancient Greece, ancient Greek war fought between Classical Athens, Athens and Sparta and their respective allies for the hegemony of the Ancien ...
(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 ( ''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 Megara (sixth century ...
, 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
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'' ...
.
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,
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.
Sparta
Social classes of Sparta
{{AncientGreek-lang-stub