Editing Helots (section)

== Helot revolts ==

===Pausanias's plot===
The first helot attempt at revolt which is historically reported is that provoked by general [[Pausanias (general)|Pausanias]] in the 5th century BC. Thucydides reports:<ref>Thucydides, 1.132, 4.</ref>

<blockquote>
Besides, they were informed that he was even intriguing with the helots; and such indeed was the fact, for he promised them freedom and citizenship if they would join him in insurrection, and would help him to carry out his plans to the end.<ref name="Thucyd"/>
</blockquote>

These intrigues did not however lead to a helot uprising; Thucydides indeed implies that Pausanias was turned in by the helots (I, 132, 5 – ''...the evidence even of the helots themselves.'') Perhaps the promises made by Pausanias were too generous to be believed by the helots; not even Brasidas, when he emancipated his helot volunteers, offered full citizenship.<ref>Ducat (1990), p. 130.</ref>

===Massacre at Taenarus===
The massacre at Cape [[Taenarus]], the promontory formed by the southernmost tip of [[Taygetus]], is also reported by Thucydides:<ref>Thucydides, 1.128, 1.</ref>
<blockquote>
The Lacedaemonians had once raised up some helot suppliants from the temple of Poseidon at Taenarus, led them away and slain them; for which they believe the great earthquake at Sparta to have been a retribution.<ref name="Thucyd" />
</blockquote>

This affair, recalled by the Athenians in responding to a Spartan request to exile [[Pericles]]&mdash;who was an [[Alcmaeonid]] on his mother's side&mdash;is not dated. Historians know only that it happened before the disastrous earthquake of 464 BC. Thucydides here is the only one to implicate the helots: Pausanias speaks rather about Lacedaemonians who had been condemned to death.<ref>Pausanias, 4, 24, 5.</ref> Nor does the text allow us to conclude that this was a failed uprising of helots, only that there was an attempt at escape. Additionally, a helot revolt in Laconia is unlikely, and Messenians would not likely have taken refuge at Cape Taenarus.<ref>Ducat (1990), p. 131.</ref>

===Third Messenian War===
The uprising coincident with the [[464 BC Sparta earthquake|earthquake of 464 BC]] is soundly attested to, although Greek historians do not agree on the interpretation of this event.

According to Thucydides,<ref>Thucydides, 1.101, 2.</ref> the helots and perioeci of [[Thuria (Messenia)|Thouria]] and [[Aithaia]] took advantage of the earthquake to revolt and establish a position on Mt. [[Ithome]]. He adds that most of the rebels were of Messenian ancestry—confirming the appeal of Ithome as a historical place of Messenian resistance—and focuses attention on the perioeci of Thouria, a city on the Messenian coast. Conversely, historians could deduce that a minority of the helots were Laconian, thus making this the one and only revolt of their history. Commentators such as [[Stephanus of Byzantium]] – writing around a thousand years later – suggest that this Aithaia was in Laconia, thus indicating a large-scale uprising in the region. The version of events given by Pausanias is similar.

[[Diodorus Siculus]] (XI, 63,4 – 64,1), probably influenced by Ephorus of Cyme, attributed the uprising equally to the Messenians and the helots.<ref>Diodorus Siculus, 11.63, 4–64,1.</ref> This version of events is supported by Plutarch.<ref>Plutarch. ''Life of Lycurgus'', 28, 12.</ref>

Finally, some authors make responsibility for the uprising with the helots of Laconia. This is the case of Plutarch in his ''Life of Cimon'':<ref>Plutarch. ''Life of Cimon'', 17, 8.</ref> the helots of the [[Evrotas River|Eurotas River]] valley want to use the earthquake to attack the Spartans whom they think are disarmed. The intervention of [[Archidamus II]], who calls the Lacedaemonians to arms, simultaneously saves them from the earthquake and the helot attack. The helots fold, but revert to open warfare joined by the Messenians.

It is difficult to reconcile these versions. It is nevertheless clear that in any case the revolt of 464 BC represented a major traumatic event for the Spartans. Plutarch indicates that the Crypteia and other poor treatments of the helots were instituted after this revolt. If there is any doubt in these affirmations, they at least underscore the immediate Spartan reaction: gathering allies and pursuing war with the same Athens that would later be faced in the [[Peloponnesian War]]. After all, the rebellion represented an early indication of souring relations between the Athenians and the Spartans.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Kagan|first=Donald|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/60370044|title=The Peloponnesian War : Athens and Sparta in savage conflict, 431–404 BC|date=2005|isbn=0-00-711506-7|edition=|location=London|pages=14|oclc=60370044}}</ref> The Spartans spuriously expelled an Athenian army sent to assist in putting down the rebellion,<ref>Thucydides. ''The Peloponnesian War'', 1.102.3</ref> and the Athenians assisted in the resettlement of helots in the town of Naupactus on the coast across the Gulf of Corinth from the Peloponnese.<ref>Thucydides. ''The Peloponnesian War'', 1.103.3</ref>

===Athenian outposts===
During the same war and after the capitulation of the Spartans besieged in Sphacteria, the Athenians installed a garrison in [[Pylos]] composed of Messenians from [[Naupactus]]. Thucydides underlines that they had hoped to exploit the patriotism of the latter in order to pacify the region.<ref>Thucydides, 4.41, 2–3.</ref> Though the Messenians may not have triggered full-blown [[guerrilla warfare]], they nevertheless pillaged the area and encouraged helot desertion. Sparta was forced to dedicate a garrison to controlling this activity; this was the first of the {{lang|grc|ἐπιτειχισμοί}} / ''epiteikhismoí'' ("ramparts"), outposts planted by the Athenians in enemy territory.

The second such outpost was at [[Kythira|Kythera]]. This time, the Athenians set their sights on the helots of Laconia. Again, pillaging and desertion did occur, but not on the scale hoped for by the Athenians or feared by the Spartans: there was no uprising like that which accompanied the earthquake.