EPHOR the title of the highest magistrates of Sparta. It is uncertain when the office was created and what was its original character. We may regard it as an immemorial Dorian institution, or accept the tradition that it was founded during the first Messen ian War, which necessitated a prolonged absence from Sparta on the part of both kings. The ephors seem to have had from the outset judicial or police functions. Gradually they extended their powers, aided by the jealousy between the royal houses, which made it almost impossible for the two kings to co-operate heartily.
In historical times the ephors were five in number, the first of them giving his name to the year, like the eponymous archon at Athens. Where opinions were divided the majority prevailed. The ephors were elected annually by the people ; they had an official residence (ephoreion) in the Agora. Every full citizen was eligible.
The ephors summoned and presided over meetings of the Gerousia and Apella (qq.v.) and formed the executive responsible for carrying out decrees. In their dealings with the kings they represented the people. The kings swore to rule according to the laws; the ephors undertook on this condition to maintain the royal authority. They alone might remain seated in a king's presence, and had power to try and even to imprison a king. Two of them accompanied the army in the field, not interfering with the king's conduct of the campaign, but prepared, if need be, to bring him to trial on his return. The ephors shared the criminal jurisdiction of the Gerousia and decided civil suits. The administration of taxation, the distribution of booty, and the regulation of the calen dar devolved upon them. They were responsible for protecting the State against the helots, upon whom they formally declared war on entering office, so as to be able to kill any whom they re garded as dangerous without violating religious scruples. The ephors were supreme in questions of foreign policy. They enforced, when necessary, the alien acts (xenelasia), negotiated with foreign ambassadors, instructed generals and sent out expeditions.
BIBLIOGRAPHY.—G. Gilbert, Constitutional Antiquities (Eng. trans. Bibliography.—G. Gilbert, Constitutional Antiquities (Eng. trans. 1895) ; A. H. J. Greenidge, Greek Constitutional History (1896) ; article "Ephoroi" in Pauly-Wissowa, Realencyklopiidie, v. 286o ff.; L. Whibley, Companion to Greek Studies 0916).