HELOTS, heats, were the lowest of the four classes into which the population of ancient Sparta was divided. They are gen erally supposed to have been the aboriginal population of the country, and to have been re duced to bondage by their Dorian conquerors, their numbers being swelled from time to time by the addition of peoples conquered in war. The name is generally derived from the town of Helos, the inhabitants of which were carried off and reduced to slavery by the Heraclidr about 1000 a.c., though a more probable deriva tion is the Greek helein to take, making the name signify captives. They were the property of the state, which alone had the disposal of their life and freedom. The state assigned them to certain citizens, by whom' they were employed in private labors, though not ex clusively, as the state still exacted certain services from them; and they were attached to the soil — that is, each citizen received the num ber that belonged to his allotment, without any power to sell or free them. Agriculture and all
mechanical arts at Sparta were in the hands of the Helots, since the laws of Lycurgus pro hibited the Spartans from all lucrative occupa tions. But the Helots were also obliged to bear arms for the state, in case of necessity. Their dress, by which they were contemptuously distinguished from the free Spartans, con sisted of sheep's skin and a leather cap of a peculiar shape. They were sometimes liberated for their services or for a sum of money; but they were not admitted to the full dignity of citizenship. In 424 s.c. 2,000 of the Helots, who had conducted themselves with distinguished bravery in war, were treacherously put to death. They several times rose against their masters, but were always and finally reduced.