PERICE'CI (Lat., from Gk. ileplotrot, Pe rioikai, dwellers round, i.e. round about some particular locality or city, from 7repto1re1v, peri aikein, to dwell around, from rept, pet, around otrav, oikein, to dwell, from dim, oikos, 114)11,4.1. The subject population of Laconia and the Spartan territory. They were not slaves like the Ilelots (q.v.). and seem to have been allowed to govern their own towns, under Spar tan oversight; but they could hold none of the higher offices of State, Lad no share in the general government. and. we are told, could be put to death by the ephors without a trial. They paid a contribution to the king:, but otherwise seem to have been only taxed, like the Spartans, in time of war. A, the choicest lands belonged to Spartan,. the Perbeci seem to have devoted them selves largely to manntacture and trade, which were forbidden to the Spartans, Their work in metal, especially armor, wool, and leather, was eelebrated and found a ready sale in foreign pa rts. and their coast towns seem to have en joyed a flourishing commerce. Their numbers ninst have been considerable, even though the hundred cities of Strides were probably most of them of no great size. They were always more
numerous than their superior,. the Spartans, and this disparity inereased greatly daring the fourth century n.e.; but, though chafing under their inferiority. the Perimei remained loyal till the Theban invasion after the battle of Leuctra (n.c. 3711, when many of them joined the victors. They were evidently trusted by the Spartan.. for they not only served as light armed troops, hot formed no small part of the lwavy-arnied force., while the Spartan fleet nmst have been almost wholly dependent upon them, and in some ease, we find one of their number in comma nd of a squadron or an allied fleet. As the aequisition of the Spartan territory was a ??rall nal comile:I it is not likely that all the Perimci had the same position. It may also be as certain that while there may have been an Aehwan element in some eommunities, the bulk of the Perimei were Dorian. They are called Lacedagnonians, but not Spartans.