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EMPHRU´RI

EMPHRU´RI (ἔμφρουροι), from (φρουρά, the name given to the Spartan citizens and Perioeci during the period in which they were liable to military service. (Xen. Rep. Lac. 5, § 7.) This period lasted to the fortieth year from manhood (ἀφ̓ ἥβης), that is to say, to the sixtieth year from birth; and during this time a man could not go out of the country without permission from the authorities. (Isocr. Busir. § 18, where μάχιμος, according to Müller, Dor. 3.12.1, is evidently put for ἔμφρουρος.

The only exemption was for the father of three sons, who became ἄφρουρος (Aristot. Pol. 2.9=p. 1270 b, 3; Aelian, Ael. VH 6.6). For the rule of superannuation at sixty, cf. Xen. Hell. 5.4, § 13; Plut. Ages. 24. The word φρουρά, as Schömann observes, is characteristic of Spartan modes of thought ; all Laconia was a camp, the Spartiatae a garrison (Schömann, Antiq. 1.279, E. T.; Gilbert, Staatsalterth. 1.77).

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hide References (5 total)
  • Cross-references from this page (5):
    • Aristotle, Politics, 2.1270b
    • Xenophon, Hellenica, 5.4
    • Xenophon, Constitution of the Lacedaimonians, 5
    • Plutarch, Agesilaus, 24
    • Aelian, Varia Historia, 6.6
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