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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