(in modern Greece) A superintendent or curator.
Used in a Sentence
ephors
Definitions, parts of speech, synonyms, and sentence examples for ephors.
Editorial note
You replied with link to Ephors, I thought to argue that Ephors were the 'elite's that were corrupt and lead to the downfall of Sparta.
Examples14
Definitions3
Parts of speech1
Quick take
(in modern Greece) A superintendent or curator.
Meaning at a glance
The clearest senses and uses of ephors gathered in one view.
Alternative form of ephor [(historical) One of the five annually-elected senior magistrates in various Dorian states, especially in ancient Sparta, where they oversaw the actions of Spartan kings.]
(historical) One of the five annually-elected senior magistrates in various Dorian states, especially in ancient Sparta, where they oversaw the actions of Spartan kings.
Definitions
Core meanings and parts of speech for ephors.
noun
(in modern Greece) A superintendent or curator.
noun
Alternative form of ephor [(historical) One of the five annually-elected senior magistrates in various Dorian states, especially in ancient Sparta, where they oversaw the actions of Spartan kings.]
noun
(historical) One of the five annually-elected senior magistrates in various Dorian states, especially in ancient Sparta, where they oversaw the actions of Spartan kings.
Example sentences
You replied with link to Ephors, I thought to argue that Ephors were the 'elite's that were corrupt and lead to the downfall of Sparta.
According to Aristotle, the ephors frequently came from poverty because any Spartan citizen could hold the position, and it was not exclusive to the upper-class.
What you're describing isn't too tangibly different from the Spartan ephors.
I quoted about Ephors being generally elected and frequently from the poor, and soldiers.
That Ephors weren't some exclusive class of elites, but more that the general population were kind of corrupt and fought to get these plumb corrupt positions.
(Or, for that matter, Sparta’s elected ephors?) Totalitarianism is the novelty.
(so I thought opposite of your original post, original post implied Ephors were bad, but this video makes them out as good).
Sparta had not just a constitution and voting, but also a couple of institutions: * two kings (equivalent of president) * apella (public voting for males over 30...) * ephors (ministers) * gerusia (elders...
This is not a situation similar to ephors, or consuls, or British monarchs (which never were able to establish an absolute monarchy - King Charles was executed essentially due to his attempt to introduce French-style absolute monarchy.
(Repeatedly over-ruling a constitutional body, or being caught coercing it, historically weakened semi-constitutional monarchs.) For the intellectual history of this, look at the Roman kings, Spartan ephors, Roman consuls and British and French monarchies.
Things we (the western civilization, broadly speaking) owe to Sparta are: strong costitution, president (2 kings in Sparta), ministers (ephors), senate (Gerusia; council of elders had the strongest power in Sparta), the lower house ouf the parliament (Apella, gathering of all citizens above the age of 30), although you might argue Apella was closer to common voting.
Quote examples
"The ephors were elected by the popular assembly, and all citizens were eligible." Think this comes back around to making same point as article.
The reply was "Neither." Losing patience, he sent the message: If I invade Laconia, I shall turn you out.[4] The Spartan ephors again replied with a single word: If.
Proper noun examples
Old, entrenched, not elected, and had power over the Ephors.
Frequently asked questions
Short answers drawn from the clearest meanings and examples for this word.
How do you use ephors in a sentence?
You replied with link to Ephors, I thought to argue that Ephors were the 'elite's that were corrupt and lead to the downfall of Sparta.
What does ephors mean?
(in modern Greece) A superintendent or curator.
What part of speech is ephors?
ephors is commonly used as noun.