Perioeci

American  

[per-ee-ee-sahy] / ˌpɛr iˈi saɪ /

plural noun

singular

Perioecus

1. the inhabitants of ancient Laconia, constituting a dependent people of Sparta, who governed themselves and had a monopoly on trade and manufacture.

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Other Word Forms

• perioecic adjective
• perioecid adjective

Etymology

Origin of Perioeci

1585–95; < Medieval Latin perioecī < Greek períoikoi countryside dwellers, noun use of plural of períoikos neighboring, equivalent to peri- peri- + -oikos, adj. derivative of oîkos house

Example Sentences

Cythera is an island lying off Laconia, opposite Malea; the inhabitants are Lacedaemonians of the class of the Perioeci; and an officer called the judge of Cythera went over to the place annually from Sparta.

From The History of the Peloponnesian War by Crawley, Richard

The Perioeci and the helots, with the love of freedom characteristic among the Greeks, chafed under their yoke of subjugation, and eagerly watched for opportunities for revolt.

From History of Education by Seeley, Levi

The population of Laconia was divided into the three classes of Spartans, Perioeci and Helots.

From A Smaller history of Greece From the earliest times to the Roman conquest by Smith, William, Sir

True we have ports in which the Perioeci flourish; but did we use them for a permanent policy the Perioeci must become our masters.

From Pausanias, the Spartan The Haunted and the Haunters, an Unfinished Historical Romance by Lytton, Edward Bulwer Lytton, Baron

That very night 5000 citizens, each attended by seven Helots, were despatched to the frontiers; and these were shortly followed by 5000 Lacedaemonian Perioeci, each attended by one light-armed Helot.

From A Smaller history of Greece From the earliest times to the Roman conquest by Smith, William, Sir