 Ancient Sparta had a special type of serf called "helots" who were often treated harshly, leading them to rebel.According to Herodotus (IX, 28–29), helots were seven times as numerous as Spartans.Every autumn, according to Plutarch ("Life of Lycurgus", 28, 3–7), the Spartan ephors would pro forma declare war on the helot population so that any Spartan citizen could kill a helot without fear of blood or guilt in order to keep them in line ("crypteia").