Helots

(hěl'ötz.) [Gr. Heilotes.) (Gr. Hist.) Certain slaves in Sparta, who, it is said, were originally inhabitants of the town of Helos, in Laconia,but were carried away captives by the Heraclidæ, B. c. 700. By the latter they were employed in various servile capacities, and they differed from other Greek slaves in not belonging individually to separate masters, but exclusively to the state, which had the sole disposal of their lives and lib. er ties. They rose in revolt, B. c. 464, and again, in420, during the Peloponnesian War. The name was eventually given to various cla es of persons condemned to a forced servitude. Helps, ARTHUR, (helpz,) a distinguished English e ayist and historian, B.1818. His chief work is a History of the Spanish Conquest of America, and its Relations to the History of Slavery (1855-7). Helsingfors, (-förz,) a seaport of European Ru ia, C. of the grand-duchy of Finland, on the gulf of which it is situate, 100 m. E.S.E. of Abo. It has a good harbor, defended by the strong fortre of Sveaborg. Pop. 32,113. Helvetia, (hel-ve's hah,) the anc. name of SWITZERLAND, 9. υ. [s. 448]