Gerousia
/ɡəˈruːsiə/noun
A council of elders, especially the governing council of ancient Sparta.
Did you know?Sparta’s Gerousia consisted of 28 men over 60, plus the two kings, and helped decide which cases and proposals reached the popular assembly.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*ǵerh₂-
“To grow old or mature”
Ancient Greek
Greek
γέρων (gérōn)
“An old man or elder”
Ancient Greek
Greek
γερουσία (gerousía)
“A council or assembly of elders”
Classical Greece
Greek
ἡ Γερουσία
“The Spartan council of elders, a major governing body”
19th Century
English
gerousia
“A historical term for an ancient Greek council of elders”
Modern English
English
gerousia
“A council of elders, especially that of Sparta”
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