The Crypteia or Krypteia (Greek: κρυπτεία krupteía from κρυπτός kruptós, "hidden, secret") was an ancient Spartan state institution involving young Spartan men. Its goal and nature are still a matter of discussion and debate among historians, but some scholars (such as Henri-Alexandre Wallon) consider the Krypteia to be a kind of secret police and state security force organized by the ruling class of Sparta to patrol the Laconian countryside and to terrorize the helots. Others (including Hermann Köchly and Wilhelm Wachsmuth) believe it to be a form of military training, similar to the Athenian ephebia.

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