No matter how they arrived, they occupied the lowest rung of the social totem pole.
Legends concerning their origin are many, but the most likely explanation for their existence is that they were an indigenous populace conquered and enslaved by later arrivals to the area. Slaves captured in times of war provided new blood, which kept their genetic pool relatively diverse. No matter how they arrived, they occupied the lowest rung of the social totem pole. FTP, identify the serfs who were the lowest class in the Spartan polis.
Legends concerning their origin are many, but the most likely explanation for their existence is that they were an indigenous populace conquered and enslaved by later arrivals to the area.
{helot}