The power and responsibilities the members of the ephorate held over the entire city-state of Sparta reinforce the notion that the ephors themselves were an integral part of the society. Though their origin is unknown, it has been suggested that the members came from the largest five villages after the Agiads and the Eurypotid's and acted as advisors to the kings. The ephors were thought to have gained more power during the reforms conducted by Lycurgus and had ultimate authority, second only to the kings. In the biggining when they were first instated the ephors had minimal powers, acting more as advisors to the king than anything else, but as time progressed their powers and responsibilities grew to the point where their's seemed greater than that of the kings. "And just because the power of the ephors is excessive and dictatorial, even the Spartan kings have been forced to curry favor with them" (Aristotle). Their ultimate purpose was to serve the state's best interest, not those of the kings. This meant that they had the power to arrest, imprision or put a king on trial and were the only people exempt from standing when the king would walk into a room due to the high esteem their position held. They ensured the kings always acted in accordance of the law and they "served to reinforce the constitution rather than weaken it" according to Plutarch. The ephors also were important in every aspect of the day to day lives of the inhabitants of Sparta. According to Plutarch Aristotle in particular says also that the ephors, as soon as they came into office, made formal declaration of war upon the Helots, in order that there might be no impiety in slaying them their control over the Krypteia meant they could kill off anything they deemed a threat to Sparta, particularly the Helots. Though even without the secret police the ephors were still able to bring any other official to trial and had the ability to sentence any non-Spartiates to d