The uprising of the helots against their Spartan overlords coincident with the earthquake of 464 BCE is soundly attested in contemporary or near-contemporary writings, although Greek historians do not agree on the interpretation of this event.

According to Thucydides, the helots and perioeci of Thouria and Aithaia took advantage of the earthquake to revolt and establish a position on Ithome.

He adds that most of the rebels were of Messenian ancestry—confirming the appeal of Ithome as a historical place of Messenian resistance—and focuses attention on the perioeci of Thouria, a city on the Messianian coast.

Conversely, we can deduce that a minority of the helots were Laconian, thus making this the one and only revolt of their history.

Commentators such as Stephanus of Byzantium suggest that this Aithaia was in Laconia, thus indicating a large-scale uprising in the region.

The version of events given by Pausanias is similar.