Significance of Lycurgus
Explain the significance of Lycurgus reforms to Spartan Society
Lycurgus, who gave them the laws that they obey, and to which they owe their prosperity, I do regard with wonder and think that he reached the utmost limit of wisdom. For it was not by imitating other states, but by devising a system utterly different from that of most others, that he made his country pre-eminently prosperous.
Xenophon.
Lycurgus’ credibility amongst modern historians remains debated, ancient historical accounts on Lycurgus mostly occurred well after what is considered to be the time in history that he lived in. Plutarch an Ancient Historian claims that Lycurgus was indeed a real human being that was given the Great Rhetra by a Delphic Oracle. Plutarch however wrote about Lycurgus in the 75AD few hundreds of years after Lycurgus’ life. Xenophon a Greek historian from 4th century BC believed that Spartans invented the man Lycurgus and attributed changes as well as Great Rhetra to him.
Lycurgus was said to be descended from Hercules himself, the second prince in one of the two royal families in Sparta. Upon the passing of his father and older brother, Lycurgus nurtured the successor towards the throne. Due to rumours that incriminated him implying that he would attempt to kill his nephew to gain control and power Lurcurgus departed vowing only to return when his nephew bore an heir.
Traveling to Crete, he carefully studied the forms of government within this island and modified different concepts to what he thought to be useful for Sparta. He also travelled to Ionia, to study the difference between the Ionians and the Cretans. The Egyptians claim that Lycurgus adopted the idea of separating military and menial workers.
Sparta begged for the return of their hero, claiming that only he could be a true king. Royalty itself saw Lycurgus as protection for their people. He had decided that fundamental changes need to be made in Sparta. Before returning, he consulted the oracle of
Lycurgus, who gave them the laws that they obey, and to which they owe their prosperity, I do regard with wonder and think that he reached the utmost limit of wisdom. For it was not by imitating other states, but by devising a system utterly different from that of most others, that he made his country pre-eminently prosperous.
Xenophon.
Lycurgus’ credibility amongst modern historians remains debated, ancient historical accounts on Lycurgus mostly occurred well after what is considered to be the time in history that he lived in. Plutarch an Ancient Historian claims that Lycurgus was indeed a real human being that was given the Great Rhetra by a Delphic Oracle. Plutarch however wrote about Lycurgus in the 75AD few hundreds of years after Lycurgus’ life. Xenophon a Greek historian from 4th century BC believed that Spartans invented the man Lycurgus and attributed changes as well as Great Rhetra to him.
Lycurgus was said to be descended from Hercules himself, the second prince in one of the two royal families in Sparta. Upon the passing of his father and older brother, Lycurgus nurtured the successor towards the throne. Due to rumours that incriminated him implying that he would attempt to kill his nephew to gain control and power Lurcurgus departed vowing only to return when his nephew bore an heir.
Traveling to Crete, he carefully studied the forms of government within this island and modified different concepts to what he thought to be useful for Sparta. He also travelled to Ionia, to study the difference between the Ionians and the Cretans. The Egyptians claim that Lycurgus adopted the idea of separating military and menial workers.
Sparta begged for the return of their hero, claiming that only he could be a true king. Royalty itself saw Lycurgus as protection for their people. He had decided that fundamental changes need to be made in Sparta. Before returning, he consulted the oracle of