Enigma Of Lycurgus Of Sparta – Great Reformer And His Foundation Of A Warlike Superior State

Ellen Lloyd - AncientPages.com - Lycurgus is mentioned in many ancient sources, but most modern historians refer to him as a semi-mythical individual. Some scholars say Lycurgus was deliberately invented by rulers making it easier to introduce new laws to the general public. Another group of historians argues in favor of Lycurgus’s historicity, and some scholars dismiss him as a purely legendary figure.

Today, most historians will say, “if there was a real Lycurgus, we know nothing of him.” ¹

Ancient sources offer an intriguing portrait of a man whose significant reforms led to the foundation of the Spartan State as we know it today. By reshaping daily customs, the lawgiver Lycurgus turned Sparta into the morally pure, warlike, and superior state we read about in history books nowadays.

Spartan warriors became famous for their discipline, courage, and outstanding military skills. The Spartan army was one of the best in the ancient world.

Archaeologists have discovered the city of Sparta lacked protective walls. The Spartans did not defend their city with brick but with the bodies of their mighty and brave warriors.

Sparta’s mythical founder Lycurgus is reputed to have said: “A city will be well fortified which is surrounded by brave men and not by bricks.” ²

So how did Lycurgus accomplish this unique achievement turning Sparta into an almost invincible military force?

As we trace the ancient history of Sparta and Lycurgus, we learn he emerged during a deep crisis. According to Spartanophilic Xenophon, a disciple of Socrates and soldier who fought for Sparta against Athens, Lycurgus lived during the time of  Heraclidae, around 1,000 B.C.

Herodotus informs that Lycurgus “had brought the Spartans out of an era of extreme political disorder (kakonomotatoi) and into one of good order (eunomie), which in turn led to the city’s increased power. With the support of the Delphic oracle, Lycurgus changed “all the laws,” and created the gerousia, the ephorate, and the Spartan military organization (there is mention of the syssitia among the military institutions).” ³

Lycurgus “was able to persuade his fellow Spartans to introduce the comprehensive and compulsory educational cycle called the Agoge (agôgê, literally a ‘raising’, as of cattle). This system of education, training and socialisation turned boys into fighting men whose reputation for discipline, courage and skill was unsurpassed.” ⁴

Some scholars suggest the political reforms in Sparta introduced by Lycurgus were the earliest system of Greek citizen self-government.

Many aspects Lycurgus system were strange to foreigners, and the Spartan rules and customs were radically different from the rest of the Hellenes. Perhaps this was also the goal because the Lycurgus altered decisively the psychological make-up of the citizens. The Spartans’ “own belief in their ideology was absolute. Throughout Spartan history there were very few defectors – or whingers.” ⁴

How Lycurgus came up with the laws is a mystery. Herodotus provides two entirely different versions of the Spartan lawgiver. One story tells Lycurgus received the laws directly from God Apollo. In another text, Herodotus ascribes the origins of Lycurgus’s laws to the Cretan constitution.

Modern historians have long downplayed the role of Lycurgus in the history of Sparta. Still, in recent years scholars have argued the ancient lawgiver may have been of greater importance to the state than previously assumed.

His laws did prioritize the military efficiency, order, and strict hierarchy of the Spartan society.

Ancient ruins of Sparta. This was once a theater. Credit: Κούμαρης Νικόλαος - Public Domain

Most citizens would undoubtedly glorify Lycurgus, the Father of the Spartan Constitution, and say he contributed immensely to the military success of Sparta. Still, some look through modern eyes and paint a less impressive picture of the Great Reformer.

“By an alternate view, Lycurgus was the ultimate control freak whose laws not only covered the constitution of the state but issues such as where, when and how often a man could have sex with his wife, what clothes their children were allowed to wear, and even the conduct of that child when walking down the street. (Head down, both hands concealed, not looking right or left or speaking to anyone.)

Lycurgus dictated what a person could eat at a meal, whom that person could eat it with, how much wine could be consumed as an accompaniment, and that no torches were permitted to light the way home afterwards.

Spartan warriors were courageous: Credit: Adobe Stock - Stanislav

Matters such as the length of one’s hair were determined by Lycurgus, who even carefully considered obscure matters such as – for example - the number of strings a musician could have on his instrument. (A harpist proposing to enter a competition was once confronted by an official with a knife who en- quired whether he should trim the illegal extra strings from the front or back end.) Lycurgus prescribed how often one should go to the gymnasium, and the exercises appropriate for men and women once there.

In short, Lycurgus dictated almost every moment of a Spartan’s life, whether waking or sleeping (the latter done on a mattress of prescribed type in a crude house which Lycurgus had dictated could be built with no other tools but axe and saw.),” Philip Matyszak writes in his book Sparta: Rise of a Warrior Nation.

These historical accounts allow scholars to question the existence of Lycurgus, and maybe the suggestion that he was an invention used for pushing through reforms is not so far-fetched.

Lycurgus of Sparta by Merry-Joseph Blondel (1781–1853). Public Domain

In Life of Lycurgus, Plutarch writes that, “ Nothing can be said about Lycurgus without someone else disputing it. There are different accounts about when he was born, where he travelled, how he died and – above all – about what he did as a law-giver and politician. Least of all can anyone agree in what times he actually lived. … Aristotle the Philosopher agrees that he was contemporary with the founder of the Olympic truce (ie the ninth century BC).

Those who go by the king-lists of Sparta … claim that Lycurgus far predates the first Olympiad Timaeus hypothesizes that there were two people called Lycurgus in Sparta, who lived at different times, and the achievements of both were ascribed to the greater of the two … some allege that Lycurgus actually met Homer in person.” ²

Real or mythical,  there is no doubt that Lycurgus was a fascinating individual whose story cannot be omitted by anyone interested in the history of Sparta.

Updated on September 5, 2024

Written by - Ellen Lloyd AncientPages.com

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