Lycurgus of Sparta
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Lycurgus (Greek: Λυκοῦργος, Lukoûrgos; 700 BC?–630 BC) was the legendary lawgiver of Sparta, who established the military-oriented reformation of Spartan society in accordance with the Oracle of Apollo at Delphi. He is referred to by ancient historians Herodotus, Xenophon, and Plutarch. It is not clear if this Lycurgus was an actual historical figure (Bertrand Russell states that he is mythical person of Arcadian origin - his name meaning 'He who brings into being the works of a wolf'); however, many ancient historians[1] believed Lycurgus was responsible for the communalistic and militaristic reforms which transformed Spartan society, the most major of which was known as The Great Rhetra. Ancient historians place him in the first half of the 7th century BC. BiographyAccording to ancient sources, Lycurgus was a war veteran who, with the support of his comrades, managed to become regent or tutor to the Spartan King Charilaus. He lost an eye when a young political opponent, Alcander, chased him out of the marketplace and hit him in the face with a stick when Lycurgus turned around to see him; he was sentenced to serve as Lycurgus' servant for a period of time and eventually became one of his biggest supporters. Lycurgus is often referenced to throwing this lost eye at political opponents in order to win debates, which he often did. Among the reforms attributed to Lycurgus are the establishment of the senate, the abolition of gold and silver coinage and the substitution of iron money, the requirement of eating in commons and living (for men under the age of thirty) in rough-hewn barracks, the destruction of the city walls to promote martial skill, re-dividing Spartan land and forcing it to be worked by Helots, and the system of government that divided power between king, the Spartan citizenry, the gerousia, and the ephors.[2] He is likewise credited with the Spartan educational system known as the agoge, in which children were subjected to a battery of hardships and training regiments in order to develop superior citizens and soldiers. LegendAccording to the legend found in Plutarch's Lives and other sources, when Lycurgus became confident in his reforms, he announced that he would go to the oracle at Delphi to sacrifice to Apollo. However before leaving for Delphi he called an assembly of the people of Sparta and made everyone, including the kings and senate, take an oath binding them to observe his laws until he returned. He made the journey to Delphi and consulted the oracle, which told him that his laws were excellent and would make his people famous. Being satisfied by this he starved himself to death instead of returning home, forcing the citizens of Sparta by oath to keep his laws indefinitely.[3] Depictions
Lycurgus is depicted in several U.S. government buildings of his legacy as a lawgiver. Lycurgus is one of the 23 lawgivers depicted in marble bas-reliefs in the chamber of the U.S. House of Representatives in the United States Capitol.[4] Lycurgus is also depicted on the frieze on the south wall of the U.S. Supreme Court building.[5] Notes
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ca:Licurg (legislador) da:Lykurg de:Lykurg (Sparta) el:Λυκούργος (νομοθέτης) es:Licurgo (Esparta) fr:Lycurgue (législateur) hr:Likurg it:Licurgo he:ליקורגוס la:Lycurgus hu:Lükurgosz nl:Lycurgus (wetgever) ja:リュクルゴス no:Lykurg pl:Likurg pt:Licurgo de Esparta ru:Ликург Спартанский sv:Lykurgos (Sparta) tr:Likurgus uk:Лікург (Спарта) | |||||||||||||
