View:
By Section
[1]
So Croesus learned that at that time such problems were oppressing the Athenians, but that the Lacedaemonians had escaped from the great evils and had mastered the Tegeans in war. In the kingship of Leon and Hegesicles at Sparta [22.4417,37.0667] (Perseus) Sparta , the Lacedaemonians were successful in all their other wars but met disaster only against the Tegeans.
So Croesus learned that at that time such problems were oppressing the Athenians, but that the Lacedaemonians had escaped from the great evils and had mastered the Tegeans in war. In the kingship of Leon and Hegesicles at Sparta [22.4417,37.0667] (Perseus) Sparta , the Lacedaemonians were successful in all their other wars but met disaster only against the Tegeans.
[2] Before this they had been the worst-governed of nearly all the
Hellenes and had had no dealings with strangers, but they changed to good government in this way:
Lycurgus, a man of reputation among the
Spartans, went to the oracle at
Delphi [22.5167,38.4917] (Perseus)
Delphi
. As soon as he entered the hall, the priestess said in hexameter:
[3]
You have come to my rich temple,
Lycurgus,
A man dear to
Zeus and to all who have
Olympian homes.
I am in doubt whether to pronounce you man or god,
But I think rather you are a god,
Lycurgus.
[4] Some say that the
Pythia also declared to him the constitution that now exists at
Sparta [22.4417,37.0667] (Perseus)
Sparta
, but the
Lacedaemonians themselves say that
Lycurgus brought it from
Crete [25,35.166] (region), Greece, Europe
Crete
when he was guardian of his nephew
Leobetes, the
Spartan king.
[5] Once he became guardian, he changed all the laws and took care that no one transgressed the new ones.
Lycurgus afterwards established their affairs of war: the sworn divisions, the bands of thirty, the common meals; also the ephors and the council of elders.
Histories. Herodotus. ed. A.D. Godley. Cambridge. 1920-1925.
Sponsored by Perseus Project, Tufts University.
Funding provided by The Annenberg CPB/Project.