c. 820 BC) was the quasi-legendary lawgiver of Sparta who established the military-oriented reformation of Spartan society in accordance with the Oracle of Apollo at Delphi. All his reforms promoted the three Spartan virtues:
equality (among citizens), military fitness, and austerity
.
Why did Lycurgus create the Spartan system?
Those scholars claim that,
in order to prevent another helot revolt
, Lycurgus devised the highly militarized communal system that made Sparta unique among the city-states of Greece.
What are Lycurgus’s major accomplishments?
Lycurgus’ special achievement was his
reorganization of Athenian finances
, which doubled the amount of money raised annually. These additional funds were used for such things as increasing Athens’ military capability and rebuilding the theater of Dionysus in stone.
Who were the helots and what did they do?
The helots were
the slaves of the Spartans
. Distributed in family groups across the landholdings of Spartan citizens in Laconia and Messenia, helots performed the labour that was the bedrock on which Spartiate leisure and wealth rested.
What were Lycurgus economic reforms?
With the oracle on his side, Lycurgus instituted changes in the Spartan government and provided Sparta with a constitution. In addition to changes to the government, Lycurgus altered the economy of Sparta,
banning ownership of gold or silver and useless occupations
. All men were to eat together in common mess halls.
What did Ephors do?
The ephors
presided over meetings of the council of elders, or gerousia, and assembly, or apella, and were responsible for the execution of their decrees
.
What were Lycurgus three measures?
After his travels to Crete and elsewhere, Lycurgus brought to Sparta three innovations:
Elders (gerusia), Redistribution of land, and
.
Common messes (meals)
.
What does Plutarch say about Lycurgus?
3 The youth, who was of a noble disposition, did as he was commanded, without any words, and abiding thus with Lycurgus, and sharing his daily life, he came to know the gentleness of the man, the calmness of his spirit, the rigid simplicity of his habits, and his p237 unwearied industry.
What was Sparta known for?
Sparta was one of the most powerful city-states in Ancient Greece. It is famous for
its powerful army as well as its battles with the city-state of Athens during the Peloponnesian War
.
Was Lycurgus a real person?
In the light of the conflicting opinions about Lycurgus held by writers before 400 bc,
some modern scholars have concluded that Lycurgus was not a real person
. They point out that the Greeks tended to discuss the origins of political and social institutions in terms of the personal intentions of a single founder.
Why were the helots so important to the Spartans?
The helots’ work
helped to make Sparta a wealthy city, and in time they became trusted members of Spartan families
. A number of ancient sources mention helots that acted as domestic servants or companions to high-ranking Spartan elites.
What helots mean?
Definition of helot
1 Helot :
a member of a class of serfs in ancient Sparta
. 2 : someone held in forced servitude : an enslaved person or serf.
Why did the helots revolt?
Around 660 B.C., the Spartans attacked the Argives, who demolished the Spartans.
The report of Sparta’s lost
gave encouragement to the Helots who started a revolt against Sparta, which is now known as the Second Messenian War.
How were the ephors chosen?
The ephors were
elected by the popular assembly
, and all citizens were eligible. The position of ephor was the only political office open to the whole damos (populace) between the ages of 30–60, so eligible Spartans highly sought after the position.
What was the most important role of ephors in ancient Sparta?
What was the most important role of ephors in ancient Sparta?
They made sure that kings followed the law
.
Did the ephors betray Sparta?
Ephialtes, who
betrays the Greeks
, is likewise changed from a local Malian of sound body into a Spartan outcast, a grotesquely disfigured troll who by Spartan custom should have been left exposed as an infant to die.
How did Lycurgus try to unify society by eliminating differences based on status and wealth so as to increase equality?
Lycurgus
redistributed land amongst every citizen so that each citizen had an equal share
. He also created a new currency and took in all gold and silver. This money, having very little value, therefore reduced Sparta’s dependence on money and outside trade.
When was Plutarch Life of Lycurgus?
(legendary, lived legendary,
9th century B.C.E.
) Written 75 A.C.E. There is so much uncertainty in the accounts which historians have left us of Lycurgus, the lawgiver of Sparta, that scarcely anything is asserted by one of them which is not called into question or contradicted by the rest.
