Lycurgus: Difference between revisions
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According to ancient sources, Lycurgus was a war veteran who, with the support of his comrades, managed to become regent or tutor to the Spartan [[monarch|king]] [[Charilaus]]. He lost an eye in a fight with a political opponent; the opponent was sentenced to serve as his servant for a period of time and became one of Lycurgus' biggest supporters. Among the reforms attributed to Lycurgus are the abolition of gold and silver coinage (an anachronism, since coins did not come into use until the 500's BC) and the substitution of iron money, the requirement of eating in commons and living (for unmarried men) 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 [[helot]]s, and the system of government that divided power between king, the [[Sparta]]n citizenry, the [[gerousia]], and the [[ephors]]. |
According to ancient sources, Lycurgus was a war veteran who, with the support of his comrades, managed to become regent or tutor to the Spartan [[monarch|king]] [[Charilaus]]. He lost an eye in a fight with a political opponent; the opponent was sentenced to serve as his servant for a period of time and became one of Lycurgus' biggest supporters. Among the reforms attributed to Lycurgus are the abolition of gold and silver coinage (an anachronism, since coins did not come into use until the 500's BC) and the substitution of iron money, the requirement of eating in commons and living (for unmarried men) 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 [[helot]]s, and the system of government that divided power between king, the [[Sparta]]n citizenry, the [[gerousia]], and the [[ephors]]. |
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He is likewise credited with the Spartan educational system known as the [[agoge]], in which juvenile militia units were responsible for raising children (and intentionally underfeeding them so that they'd learn how to steal food). One of the foundations of the agoge was [[Pederasty in Ancient Greece|pederasty]], which required all men to attend a boy in a chaste erotic mentorship, one requested by the boy himself. |
He is likewise credited with the Spartan educational system known as the [[agoge]], in which juvenile militia units were responsible for raising children (and intentionally underfeeding them so that they'd learn how to steal food, a practice akin to [[military]] [[survival training]]). One of the foundations of the agoge was [[Pederasty in Ancient Greece|pederasty]], which required all men to attend a boy in a chaste erotic mentorship, one requested by the boy himself. |
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A portrait of Lycurgus hangs in the chamber of the [[United States House of Representatives]] and he is represented in the frieze adorning the [[United States Supreme Court building]]. |
A portrait of Lycurgus hangs in the chamber of the [[United States House of Representatives]] and he is represented in the frieze adorning the [[United States Supreme Court building]]. |
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Revision as of 21:48, 20 October 2006
Lycurgus (Greek: Λυκοῦργος, Lukoûrgos; 700 BCE?– 630 BCE) 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 referenced 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 'wolf-repeller'); however, many historians believe 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.
According 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 in a fight with a political opponent; the opponent was sentenced to serve as his servant for a period of time and became one of Lycurgus' biggest supporters. Among the reforms attributed to Lycurgus are the abolition of gold and silver coinage (an anachronism, since coins did not come into use until the 500's BC) and the substitution of iron money, the requirement of eating in commons and living (for unmarried men) 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.
He is likewise credited with the Spartan educational system known as the agoge, in which juvenile militia units were responsible for raising children (and intentionally underfeeding them so that they'd learn how to steal food, a practice akin to military survival training). One of the foundations of the agoge was pederasty, which required all men to attend a boy in a chaste erotic mentorship, one requested by the boy himself.
A portrait of Lycurgus hangs in the chamber of the United States House of Representatives and he is represented in the frieze adorning the United States Supreme Court building.
References
- Woodhouse, S.C. English-Greek Dictionary: A Vocabulary of the Attic Language (1910) http://www.lib.uchicago.edu/efts/Woodhouse/