What is the code of Lycurgus?
Lycurgus forbade the Great Rhetra from being written down. Instead of having rules simply written down for people to follow, he wanted his laws to be ingrained into the Spartans as a part of their character, forming a greater bond with them.
What does the name Lycurgus mean?
In Greek Baby Names the meaning of the name Lycurgus is: A king of the Edones.
Is 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.
How did Sparta make decisions?
Choices and decisions were carried out by acclamation in Sparta (people or Assembly had unanimously adopted a decision). Because one vote could block a voting, soon it was introduced to the system of voting divisions (depending whether the members were for or against a proposal they moved to the agreed position).
What were Spartan babies bathed in?
wine
To test their constitutions, Spartan infants were often bathed in wine instead of water. They were also frequently ignored when they cried and commanded never to fear darkness or solitude.
Who was Lycurgus and what did he do?
Plutarch described Lycurgus’ journey to Egypt and claimed that the reformer had introduced the poems of Homer to Sparta. 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.
What did the oracle tell Lycurgus about Sparta?
The Oracle told Lycurgus that his prayers had been heard and that the state which observed the laws of Lycurgus would become the most famous in the world. With such an endorsement, Lycurgus went to the leading men of Sparta and enlisted their support.
Why did Lycurgus prevent the Great Rhetra from being written down?
Lycurgus forbade the Great Rhetra from being written down. Instead of having rules simply written down for people to follow, he wanted his laws to be ingrained into the Spartans as a part of their character, forming a greater bond with them.
Why did Lycurgus want to ban gold and silver?
Lycurgus intended to remove any inequalities in ownership of personal property as well as real property, but he realized that it would be too difficult to proceed openly. Therefore, he took an indirect approach. His solution was to ban ownership of any gold or silver, and to allow only money made of iron.