Lycurgus

The legendary lawgiver who created the Spartan system; whether he actually existed is still debated.

Life

Royal regent

According to Plutarch, Lycurgus was a member of the Spartan royal family who served as regent for his young nephew, then traveled to Crete, Asia Minor and Egypt to study their laws.

Travels among the states

After returning to Sparta, he is said to have carried out reforms with the backing of the Oracle of Delphi: he set up a Council of Elders made up of the two kings and twenty-eight elders, redistributed land equally, banned gold and silver coinage, required men to eat in common messes, and had boys leave home at age seven for harsh military training.

Lawgiving and departure into exile

Legend says he made the Spartans swear not to change the laws until he returned, then left the city and never came back. Ancient writers disagree about when he lived; modern scholars mostly believe the Spartan system took shape over a long period and that Lycurgus may be only a legendary figure.

Legacy

Whether or not he really existed, "the Laws of Lycurgus" shaped Sparta's militarized society for centuries and became an ideal model of the state that ancient writers discussed again and again.

Did you know? In Parallel Lives, Plutarch paired him with Numa, the second king of Rome.

Key dates

• 820 BCEEnacts reforms (legend; dates disputed)