Lycurgus's Influence On Sparta

Lycurgus was an important figure throughout Sparta as he was responsible for setting up a large amount of the Spartan’s social and political institutions. In source A Herodotus shows just how effective Lycurgus was “Later he reorganised the army…by these changes Spartan Government was put upon a sound basis.” He was responsible for introducing laws and advice or prophecies received from a god through the medium ship of a priest or priestess. As Plutarch, on Sparta explains: “Lycurgus . . . brought an oracle about it from Delphi, Which they called a rhetra.” Therefore with the evidence provided, it is quite obvious that Lycurgus had significant importance to not only Spartan Society but also the government and the military. Through Plutarch it is evident that Lycurgus reformed the military quite significantly as he states “The Egyptians claim that Lycurgus visited them too, and that it was from the Egyptians that he got the idea of separating the military from the menial workers, thereby giving Spartan society its refinement and beauty.” Therefore, Lycurgus had travelled to research new militaristic tactics. According to Xenophon there was a Spartan Cavalry. It was not large enough to protect the hoplite infantry however it was often used for reconnaissance. (The ancient
It is located in the south-eastern Peloponnese. A big part of the legendary lawgiver, Lycurgus’s contribution to Spartan society revolved strongly around the cultural side and how he changed not only the way the military and governments operated but how every day citizens carried out their lives. Within source A, Herodotus states “Thanks to a good soil and a numerous population the Lacedaemonnians soon shot up and flourished like a sturdy tree.” One of the useful natural recourses in the geographical area of Sparta is the fertile valley. Lycurgus was responsible for the breaking up of classes to aim for equality throughout the Spartan