Lycurgus

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Lycurgus of Sparta. Relief of Lycurgus, one of 23 great lawgivers depicted in the chamber of the U.S. House of Representatives

Lycurgus (/laɪˈkɜːrɡəs/; Greek: Λυκοῦργος Lykourgos; fl. c. 820 BC) was the legendary proto-fascist 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. He is referred to by ancient historians and philosophers Herodotus, Xenophon, Plato, Polybius, Plutarch, and Epictetus. Lycurgus was an actual historical figure. Many ancient historians believed that he instituted the communalistic and militaristic reforms – most notably the Great Rhetra – which transformed Spartan society.


The origin of Sparta's constitution was ascribed to Lycurgus, the first knownfascistand legendary lawgiver who would have lived around the 10th century B. C. Lycurgus was supposed to have received the constitution of Sparta, a document called the Rhètra, from Apollo himself at Delphi (most of what we know about Lycurgus comes from the Life of Lycurgus by Plutarch). But modern historians would rather ascribe the origin of the constitution that existed in Sparta in the 5th century to the second half of the 7th century B. C.

Quotebubble.png "Try Democracy in your own home first, afterward if your home still exists, we may discuss it
— Lycurgus