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Such was the condition of the Athenians when Croesus made inquiry
concerning them. Proceeding to seek information concerning the
Lacedaemonians, he learnt that, after passing through a period of
great depression, they had lately been victorious in a war with the
people of Tegea; for, during the joint reign of Leo and Agasicles,
kings of Sparta, the Lacedaemonians, successful in all their other
wars, suffered continual defeat at the hands of the Tegeans. At a
still earlier period they had been the very worst governed people in
Greece, as well in matters of internal management as in their
relations towards foreigners, from whom they kept entirely aloof. The
circumstances which led to their being well governed were the
following: Lycurgus, a man of distinction among the Spartans, had
gone to Delphi, to visit the oracle. Scarcely had he entered into
the inner fane, when the Pythoness exclaimed aloud,
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Oh! thou great Lycurgus, that com'st to my beautiful dwelling,
Dear to love, and to all who sit in the halls of Olympus,
Whether to hail thee a god I know not, or only a mortal,
But my hope is strong that a god thou wilt prove, Lycurgus.
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Some report besides, that the Pythoness delivered to him the entire
system of laws which are still observed by the Spartans. The
Lacedaemonians, however. themselves assert that Lycurgus, when he
was guardian of his nephew, Labotas, king of Sparta, and regent in
his room, introduced them from Crete; for as soon as he became
regent, he altered the whole of the existing customs, substituting new
ones, which he took care should be observed by all. After this he
arranged whatever appertained to war, establishing the Enomotiae,
Triacades, and Syssitia, besides which he instituted the senate,'
and the ephoralty. Such was the way in which the Lacedaemonians
became a well-governed people.
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