A source-book of ancient history - The Search For Mecca

CHAPTER XII
THE RISE OF SPARTA AND THE PELOPONNESIAN
LEAGUE
I. Lyctjrgus: Regency and Travels
With regard to Lycurgus the lawgiver there is nothing
whatever that is undisputed; as his birth, his travels,
his death, and besides all this, his legislation, have all been
related in various ways. . . . He was king for eight
months in all; and was much looked up to by the citizens
who rendered a willing obedience to him, because of his
eminent virtues rather than because he was regent with
royal powers. There was, nevertheless, a faction which
grudged him his elevation, and tried to oppose him, as
he was a young man. . . . He decided to avoid all suspicion
by leaving the country and travelling until his
nephew should be grown up and have an heir born to
succeed him.
With this intention he set sail, and first came to Crete,
Crete.
where he studied the constitution and mixed with the
leading statesmen. Some part of their laws he approved
and made himself master of, with the intention of adopting
them on his return home, while with others he was dissatisfied.
One of the men who had a reputation there
for learning and state-craft he made his friend, and induced
him to go to Sparta.
This was Thaletas, who was
thought to be merely a lyric poet, and who used this art
to conceal his graver requirements, being in reality deeply
versed in legislation. His poems were exhortations to
III
Nothing
positively
known of
him.
Plutarch,
Lycurgus,
1-6.
Greece, 56;
Ancient
World, 117 f.
His visit
to