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

ii8 Sparta and the Peloponnesian League
Their din
ner.
pouring of libations and the hides of the animals slain
in sacrifice. On every new moon and seventh day of the
month there shall be delivered at the public charge to each
one of them a full-grown victim in the temple of Apollo,
and a measure of barley-groats and a Laconian "quarter"
of wine; and at all the games they shall have seats of honor
specially set apart for them. Moreover it is their privilege
to appoint as protectors of strangers whomsoever they
will of the citizens, and to choose each two "Pythians."
Now the Pythians are men sent to consult the god at
Delphi, and they eat with the kings at the public charge.
And if the kings do not come to dinner, it is the rule
that there shall be sent out for them to their houses two
quarts of barley-groats for each one and half a pint of
wine; but if they are present, double shares of everything
shall be given them, and moreover they shall be honored
in this same manner when they have been invited to dinner
by private persons. The kings also, it is ordained, shall
have charge of the oracles which are given, but the Pythians
too shall have knowledge of them.
Seats in the
Council.
Funeral.
vi. 58.
Jurisdiction. It is the rule moreover that the kings alone give decisions
on the following cases only, that is to say, about
the maiden who inherits her father's property, namely
who ought to have her, if her father have not betrothed
her to anyone, and about public ways; also if any man desires
to adopt a son, he must do it in presence of the kings;
and it is ordained that they shall sit in council with the
elders, who are in number eight and twenty; and if they
do not come, those of the elders who are most closely
related to them shall have the privileges of the kings and
give two votes besides their own, making three in all.
These rights have been assigned to the kings for their
lifetime by the Spartan state; and after they are dead these