whole political power became centred in their hands。
The Spartan government was in reality a close oligarchy； in which the kings and the senate； as well as the people； were alike subject to the irresponsible authority of the five Ephors。
The most important part of the legislation of Lycurgus did not relate to the political constitution of Sparta； but to the discipline and education of the citizens。 It was these which gave Sparta her peculiar character； and distinguished her in so striking a manner from all the other states of Greece。 The position of the Spartans； surrounded by numerous enemies； whom they held in subjection by the sword alone； compelled them to be a nation of soldiers。 Lycurgus determined that they should be nothing else； and the great object of his whole system was to cultivate a martial spirit； and to give them a training which would make them invincible in battle。 To accomplish this the education of a Spartan was placed under the control of the state from his earliest boyhood。 Every child after birth was exhibited to public view； and； if deemed deformed and weakly； was exposed to perish on Mount Taygetus。 At the age of seven he was taken from his mother's care； and handed over to the public classes。 He was not only taught gymnastic games and military exercises but he was also subjected to severe bodily discipline； and was compelled to submit to hardships and suffering without repining or complaint。 One of the tests to which he was subjected was a cruel scourging at the altar of Artemis （Diana）； until his blood gushed forth and covered the altar of the goddess。 It was inflicted publicly before the eyes of his parents and in the presence of the whole city； and many Spartan youths were known to have died under the lash without uttering a complaining murmur。 No means were neglected to prepare them for the hardships and stratagems of war。 They were obliged to wear the same garment winter and summer； and to endure hunger and thirst； heat and cold。 They were purposely allowed an insufficient quantity of food； but were permitted to make up the deficiency by hunting in the woods and mountains of Laconia。 They were even encouraged to steal whatever they could； but if they were caught in the fact； they were severely punished for their want of dexterity。 Plutarch tells us of a boy； who； having stolen a fox； and hid it under his garment； chose rather to let it tear out his very bowels than be detected in the theft。
The literary education of a Spartan youth was of a most restricted kind。 He was taught to despise literature as unworthy of a warrior； while the study of eloquence and philosophy； which were cultivated at Athens with such extraordinary success； was regarded at Sparta with contempt。 Long speeches were a Spartan's abhorrence； and he was trained to express himself with sententious brevity。
A Spartan was not considered to have reached the full age of manhood till he had completed his thirtieth year。 He was then allowed to marry； to take part in the public assembly； and was eligible to the offices of the state。 But he still continued under the public discipline； and was not permitted even to reside and take his meals with his wife。 It was not till he had reached his sixtieth year that he was released from the public discipline and from military service。
The public messcalled SYSSITIAis said to have been instituted by Lycurgus to prevent all indulgence of the appetite。 Public tables were provided； at which every male citizen was obliged to take his meals。 Each table accommodated fifteen persons； who formed a separate mess； into which no new member was admitted； except by the unanimous consent of the whole company。 Each sent monthly to the common stock a specified quantity of barley…meal； wine； cheese； and figs and a little money to buy flesh and fish。 No distinction of any kind was allowed at these frugal meals。 Meat was only eaten occasionally； and one of the principal dishes was black broth。 Of what it consisted we do not know。 The tyrant Dionysius found it very unpalatable； but； as the cook told him； the broth was nothing without the seasoning of fatigue and hunger。
The Spartan women in their earlier years were subjected to a course of training almost as rigorous as that of the men； and contended with each other in running； wrestling and boxing。 At the age of twenty a Spartan woman usually married； and she was no longer subjected to the public discipline。 Although she enjoyed little of her husband's society； she was treated by him with deep respect； and was allowed a greater degree of liberty than was tolerated in other Grecian states。 Hence she took a lively interest in the welfare and glory of her native land； and was animated by an earnest and lofty spirit of patriotism。 The Spartan mother had reason to be proud of herself and of her children。 When a woman of another country said to Gorgo； the wife of Leonidas； 〃The Spartan women alone rule the men；〃 she replied； 〃The Spartan women alone bring forth men。〃 Their husbands and their sons were fired by their sympathy to deeds of heroism。 〃Return either with your shield； or upon it；〃 was their exhortation to their sons when going to battle。
Lycurgus is said to have divided the land belonging to the Spartans into 9000 equal lots and the remainder of Laconia into 30；000 equal lots； and to have assigned to each Spartan citizen one of the former of these lots； and to each Perioecus one of the latter。
Neither gold nor silver money was allowed in Sparta； and nothing but bars of iron passed in exchange for every commodity。 As the Spartans were not permitted to engage in commerce； and all luxury and display in dress； furniture； and food was forbidden； they had very little occasion for a circulating medium； and iron money was found sufficient for their few wants。 But this prohibition of the precious metals only made the Spartans more anxious to obtain them； and even in the times of their greatest glory the Spartans were the most venal of the Greeks； and could rarely resist the temptation of a bribe。
The legislation of Lycurgus was followed by important results。 It made the Spartans a body of professional soldiers； all trained and well disciplined； at a time when military training and discipline were little known； and almost unpractised in the other states of Greece。 The consequence was the rapid growth of the political power of Sparta； and the subjugation of the neighbouring states。 At the time of Lycurgus the Spartans held only a small portion of Laconia： they were merely a garrison in the heart of an enemy's country。 Their first object was to make themselves masters of Laconia； in which they finally succeeded after a severe struggle。 They next turned their arms against the Messenians； Arcadians； and Argives。 Of these wars the two waged against Messenia were the most celebrated and the most important。 They were both long protracted and obstinately contested。 They both ended in the victory of Sparta； and in the subjugation of Messenia。 These facts are beyond dispute； but of the details we have no trustworthy narrative。
The FIRST MESSENIAN WAR lasted from B。C。 743 to 724。 During the first four years the Lacedaemonians made little progress； but in the fifth a great battle was fought； and although its result was indecisive； the Messenians did not venture to risk another engagement； and retired to the strongly fortified mountain of Ithome。 In their distress they sent to consult the oracle at Delphi； and received the appalling answer that the salvation of Messenia required the sacrifice of a virgin of the royal house to the gods of the lower world。 Aristodemus； who is the Messenian hero of the first war； slew his own daughter； which so disheartened the Spartans； that they abstained from attacking the Messenians for some years。 In the thirteenth year of the war the Spartan king marched against Ithome； and a second great battle was fought； but the result was again indecisive。 The Messenian king fell in the action； and Aristodemus； who was chosen king in his place； prosecuted the war with vigour。 In the fifth year of his reign a third great battle was fought。 This time the Messenians gained a decisive victory； and the Lacedaemonians were driven back into their own territory。 They now sent to ask advice of the Delphian oracle； and were promised success upon using stratagem。 They therefore had recourse to fraud： and at the same time various prodigies dismayed the bold spirit of Aristodemus。 His daughter too appeared to him in a dream； showed him her wounds； and beckoned him away。 Seeing that his country was doomed to destruction； Aristodemus slew himself on his daughter's tomb。 Shortly afterwards； in the twentieth year of the war； the Messenians abandoned Ithome； which the Lacedaemonians razed to the ground； and the whole country became subject to Sparta。 Many of the inhabitants fled into other countries； but those who remained were reduced to the condition of Helots； and were compelled to pay to their masters half of the produce of their lands。
For thirty…nine years the Messenians endured this degrading yoke。 At the end of this time they took up arms against their oppressors。 The SECOND MESSENIAN WAR lasted f