DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.13851#0753
GENERAL HISTORY OF THE GRECIAN STATES.
tiou of affairs at that time was not so prosperous as to warrant the perpetration of an
act of such enormity, It is impossible that such a number could have been so secret-
ly dispatched, that the manner of their death should have remained altogether un-
known, notwithstanding the industry of several historia ns to ascertain it. At any rate,
the crime, if such had ever been committed, must be imputed to the Ephon, and not
to the institutions of Lycurgus, or the Spartan people.
HdV ng thu9 sketched a general outline of the poiicy of the government, and stated
a few particulars respecting the education of the youth, we shall now proceed to give
a brief detail of the constituted authorities in the state, and point out some of the
causes that contributed to its decline.
Lycirrgus, whdi he new modelled the constitution of his country, made no altera-
tion in the order of succession to the throne. He left the exercise of royalty abridged
in a considerable degree, between the two kings of the family of Hercules, rightly
supposing that when the same power was equally lodged m the hands of two, they
would form a mutual check upon each other, and be prevented from attempting to
subvert the rights ol the other orders. From the nature and policy of his institutions,
we may infer that their influence and authority was greater in time of war than in
peace. One of them was appointed to the command of the army, while the other
remained at home to administer justice, and periorm the other functions of royalty,
unless it happened that two armies were on foot at the same time, when both ol them
took the field. At home they could scarcely be distinguished from the citizens Ly any
superior honours ; but, at the head of the armies, Lycurgus wishes them to appear
with that splendour and authority necessary to ensure obedience. Besides their or-
dinary guard of 100 chosen men, they were attended by some officers of distinction
whom they consulted on emergencies, and also by those of inferior rank who had the
direction of their domestic cor cerns. In this manner they were enabled to bestow
their whole attention upon military affairs, in directing the operations of the cam-
paign, in watching the motions of the enemy, in giving audience to ambassadors, in
framing and signing terms of agreement. Besides these assistants, they had two Py-
thians or augurs in their train, who were occasionally sent to consult the oracle of
Apollo, when any thin*; of importance occurred, and to record the answer of the
god—It is well known from what Herodotus and other historians have mentioned of
the corruptibility of the Pythoness, or rather of the priests who advised her, that res-
ponses might sometimes be obtained favourable to the views of the petitioners; and none
were supposed to be in higher favour with these mercenary counsellors than the La-
cedaemonians. The Pythians attached to the Spartan kings had it thus in their pow-
er, in that superstitious and credulous age, to render their sovereigns essential
service in the election of their office, as they could, besides supporting their
interests at Delphi, accommodate their ait to the particular views and design
of their masters. When state -contended with state tor the superiority, and all
resorted to the declaration of the oracle in behalf of their claims, it was not uncom-
mon to find responses alleged that had never been given, and the voice of religion de-
cide with the stronger party, contrary to justice, humanity and sound policy. Ly-
curgus probably determined, when he deprived the kings of much of the power to
which they laid claim, that they should have the advantage of all the superstition
and credulity of the times to work upon the minds of the Spartans, without alarming
the jealousy of any order in the state.
In time of peace they presided over the senate, and proposed the subjects for deli-
beration. The vote of each was equivalent to two, and they vere allowed to send it
by any senator related to them. When they appeared in public, it was without pa-
rade or ostentation. Their behaviour was expected to be easy, yet dignified ; it be-
ing their concern to make themselves as much respected and honoured lor their vir-
tues as their high station. That they might be enabled to address their vows to hea-
ven as individuals, or as the first magistrates of the state with more dignity, they were
allowed, on the first and seventh day of every month, a victim, with a certain quan-
tity of wine and barley meal. They occupied the principal place at all public en-
tertainments, as well as in the houses of private families, and received at both a dou-
ble portion, which, however, they were not expected to appropriate to themselves,
but to share among their friends.
Though Lycurgus abridged their power, he still left them honours and prerogatives
sufficient to content a moderate ambition, in a government particularly where the
laws were intended to be supreme in every thing. They were invested, as has
already been mentioned, with t^he conduct and direction of the armies : they regulat-
ed all matters relative to religion, and had the direction of the public ceremo-
nies and sacrifices. To their decision were submitted all causes regarding the
tiou of affairs at that time was not so prosperous as to warrant the perpetration of an
act of such enormity, It is impossible that such a number could have been so secret-
ly dispatched, that the manner of their death should have remained altogether un-
known, notwithstanding the industry of several historia ns to ascertain it. At any rate,
the crime, if such had ever been committed, must be imputed to the Ephon, and not
to the institutions of Lycurgus, or the Spartan people.
HdV ng thu9 sketched a general outline of the poiicy of the government, and stated
a few particulars respecting the education of the youth, we shall now proceed to give
a brief detail of the constituted authorities in the state, and point out some of the
causes that contributed to its decline.
Lycirrgus, whdi he new modelled the constitution of his country, made no altera-
tion in the order of succession to the throne. He left the exercise of royalty abridged
in a considerable degree, between the two kings of the family of Hercules, rightly
supposing that when the same power was equally lodged m the hands of two, they
would form a mutual check upon each other, and be prevented from attempting to
subvert the rights ol the other orders. From the nature and policy of his institutions,
we may infer that their influence and authority was greater in time of war than in
peace. One of them was appointed to the command of the army, while the other
remained at home to administer justice, and periorm the other functions of royalty,
unless it happened that two armies were on foot at the same time, when both ol them
took the field. At home they could scarcely be distinguished from the citizens Ly any
superior honours ; but, at the head of the armies, Lycurgus wishes them to appear
with that splendour and authority necessary to ensure obedience. Besides their or-
dinary guard of 100 chosen men, they were attended by some officers of distinction
whom they consulted on emergencies, and also by those of inferior rank who had the
direction of their domestic cor cerns. In this manner they were enabled to bestow
their whole attention upon military affairs, in directing the operations of the cam-
paign, in watching the motions of the enemy, in giving audience to ambassadors, in
framing and signing terms of agreement. Besides these assistants, they had two Py-
thians or augurs in their train, who were occasionally sent to consult the oracle of
Apollo, when any thin*; of importance occurred, and to record the answer of the
god—It is well known from what Herodotus and other historians have mentioned of
the corruptibility of the Pythoness, or rather of the priests who advised her, that res-
ponses might sometimes be obtained favourable to the views of the petitioners; and none
were supposed to be in higher favour with these mercenary counsellors than the La-
cedaemonians. The Pythians attached to the Spartan kings had it thus in their pow-
er, in that superstitious and credulous age, to render their sovereigns essential
service in the election of their office, as they could, besides supporting their
interests at Delphi, accommodate their ait to the particular views and design
of their masters. When state -contended with state tor the superiority, and all
resorted to the declaration of the oracle in behalf of their claims, it was not uncom-
mon to find responses alleged that had never been given, and the voice of religion de-
cide with the stronger party, contrary to justice, humanity and sound policy. Ly-
curgus probably determined, when he deprived the kings of much of the power to
which they laid claim, that they should have the advantage of all the superstition
and credulity of the times to work upon the minds of the Spartans, without alarming
the jealousy of any order in the state.
In time of peace they presided over the senate, and proposed the subjects for deli-
beration. The vote of each was equivalent to two, and they vere allowed to send it
by any senator related to them. When they appeared in public, it was without pa-
rade or ostentation. Their behaviour was expected to be easy, yet dignified ; it be-
ing their concern to make themselves as much respected and honoured lor their vir-
tues as their high station. That they might be enabled to address their vows to hea-
ven as individuals, or as the first magistrates of the state with more dignity, they were
allowed, on the first and seventh day of every month, a victim, with a certain quan-
tity of wine and barley meal. They occupied the principal place at all public en-
tertainments, as well as in the houses of private families, and received at both a dou-
ble portion, which, however, they were not expected to appropriate to themselves,
but to share among their friends.
Though Lycurgus abridged their power, he still left them honours and prerogatives
sufficient to content a moderate ambition, in a government particularly where the
laws were intended to be supreme in every thing. They were invested, as has
already been mentioned, with t^he conduct and direction of the armies : they regulat-
ed all matters relative to religion, and had the direction of the public ceremo-
nies and sacrifices. To their decision were submitted all causes regarding the