Histories

So Croesus learned that at that time such problems were oppressing the Athenians, but that the Lacedaemonians had escaped from the great evils and had mastered the Tegeans in war. In the kingship of Leon and Hegesicles at Sparta [22.4417,37.0667] (Perseus) Sparta, the Lacedaemonians were successful in all their other wars but met disaster only against the Tegeans.

Before this they had been the worst-governed of nearly all the Hellenes and had had no dealings with strangers, but they changed to good government in this way: Lycurgus, a man of reputation among the Spartans, went to the oracle at Delphi [22.5167,38.4917] (Perseus) Delphi. As soon as he entered the hall, the priestess said in hexameter:

1. You have come to my rich temple, Lycurgus,
2. A man dear to Zeus and to all who have Olympian homes.
3. I am in doubt whether to pronounce you man or god,
4. But I think rather you are a god, Lycurgus.

Some say that the Pythia also declared to him the constitution that now exists at Sparta [22.4417,37.0667] (Perseus) Sparta, but the Lacedaemonians themselves say that Lycurgus brought it from Crete [25,35.166] (region), Greece, Europe Crete when he was guardian of his nephew Leobetes, the Spartan king.

Once he became guardian, he changed all the laws and took care that no one transgressed the new ones. Lycurgus afterwards established their affairs of war: the sworn divisions, the bands of thirty, the common meals; also the ephors and the council of elders.