Lot 5-006. Lakonia, Lakedaimon (Sparta). Ca. 48-35 B.C. Æ hexachalkon.

Lakonia, Lakedaimon (Sparta). Ca. 48-35 B.C. Æ hexachalkon (23.0 mm, 7.43 g, 1 h). ΛYKOYPΓOC, bearded head of Lykourgos right / Λ-A / ΦI - monogram I, club with handle ending in kerykeion. Grunauer group XVII, series 7, 81.1; BCD Peloponnesos 907. F/VF, Rare. 

Lycurgus was the the founder of the Spartan constitution,the earliest mention of him being in Herodotus in the fifth century B.C. Nothing is known of his life—when he lived or if he was a real man, a god, or a mythical figure. However, he is generally associated with the 7th cent. B.C. at the time when a revolt of the Messenians nearly felled Sparta. After an inspired visit to the Oracle at Delphi, Lycurgus led a reform in the government and in the city's social system to establish a machine of war that would preclude further trouble from both internal and external foes. All of his reforms were directed towards the three Spartan virtues: equality among Spartan citizens, military fitness, and austerity. Later classical writers added details to his life as the tradition developed until Plutarch wrote his biography in A.D. 75.A translation of Plutarch's biography of Lykourgos can be found here: http://classics.mit.edu/Plutarch/lycurgus.html

 

Estimate:

$  500.00

Final Price:

$ 300.00 (1 bid(s))
Approximately EUR 0.00 / GBP 0.00

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Bidding closed (Tuesday, 18 Feb 2014, 12:02:30)
Current time: Saturday, December 21st, 11:54:53