Early Greece by Oswyn Murray

Author:Oswyn Murray
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Published: 2013-10-22T16:00:00+00:00

It is not surprising that one of the central themes of Spartan history is the conflict between kings and ephors. But the origin of the ephorate is wholly obscure; a list later existed extending back to 754, and this may have persuaded most authors to dissociate the reform from Lykourgos, whom they regarded as earlier – but the list is probably largely invented. The number of ephors may reflect a period when there were five obai; but the office itself is a paradox, a puzzling combination of archaic ritual with popular functions which can hardly be earlier than the seventh century hoplite state.

The final catalyst in the creation of the Spartan system was the second Messenian war. It presumably broke out as a consequence of the Spartan defeat at Hysiai in 669; but the tradition of the war is hopelessly confused by the creation of a mythical military past for the Messenian state, established after the defeat of Sparta at Leuctra three hundred years later. Nothing is known of its course apart from what Tyrtaios says:

You were with those who fled and with the pursuers,

young men, you have had your fill of both.

(P. 133)

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