Myths and Legends: Lycurgus and Dioscuri

 Hero: a human who achieved great things and was venerated as more than human.
 A founding father; ancestral figure; associated with a locality; a model of behaviour
 Heroon – hero shrine
 
 
Lycurgus
  
 Lycurgus is generally considered a man of myth; a lawgiver
who brought about Sparta’s unique system of government
and created the order and Eunomia that lead to their great
prosperity. He also modified the Spartan’s beliefs about
death, making it more commonplace and less to be feared,
which made for better soldiers who were unafraid of their
fallen comrades on the battlefield.
 Ancestral hero; lawgiver; credited with creating the
institutions of Sparta which made her unique and great.
 He is thought to have brought good order (Eunomia), with a
conservative form of government that effectively prevented
revolutions.
 Unique culture emphasizing austerity and discipline to
facilitate military society.
 Herodotus: oracle of Apollo at Delphi (oracle) recognised his
divinity; a temple built in his honour. The cult was well
established by Herodotus’ time (5th C. BC).
 Herodotus: "Hither to my rich temple have you come,
Lycurgus, Dear to Zeus and to all gods that dwell in Olympus.
I know not whether to declare you human or divine - Yet I am
inclined to believe, Lycurgus, that you are a god. By these
changes Spartan government was put upon a sound basis, and when Lycurgus died a temple was built
in his honour, and he is still regarded with profound reverence."
 Plutarch: wisdom and virtue – after his death a temple was built with annual sacrifices.
 Pausanias: A ‘god’s sanctuary’ for Lycurgus, with his son Eukosmos buried behind it. An ‘altar’ to
Lycurgus.
 Archaeological record does not support Lycurgus.
 Tyrtaeus, Spartan poet fails to reference Lycurgus.
 Modern historian Andrews says that “… the perpetuation of his name was one of the most successful
frauds in history.”
 
How did Ancient historians see him?

 
 Dioscuri

 The mythical twin Spartan heroes Castor and Polydeuces. Born from an egg.
 Were the twin sons of Zeus, and brothers of Helen of Troy.
 Dioscuri means youth of Zeus.
 Myth is: Zeus (in swan form) came to Earth. Leda had affairs with both Zeus and Tyndarus on the same
night.
 Polydeuces’ dad was Zeus → he is immortal.
 Castor’s dad was Tyndarus → he is mortal.
 In battle, Castor was killed by brothers Idas II and Lynkus.
 So Polydeuces killed Lynkus, and Pausanius tells us that “…Not far from Asklepios stands a trophy,
raised, they say, by Polydeuces to celebrate his victory over Lynkus.”
 Polydeuces persuaded Zeus to allow him to share his immortality with Castor.
 They spent alternate days in Hades and in Mt. Olympus.
 Spartans saw the Dioscuri as patrons and protectors of Sparta.
 At Dromos, there was a sanctuary to the Dioscuri with a statue of them. They are naked – signifying
both their heroic stature, and their association with athletics.
 Thousands of votive offerings have been found at Amyclae, to the Dioscuri.
- archaeological evidence for their importance.
 Spartans worshipped them as they represented youth, warfare, and athletics.
 Reflected in the institution of ‘twin’ kingship.
 Castor and Pollux: divine twins, Helen’s brothers. Sons of Zeus and Leda – half human, half divine.
There are different traditions in Greek mythology regarding their divine status.
 Protectors of the kings.
 Took turns protecting Sparta. One lived at Therapne, the other on Mt Olympus. Alkman: both lived in a
‘god-built home beneath the earth’.
 The Spartans however, believe that the twins still live close to Sparta and assist the city in times of
danger.
 Aided in battle; associated with horsemanship; associated with athletic contests (Pausanias: ‘starters of
races’).
 A number of marble reliefs of the Dioscuri now in the Sparta Museum.
 Pausanias, Description of Greece 3. 14. 7 : "At the beginning of the race course [at Sparta, Lakedaimon]
are the Dioskouoi Apheterioi (Starters)."
 Pausanias, Description of Greece 4. 16. 9 : "[The historical Messenian leader Aristomenes] was making
an attack by night on Sparta itself, but was deterred by the appearance of [the Spartan demigods]
Helene and of the Dioskouroi."

Votive relief of Dioscuri; 575-550 B.C. Sparta. Archaeological Museum of Sparta. Sparta, Greece.