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ible to the offices of the state。 But he still continued under the public discipline； and was not permitted even to reside and take his meals with his wife。 It was not till he had reached his sixtieth year that he was released from the public discipline and from military service。
The public messcalled SYSSITIAis said to have been instituted by Lycurgus to prevent all indulgence of the appetite。 Public tables were provided； at which every male citizen was obliged to take his meals。 Each table accommodated fifteen persons； who formed a separate mess； into which no new member was admitted； except by the unanimous consent of the whole company。 Each sent monthly to the common stock a specified quantity of barley…meal； wine； cheese； and figs and a little money to buy flesh and fish。 No distinction of any kind was allowed at these frugal meals。 Meat was only eaten occasionally； and one of the principal dishes was black broth。 Of what it consisted we do not know。 The tyrant Dionysius found it very unpalatable； but； as the cook told him； the broth was nothing without the seasoning of fatigue and hunger。
The Spartan women in their earlier years were subjected to a course of training almost as rigorous as that of the men； and contended with each other in running； wrestling and boxing。 At the age of twenty a Spartan woman usually married； and she was no longer subjected to the public discipline。 Although she enjoyed little of her husband's society； she was treated by him with deep respect； and was allowed a greater degree of liberty than was tolerated in other Grecian states。 Hence she took a lively interest in the welfare and glory of her native land； and was animated by an earnest and lofty spirit of patriotism。 The Spartan mother had reason to be proud of herself and of her children。 When a woman of another country said to Gorgo； the wife of Leonidas； 〃The Spartan women alone rule the men；〃 she replied； 〃The Spartan women alone bring forth men。〃 Their husbands and their sons were fired by their sympathy to deeds of heroism。 〃Return either with your shield； or upon it；〃 was their exhortation to their sons when going to battle。
Lycurgus is said to have divided the land belonging to the Spartans into 9000 equal lots and the remainder of Laconia into 30；000 equal lots； and to have assigned to each Spartan citizen one of the former of these lots； and to each Perioecus one of the latter。
Neither gold nor silver money was allowed in Sparta； and nothing but bars of iron passed in exchange for every commodity。 As the Spartans were not permitted to engage in commerce； and all luxury and display in dress； furniture； and food was forbidden； they had very little occasion for a circulating medium； and iron money was found sufficient for their few wants。 But this prohibition of the precious metals only made the Spartans more anxious to obtain them； and even in the times of their greatest glory the Spartans were the most venal of the Greeks； and could rarely resist the temptation of a bribe。
The legislation of Lycurgus was followed by important results。 It made the Spartans a body of professional soldiers； all trained and well disciplined； at a time when military training and discipline were little known； and almost unpractised in the other states of Greece。 The consequence was the rapid growth of the political power of Sparta； and the subjugation of the neighbouring states。 At the time of Lycurgus the Spartans held only a small portion of Laconia： they were merely a garrison in the heart of an enemy's country。 Their first object was to make themselves masters of Laconia； in which they finally succeeded after a severe struggle。 They next turned their arms against the Messenians； Arcadians； and Argives。 Of these wars the two waged against Messenia were the most celebrated and the most important。 They were both long protracted and obstinately contested。 They both ended in the victory of Sparta； and in the subjugation of Messenia。 These facts are beyond dispute； but of the details we have no trustworthy narrative。
The FIRST MESSENIAN WAR lasted from B。C。 743 to 724。 During the first four years the Lacedaemonians made little progress； but in the fifth a great battle was fought； and although its result was indecisive； the Messenians did not venture to risk another engagement； and retired to the strongly fortified mountain of Ithome。 In their distress they sent to consult the oracle at Delphi； and received the appalling answer that the salvation of Messenia required the sacrifice of a virgin of the royal house to the gods of the lower world。 Aristodemus； who is the Messenian hero of the first war； slew his own daughter； which so disheartened the Spartans； that they abstained from attacking the Messenians for some years。 In the thirteenth year of the war the Spartan king marched against Ithome； and a second great battle was fought； but the result was again indecisive。 The Messenian king fell in the action； and Aristodemus； who was chosen king in his place； prosecuted the war with vigour。 In the fifth year of his reign a third great battle was fought。 This time the Messenians gained a decisive victory； and the Lacedaemonians were driven back into their own territory。 They now sent to ask advice of the Delphian oracle； and were promised success upon using stratagem。 They therefore had recourse to fraud： and at the same time various prodigies dismayed the bold spirit of Aristodemus。 His daughter too appeared to him in a dream； showed him her wounds； and beckoned him away。 Seeing that his country was doomed to destruction； Aristodemus slew himself on his daughter's tomb。 Shortly afterwards； in the twentieth year of the war； the Messenians abandoned Ithome； which the Lacedaemonians razed to the ground； and the whole country became subject to Sparta。 Many of the inhabitants fled into other countries； but those who remained were reduced to the condition of Helots； and were compelled to pay to their masters half of the produce of their lands。
For thirty…nine years the Messenians endured this degrading yoke。 At the end of this time they took up arms against their oppressors。 The SECOND MESSENIAN WAR lasted from B。C。 685 to 668。 Its hero is Aristomenes； whose wonderful exploits form the great subject of this war。 It would appear that most of the states in Peloponnesus took part in the struggle。 The first battle was fought before the arrival of the allies on either side； and； though it was indecisive； the valour of Aristomenes struck fear into the hearts of the Spartans。 To frighten the enemy still more； the hero crossed the frontier； entered Sparta by night； and affixed a shield to the temple of Athena （Minerva）； with the inscription； 〃Dedicated by Aristomenes to the goddess from the Spartan spoils。〃 The Spartans in alarm sent to Delphi for advice。 The god bade them apply to Athens for a leader。 Fearing to disobey the oracle； but with the view of rendering no real assistance； the Athenians sent Tyrtaeus； a lame man and a schoolmaster。 The Spartans received their new leader with due honour； and he was not long in justifying the credit of the oracle。 His martial songs roused their fainting courage； and so efficacious were his poems that to them is mainly ascribed the final success of the Spartan arms。
Encouraged by the strains of Tyrtaeus； the Spartans again marched against the Messenians。 But they were not at first successful。 A great battle was fought at the Boar's Grave in the plain of Stenyclerus； in which they were defeated with great loss。 In the third year of the war another great battle was fought； in which the Messenians suffered a signal defeat。 So greet was their loss； that Aristomenes no longer ventured to meet the Spartans in the open field。 Following the example of the Messenian leaders in the former war； he retired to the mountain fortress of Ira。 The Spartans encamped at the foot of the mountain； but Aristomenes frequently sallied from the fortress； and ravaged the lands of Laconia with fire and sword。 It is unnecessary to relate all the wonderful exploits of this hero in his various incursions。 Thrice was he taken prisoner； on two occasions he burst his bonds； but on the third he was c