Spartan tradition dictates that lawgiver Lycurgus introduced the reforms. It is believed that before Lycurgus, Sparta was in a state of “strife between the rich and poor .” Tradition states that Lycurgus had “divine assistance” from the sanction of Delphi when he created his reforms and Strabo comments “Lycurgus received laws from Apollo .” This “divine intervention” could be stressed, as Plutarch highlights, for the Spartan state to be accepting and implement the reforms that reflected Lycurgus’ morals . The “divine inspiration ” appears to give the reforms an ‘approval’ by the gods who are guiding Sparta to success. Thus, Lycurgus’ laws, whether they were a Delphic oracle or not, was implemented and accepted throughout Sparta for centuries.
