Lycurgus, the legendary lawmaker of Sparta, is often regarded as one of the most influential people in Sparta's history. Essentially, he can be regarded as the shaper of Spartan ethos and values, as well as being a reflection of what it meant to be Spartan. However, evidence in the writings of Plutarch suggests that Lycurgus was a predominant part of the Spartan myth. Despite this, whether myth or reality it is irrelevant because in the Spartan perception, he was a true symbol of their society.

The Spartan myth often warps the true image of Spartan society, particularly in terms of military. Evidence in the writing of Plutarch "On Sparta" suggests that in archaic times, the Spartans were a fairly unorganized society; one gripped by lawlessness and disorder. In order to address this situation, at some stage there was an establishment of military organisation. While only the Spartan males...