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Book 6 - Chapter 48

1
<w lemma="%2Adio%2Fper">Διόπερ</w> <w lemma="a%29fe%2Fmenoi">ἀφέμενοι</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Alakwnikh%5Cn">Λακωνικὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29pa%2Fnimen">ἐπάνιμεν</w> <w lemma="politei%2Fan">πολιτείαν</w>.
2
<w lemma="dokei%3D">δοκεῖ</w> <w lemma="dh%2F">δή</w> <w lemma="moi">μοι</w> <w lemma="%2Alukou%3Drgos">Λυκοῦργος</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="sfi%2Fsin">σφίσιν</w> <w lemma="o%28monoei%3Dn">ὁμονοεῖν</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="poli%2Ftas">πολίτας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="%2Alakwnikh%5Cn">Λακωνικὴν</w> <w lemma="threi%3Dn">τηρεῖν</w> <w lemma="a%29sfalw%3Ds">ἀσφαλῶς</w>, <w lemma="e%29%2Fti">ἔτι</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29leuqeri%2Fan">ἐλευθερίαν</w> <w lemma="diafula%2Fttein">διαφυλάττειν</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="%2Aspa%2Frth%7C">Σπάρτῃ</w> <w lemma="bebai%2Fws">βεβαίως</w>, <w lemma="ou%28%2Ftws">οὕτως</w> <w lemma="nenomoqethke%2Fnai">νενομοθετηκέναι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pronenoh%3Dsqai">προνενοῆσθαι</w> <w lemma="kalw%3Ds">καλῶς</w> <w lemma="w%28%2Fste">ὥστε</w> <w lemma="qeiote%2Fran">θειοτέραν</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%2Fnoian">ἐπίνοιαν</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="kat%27">κατ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fnqrwpon">ἄνθρωπον</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%3D">αὐτοῦ</w> <w lemma="nomi%2Fzein">νομίζειν</w>.
3
<w lemma="h%28">ἡ</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="kth%2Fseis">κτήσεις</w> <w lemma="i%29so%2Fths">ἰσότης</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="di%2Faitan">δίαιταν</w> <w lemma="a%29fe%2Fleia">ἀφέλεια</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="koino%2Fths">κοινότης</w> <w lemma="sw%2Ffronas">σώφρονας</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fmelle">ἔμελλε</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="kat%27">κατ᾽</w> <w lemma="i%29di%2Fan">ἰδίαν</w> <w lemma="bi%2Fous">βίους</w> <w lemma="paraskeua%2Fzein">παρασκευάζειν</w>, <w lemma="a%29stasi%2Faston">ἀστασίαστον</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="koinh%5Cn">κοινὴν</w> <w lemma="pare%2Fcesqai">παρέξεσθαι</w> <w lemma="politei%2Fan">πολιτείαν</w>, <w lemma="h%28">ἡ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="po%2Fnous">πόνους</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="deina%5C">δεινὰ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Frgwn">ἔργων</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fskhsis">ἄσκησις</w> <w lemma="a%29lki%2Fmous">ἀλκίμους</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="gennai%2Fous">γενναίους</w> <w lemma="a%29potele%2Fsein">ἀποτελέσειν</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fndras">ἄνδρας</w>.
4
<w lemma="e%28kate%2Frwn">ἑκατέρων</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="o%28mou%3D">ὁμοῦ</w> <w lemma="sundramo%2Fntwn">συνδραμόντων</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="mi%2Fan">μίαν</w> <w lemma="yuxh%5Cn">ψυχὴν</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="po%2Flin">πόλιν</w>, <w lemma="a%29ndrei%2Fas">ἀνδρείας</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="swfrosu%2Fnhs">σωφροσύνης</w>, <w lemma="ou%29t%27">οὐτ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w> <w lemma="fu%3Dnai">φῦναι</w> <w lemma="kaki%2Fan">κακίαν</w> <w lemma="eu%29mare%5Cs">εὐμαρὲς</w> <w lemma="ou%29%2Fq%27">οὔθ᾽</w> <w lemma="u%28po%5C">ὑπὸ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="pe%2Flas">πέλας</w> <w lemma="xeirwqh%3Dnai">χειρωθῆναι</w> <w lemma="r%28a%2F%7Cdion">ῥᾴδιον</w>.
5
<w lemma="dio%2Fper">διόπερ</w> <w lemma="ou%28%2Ftws">οὕτως</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="susthsa%2Fmenos">συστησάμενος</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="politei%2Fan">πολιτείαν</w>, <w lemma="bebai%2Fan">βεβαίαν</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="sumpa%2Fsh%7C">συμπάσῃ</w> <w lemma="%2Alakwnikh%3D%7C">Λακωνικῇ</w> <w lemma="pareskeu%2Fase">παρεσκεύασε</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29sfa%2Fleian">ἀσφάλειαν</w>, <w lemma="poluxro%2Fnion">πολυχρόνιον</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="%2Aspartia%2Ftais">Σπαρτιάταις</w> <w lemma="au%29toi%3Ds">αὐτοῖς</w> <w lemma="a%29pe%2Flipe">ἀπέλιπε</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29leuqeri%2Fan">ἐλευθερίαν</w>.
6
<w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="me%2Fntoi">μέντοι</w> <w lemma="ge">γε</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="pe%2Flas">πέλας</w> <w lemma="kata%2Fkthsin">κατάκτησιν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="h%28gemoni%2Fan">ἡγεμονίαν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="kaqo%2Flou">καθόλου</w> <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="pragma%2Ftwn">πραγμάτων</w> <w lemma="a%29mfisbh%2Fthsin">ἀμφισβήτησιν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%2Ft%27">οὔτ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="me%2Fros">μέρος</w> <w lemma="ou%29%2Ft%27">οὔτ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Flois">ὅλοις</w> <w lemma="dokei%3D">δοκεῖ</w> <w lemma="moi">μοι</w> <w lemma="pronohqh%3Dnai">προνοηθῆναι</w> <w lemma="kaqa%2Fpac">καθάπαξ</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%2Fn">οὐδέν</w>.
7
<w lemma="loipo%5Cn">λοιπὸν</w> <w lemma="h%29%3Dn">ἦν</w> <w lemma="toiau%2Fthn">τοιαύτην</w> <w lemma="tina%5C">τινὰ</w> <w lemma="pareisagagei%3Dn">παρεισαγαγεῖν</w> [<w lemma="dei%3D">δεῖ</w>] <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="poli%2Ftais">πολίταις</w> <w lemma="a%29na%2Fgkhn">ἀνάγκην</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fqesin">πρόθεσιν</w>, <w lemma="di%27">δι᾽</w> <w lemma="h%28%3Ds">ἧς</w> <w lemma="w%28%2Fsper">ὥσπερ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="kat%27">κατ᾽</w> <w lemma="i%29di%2Fan">ἰδίαν</w> <w lemma="bi%2Fous">βίους</w> <w lemma="au%29ta%2Frkeis">αὐτάρκεις</w> <w lemma="au%29tou%5Cs">αὐτοὺς</w> <w lemma="pareskeu%2Fase">παρεσκεύασε</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="litou%2Fs">λιτούς</w>, <w lemma="ou%28%2Ftws">οὕτως</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="koino%5Cn">κοινὸν</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fqos">ἔθος</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="po%2Flews">πόλεως</w> <w lemma="au%29%2Ftarkes">αὔταρκες</w> <w lemma="e%29%2Fmelle">ἔμελλε</w> <w lemma="gi%2Fnesqai">γίνεσθαι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="sw%3Dfron">σῶφρον</w>.
8
<w lemma="nu%3Dn">νῦν</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29filotimota%2Ftous">ἀφιλοτιμοτάτους</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="nounexesta%2Ftous">νουνεχεστάτους</w> <w lemma="poih%2Fsas">ποιήσας</w> <w lemma="peri%2F">περί</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="i%29di%2Fous">ἰδίους</w> <w lemma="bi%2Fou">βίου</w>, <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="sfete%2Fras">σφετέρας</w> <w lemma="po%2Flews">πόλεως</w> <w lemma="no%2Fmima">νόμιμα</w>, <w lemma="pro%5Cs">πρὸς</w> <w lemma="tou%5Cs">τοὺς</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fllous">ἄλλους</w> <w lemma="%2A%28%2Fellhnas">Ἕλληνας</w> <w lemma="filotimota%2Ftous">φιλοτιμοτάτους</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="filarxota%2Ftous">φιλαρχοτάτους</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pleonektikwta%2Ftous">πλεονεκτικωτάτους</w> <w lemma="a%29pe%2Flipe">ἀπέλιπε</w>.
Dismissing, therefore, these constitutions, we will return to that of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Sparta&groupId=660&placeId=1208">Sparta</a>.
To me it seems as far as regards the maintenance of concord among the citizens, the security of the Laconian territory and the preservation of the freedom of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Sparta&groupId=660&placeId=1208">Sparta</a>, the legislation of Lycurgus and the foresight he exhibited were so admirable that one is forced to regard his institutions as of divine rather than human origin.
For the equal division of landed property and the simple and common diet were calculated to produce temperance in the private lives of the citizens and to secure the commonwealth as a whole from civil strife, as was the training in the endurance of hardships and dangers to form brave and valorous men.
Now when both these virtues, fortitude and temperance, are combined in one soul or in one city, evil will not readily originate within such men or such peoples, nor will they be easily overmastered by their neighbours.
By constructing, therefore, his constitution in this manner and out of these elements, Lycurgus secured the absolute safety of the whole territory of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Laconia&groupId=662&placeId=1211">Laconia</a>, and left to the Spartans themselves a lasting heritage of freedom.
But as regards the annexation of neighbouring territories, supremacy in Greece, and, generally speaking, an ambitious policy, he seems to me to have made absolutely no provision for such contingencies, either in particular enactments or in the general constitution of the state.
What he left undone, therefore, was to bring to bear on the citizens some force or principle, by which, just as he had made them simple and contented in their private lives, he might make the spirit of the city as a whole likewise contented and moderate.
But now, while he made them most unambitious and sensible people as regards their private lives and the institutions of their city, he left them most ambitious, domineering, and aggressive towards the rest of the Greeks.

Walbank Commentary

Overview
6.47.0 - 6.50.0
<p rend="Plain Text"> Criticism of the Spartan constitution. <milestone unit="page" n="734">[734]</milestone> The Lycurgan rgime is admirable in securing concord and courage (48. 3), which guarantee freedom (48. 5); <note type="footnote" id="note1">In 10. 11 it is the mixed constitution which preserves freedom; but this contradiction, which has already been noted (46. 7 n.), is due to P.'s use of Ephorus in his discussion of the Spartan constitution.</note> it fails in respect of foreign policy, since it neither renders the Spartans contented and willing to forgo expansion (48. 7–8), nor yet provides them with the means to implement an aggressive policy (49. 8); in this the Roman state is superior (50. 3–4). There can be little doubt that at any rate the praise of the Spartan constitution in 48. 2–5 draws on Ephorus (cf. 45–47. 6 n.). The criticism may well reflect P.'s own prejudice; for it is significant that whereas <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Sparta&groupId=660&placeId=1208">Sparta</a> is at fault not merely in being unequal to expansion, but in pursuing an aggressive policy at all (48. 7–8), successful imperialism is a mark of merit in the more favoured Romans (50. 3–4). </p>
Specifics
6.48.2 - 6.48.2
<p rend="Plain Text"> <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">θειοτέραν . . . ἢ κατ</w>f <w lang="el-GR">ἄνθρωπον</w>:</emph> cf. xxix. 21. 9 on Demetrius of Phalerum's prophecy of the downfall of the Macedonian kingdom. The phrase echoes the Delphic oracle quoted by Herodotus (i. 65), </p> <p rend="Plain Text"><w lang="el-GR">δίζω ἢ σε θεὸν μαντεύσομαι ἢ ἄνθρωπονἀλλ</w>f <w lang="el-GR">ἔτι καὶ μᾶλλον θεὸν ἔλπομαι, ὦ Λυκό οργε</w>,</p> <p rend="Plain Text">and is a mere commonplace.</p>
6.48.7 - 6.48.7
<p rend="Plain Text"> <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">πρόθεσιν</w>:</emph> 'established principle'. </p> <p rend="Plain Text"> <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">αὔταρκες . . . καὶ σῶφρον</w>:</emph> Pdech, Mthode, 328, points out that Plut. Lyc. 31. 1 claims the very opposite, viz. that Lycurgus had made the Spartans <w lang="el-GR">ἐλευθέριοι καὶ αὐτάρκεις καὶ σωφρονοῦντες</w>, qualities which P. grants the Spartans only in their private lives. </p>
6.48.8 - 6.48.8
<p rend="Plain Text"> <emph rend="bold"><w lang="el-GR">φιλοτιμοτάτους</w>:</emph> cf. Plato, Rep. viii. 548 c, <w lang="el-GR">φιλονικίαι καὶ φιλοτιμίαι</w>, in the corrupted state. </p>
Addenda & corrigenda
6.48.7 - 6.48.7
<p rend="Plain Text"> <emph rend="bold">48. 7. <w lang="el-GR">αὔταρκες . . . καὶ σῶφρον</w>:</emph> Pdech, Mthode, 328, points out that Plut. Lyc. 31. 1 claims the very opposite, viz. that Lycurgus had made the Spartans <w lang="el-GR">ἐλευθέριοι καὶ αὐτάρκεις καὶ σωφρονοῦντες</w>, qualities which P. grants the Spartans only in their private lives. </p>

Commentary