flourished 7th century BC?
Legendary founder of the legal institutions of ancient Sparta .
Because ancient sources give differing accounts of his career, some scholars conclude that he was not a historical person, but many believe that a man named Lycurgus instituted drastic reforms in Sparta after the revolt of the helot s in the 7th century BC. Lycurgus is thought to have devised the militarized communal system that made Sparta unique among Greek city-states and to have determined the powers of the council and the assembly.