Definitions for "Lycurgus"
Spartan lawmaker accredited for creating the Spartan constitution, education system and way of life. It is unknown whether Lycurgus ever actually existed or whether he was a creation of Spartan myth making. Nevertheless he is an important figure in the creation of Sparta.
The Spartan "founder" of their laws, who Plutarch wrote a life about. The Spartan myth is that all their laws can be dated to Lycurgus's reforms, and since then there have been no changes
Lycurgus (Greek: , Lukoûrgos; 700 BCE?–630 BCE) was the legendary lawgiver of Sparta, who established the military-oriented reformation of Spartan society in accordance with the Oracle of Apollo at Delphi. He is referenced by ancient historians Herodotus, Xenophon, and Plutarch. It is not clear if this Lycurgus was an actual historical figure (Bertrand Russell states that he is mythical person of Arcadian origin - his name meaning 'He who brings into being the works of a wolf'); however, many historians believe Lycurgus was responsible for the communalistic and militaristic reforms which transformed Spartan society, the most major of which was known as The Great Rhetra.
Lycurgus (also Lykurgos, Lykourgos) was a King of the Edoni in Thrace, and the son of Dryas, the "oak" (Iliad vi). He banned the cult of Dionysus. When Lycurgus heard that Dionysus was in his kingdom, he imprisoned Dionysus' followers, the Maenads.