With regard to those who have already passed ^ the vigour
of early manhood, and on whom the highest magistracies
henceforth devolve, there is a like contrast. In Hellas gener-
ally we find that at this age the need of further attention to
physical strength is removed, although the imposition of mili-
tary service continues. But Lycurgus made it customary for
that section of his citizens to regard hunting as the highest
honour suited to their age ; albeit, not to the exclusion of any
public duty.^ And his aim was that they might be equally
able to undergo the fatigues of war with those in the prime
of early manhood.
1 Lit. "the Paidonomos."

2 Probably the dyaSoepyol, technically so called. See Herod, i. 67 ;
Schneider, ap. Dindorf.
' Lit. "save only if some public duty intervened." See Qim/i. I. ii.
cH.v.§i-5 STYLE OF LIVING : PUBLIC MEALS 305



The above is a fairly exhaustive statement of the institu-
tions traceable to the legislation of Lycurgus in connection
with the successive stages ^ of a citizen's life. It remains that
I should endeavour to describe "the style of living which he
established for the whole body, irrespectively of age. It will
be understood that, when Lycurgus first came to deal with the
question, the Spartans, like the rest of the Hellenes, used to
mess privately at home. Tracing more than half the current
misdemeanours to this custom,^ he was determined to drag
his people out of holes and corners in|:q^ the broad day-
light, and so he invented the public mess-rOoms. Whereby
he expected at any rate to minimise the transgression of
orders.
