than you could a statue[74]. The great deference paid to age is merely hinted at in this treatise[75] but it is well known from other sources. [69] [Xenophon] _De Rep. Lac._ 1. § 4. [70] [Xenophon] _De Rep. Lac._ 2. § 2. [71] [Xenophon] _De Rep. Lac._ 6. § 1, § 2. [72] All these details from [Xenophon] _De Rep. Lac._ 2. [73] [Xenophon] _De Rep. Lac._ 6. § 2. [74] [Xenophon] _De Rep. Lac._ 3. [75] [Xenophon] _De Rep. Lac._ 9. § 5. When the youths grew up to be men they were compelled to dine at the common meal provided for them: and unless they paid their contributions to its cost they lost the rights of citizenship. Their military training no doubt still continued: for the operations of warfare which the author describes were such as to require every man in the army to be always familiar with them from recent recollection[76]. Every Spartan was not only compelled to concentrate his attention on military excellence, but was completely cut off from all commercial pursuits and even from agriculture[77]. Commerce and all useful arts were left to the Periœci: the Spartan could practise none of them without degradation. His expenditure consisted in his contribution to the common meals and in the cost of maintaining a house for his wife and daughters and his sons till they were placed under the care of the warden of the boys. His income was derived from his lands which were tilled by Helots assigned to him by the State. The accumulation of wealth was severely discouraged: the possession of gold or silver was criminal and was punished with a fine: the currency was made of iron and was so cumbrous that no one could have much of it without the knowledge of all, since a quantity worth ten minæ (£40 sterling) would demand large storage-room and a waggon to remove it[78]. [76] [Xenophon] _De Rep. Lac._ 11. [77] [Xenophon] _De Rep. Lac._ 7. § 1. [78] [Xenophon] _De Rep. Lac._ 7. § 5. As every Spartan was a soldier all his life long from attaining manhood till he was too old for service, the organisation of the army must be counted among the important parts of the Spartan institutions. At a great battle fought and won by the Spartans in the year 418 B.C. the number of Spartiatæ on service was about three thousand one hundred. The force was divided into six regiments of five or six hundred men, each containing four smaller divisions, and sixteen smallest divisions or companies, which last bore the name of ἐνωμοτίαι, or bands of sworn soldiers. Each regiment had its commander and so had all its compartments down to the smallest: the commander gave his orders to the officers next below him, and they to the commanders of companies: and it was only from these last that the orders reached the soldiers[79]. The success of the whole system thus depended on the obedience of the lesser officers to their commander, and above all on the efficiency and good discipline of the companies or Enomoties.