1 Tyrtaeus, of whose date nothing certain is known, is generally thought to have lived at the time of the Second Messenian War (c. 640 B.C.). The tradition that he came from Athens, though open to question, is at least as old as Plato, who in the Laws asserts simply that he was an Athenian (Plat. Laws 1.629a). Pausanias tells the story, agreeing substantially with Lycurgus but adding that Tyrtaeus was a lame schoolmaster whom the Athenians were willing to let go since he was not regarded as in any way outstanding (Paus. 4.15.3).
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