Eurypontids

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The Eurypontids were one of the two royal houses of the ancient city-state of Sparta .

They traced their origins back to one of the mythical Heracles descendants named Prokles . In the political life of Sparta they were usually less influential than the representatives of the other royal family, the agiads . This circumstance changed over the centuries and at the latest after gaining hegemony in Greece, the Eurypontids were an important factor in the complicated power game of Spartan politics. The most important kings from the house of the Eurypontids were Archidamos II and Agesilaos II , who had a lasting influence on Spartan politics.

The two Spartan royal families were strictly separated from each other by dynasty, and a descendant of one sex was not allowed to ascend the throne of the other.

See also: List of the kings of Sparta