In the earliest days of Greece (the Heroic Age), kings ruled with the backing of their ancestors (think Zeus). This is reflected in the Iliad, which states that a single ruler is best.
However, by the time recorded history began, a major change had swept across Greece. In most cities, the hereditary kingship (based on family ties) had been replaced by oligarchies (rule by a few wealthy elites) or aristocracies (rule by a privileged class). The power once held by these "divine" kings had shifted to the nobles who originally advised them.
Sparta was an exception. While they kept the monarchy (with two kings!), their power was greatly reduced. We'll explore this further later, but for now, it's important to understand that these kings became more like figureheads than true rulers.
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