there are 2 reasons why the first war was caused.
the first incident happened on th borders of Laconia and
Messene, there was a temple Artemis Limnatis. when the Spartans and
messenians were celebrating, while the Spartan virgins were
performing a dance the Messenians rushed and took the women. the
king of Sparta King Teleklos tried to hinder them but was killed.
It was said later that all the Spartan women committed suicide.
but the Messenian said that King Teleklos had dressed up young
men as virgins with hiden daggers. the Messenians discovered their
plot and killed Teleklos. but the war did not start immediately
after this event.
The second incident happened with the Spartan Euphaenos and the
Messenian Polychares, a distinguished citizen and an Olympic
victor, 764 B.C. Euphaenos, who had been trusted with the care of
Polychares cows, sold them and later killed his son who came to
inquire. Polychares, who was unable to find justice in Sparta,
started to kill every Lacedaemonian who passed the borders.
