and that is it's necessarily the first son of the previous king.

继位者必须是上一位国王的长子
It's the first son born after the king has become king.

也就是国王即位后的第一个儿子
So, if there's any question about that,

因此如果出现任何即位问题
that's the determining element.

将由长老院决定
The kings are the only Spartans

国王必须是斯巴达人
who are not required to go through the agoge.

他们不需要经过磨炼
I think the idea was it would be demeaning

大概是因为这会降低他们的身份
for the royal figure to have to be beaten up by older boys,

被较大的孩子打倒会有损贵族形象
that's probably what's behind it.

这是可能的原因
On the other hand,

另一方面
I think we should be aware that these are even less than the--

我认为我们应注意到
you remember we spoke of the Greek basileus in the early days

你们应记得之前讲过的希腊军事首长