He kept the citizens of chus, declared that they would rather die than sub-
Argos in a defenceless condition, but a conspiracy mit to this.
Argos in a defenceless condition, but a conspiracy mit to this.
William Smith - 1844 - Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities - a
c.
283—239.
A physician
described as of a coarse and vehement character. of this name is quoted by Celsus, and Pliny:
(Hermog. de Form. Orat. i. p. 296, and the Scho Hardouin (in his Index of authors quoted by
liast passim ; Phot. Cod. p. 496; Plut. Phoc. 10; Pliny) thinks that the two physicians inentioned
Quintil
. xii. 10. $ 22. ) His impudence drew upon by Suidas were in fact one and the same person,
him the surname of “the dog. " He was often ac- and that he was called “ Cnidius" from the place
cused by Demosthenes and others, and defended of his birth, and " Thasius” from his residence ;
himself in a number of orations which are lost. this, however, is quite uncertain. (Fabric. Bibl. Gr.
Among the extant speeches of Demosthenes there vol. xiii. p. 83, ed. vet. ; Kühn, Additam. ad Elen-
are two against Aristogeiton, and among those of chum Medicor. Veter. a Jo. A. Fabricio, fc. exhibitum,
Deinarchus there is one. Suidas and Eudocia Lips. 1826, 4to. , fascic. iii. p. 10. ) (W. A. G. )
(p. 65) mention seren orations of Aristogeiton ARISTOLAUS, a painter, the son and scholar
(comp. Phot. Cod. pp. 491, 495 ; Tzetz. Chil. vi. 94, of Pausias. [PAUSIAS. ] He filourished therefore
&c. , 105, &c. ; Harpocrat. s. vv. Avtoklelons and about Ol. 118, B. C. 308. Pliny (xxxv. 11. s. 40)
Oépoavapos), and an eighth against Phryne is men- mentions several of his works, and characterises
tioned by Athenaeus. (xiii
. p. 591. ) Aristogeiton his style as in the highest degree serere. [C. P. M. ]
died in prison. (Plut. Apophth. Reg. p. 188, b. ; ARISTO'LOCHUS ("Apothoxos ), a tragic
compare Taylor, Praef. ad Demosth. Orat. c. poet, who is not mentioned anywhere except in the
Aristog. in Schaefer's Apparat. Crit. iv. p. 297, collection of the Epistles formerly attributed to
&c. ; and Aeschin. c. Timarch. p. 22; S. Thorlacius, Phalaris (Epist. 18, ed. Lennep. ), where the
Opuscul. ii. pp. 201—240. )
(L. S. ] tyrant is made to speak of him with indignation
ARISTOGEITON ('Apiot oyeitwv), a statuary, for venturing to compete with him in writing
a native of Thebes. In conjunction with Hypato- tragedies. But with the genuineness of those
dorus, he was the maker of some statues of the epistles the existence of Aristolochus must fall to
heroes of Argive and Theban tradition, which the the ground, and Bentley (Phalaris, p. 260) has
Argires had made to commemorate a victory gained shewn, that if Aristolochus were a real personage,
by themselves and the Athenians over the Lace- this tragic writer must have lived before tragedy
daemonians at Oenoe in Argolis, and dedicated in was known.
(L. S. )
a
## p. 307 (#327) ############################################
ARISTOMACHUS.
307
ARISTOMENES.
ΛRISTO'MACHE ('Αριστομάχη). 1. The assistance Aratus had called in. Aristomachus
daughter of Hipparinus of Syracuse, and the sister fell into the hands of the Achaeans, who strangled
of Dion, was married to the elder Dionysius on him and threw him into the sea at Cenchreae.
the same day that he married Doris of Locri. (Polyb. ii. 59, 60; Plut. Arat. 44 ; Schorn, Ge-
She bore him two sons and two daughters, with schihte Griechenl. p. 118, note 1. )
one of whom, namely Arete, she afterwards 3. The leader of the popular party at Croton, in
perished. (Plut. Dion, 3, 6; Diod. xiv. 44, xvi. the Hannibalian war, about B. c. 215. At that
6; Aelian, V. H. xiii. 10, who crroneously calls time nearly all the towns of southern Italy were
her Aristaenete ; Cic. Tusc. v. 20; Val. Max. ix. divided into two parties, the people being in favour
13, ext. 4. ) Respecting her death, see ARETE. of the Carthaginians, and the nobles or senators in
2. Of Erythrae, a poetess, who conquered at the favour of the Romans. The Bruttians, who were
Isthmian games, and dedicated in the treasury of in alliance with the Carthaginians, had hoped to
Sicyon a golden book, that is, probably one written gain possession of Croton with their assistance.
with golden letters. (Plut. Symp. v. 2. $ 10. ) As this had not been done, they determined to
ARISTO'MACHUS ('Aplotouaxos). 1. A make the conquest by themselves. A deserter
son of Talaus and Lysimache, and brother of from Croton informed them of the state of political
Adrastus. (Apollod. i. 9. § 13. ) He was the parties there, and that Aristomachus, was ready
father of Hippomedon, one of the seven heroes to surrender the town to them. The Bruttians
against Thebes. (Apollod. iii. 6. § 3. ) Hyginus marched with an army against Croton, and as the
(Fab. 70) makes Hippomedon a son of a sister of lower parts, which were inhabited by the people,
Adrastus. (Comp. Paus. x. 10. § 2. )
were open and easy of access, they soon gained
2. A son of Cleodemus or Cleodacus, and great possession of them. Aristomachus, however, as if
grandson of Heracles, was the father of Temenus, he had nothing to do with the Bruttians, withdrew
Cresphontes, and Aristodemus. He marched into to the arx, where the nobles were assembled and
Peloponnesus at the time when Tisamenus, the defended themselves. The Bruttians in conjunc-
son of Orestes, ruled orer the Peninsula; but his tion with the people of Croton besieged the nobles
expedition failed as he had misunderstood the in the arx, and when they found that they made
oracle, and he fell in battle. (Apollod. ii. 8. $ 2; no impression, they applied to Hanno the Cartha-
Paus. ii. 7. $ 6; Herod. vi. 52. ) Another Aris ginian for assistance. He proposed to the Croto-
tomachus occurs in Paus. vi. 21. $ 7. (L. S. ] niats to receive the Bruttians as colonists within
ARISTOʻMACHUS('Apiotó uaxos). 1. Tyrant the extensive but deserted walls of their city; but
of Argos, in the reign and under the patronage of all the Crotoniats, with the exception of Aristoma-
Antigonus Gonatas.
He kept the citizens of chus, declared that they would rather die than sub-
Argos in a defenceless condition, but a conspiracy mit to this. As Aristomachus, who had betrayed
was formed against him, and arms were secretly the town, was unable to betray the arx also, he
introduced into the town by a contrivance of saw no way but to take to flight, and he accord-
Aratus, who wished to gain Argos for the Achaean ingly went over to Hanno. The Crotoniats soon
league. The plot was discovered, and the persons after quitted their town altogether and migrated
concerned in it took to fight. But Aristomachus to Locri. (Liv. xxir. 2, 3. )
was soon after assassinated by slaves, and was suc- 4. A Greek writer on agriculture or domestic
ceeded by Aristippus II. (Plut. Arut. 25. ) economy, who is quoted several times by Pliny.
2. Succeeded Aristippus II. in the tyranny (H. N. xiii. 47, xiv. 24, xix. 26. $ 4. ) [L. S. )
of Argos, apparently towards the end of the reign ARISTOMACHUS('Apotbuayos), a statuary,
of Demetrius. (B. C. 240—230. ) He seems to born on the banks of the Strymon, made statues
have been related to some of his predecessors in of courtezans. His age is not known. (Anthol.
the tyranny of Argos. (Polyb. ii. 59. ) After the Palat. vi. 268. )
(C. P. M. ]
death of Demetrius, B. c. 229, he resigned his ARISTOM'E'DES ('Apirtourons), a statuary,
power, as Lydiades had done before, and several a native of Thebes, and a contemporary of Pindar.
others did now, for the influence of Macedonia in In conjunction with his fellow-townsman Socrates,
Peloponnesus had nearly ceased, and the Aetolians he made a statue of Cybele, which was dedicated
were allied with the Achaeans. Aristomachus by Pindar in the temple of that goddess, near
had been persuaded to this step by Aratus, who Thebes. (Paus. ix. 25. $ 3. ) [C. P. M. )
gave him fifty talents that he might be able to pay ARISTO'MEDON ('Apiotouédwv), an Argive
off and dismiss his mercenaries. Argos now joined statuary, who lived shortly before the Persian wars,
the Achaean league, and Aristomachus was chosen made some statues dedicated by the Phocians at
strategus of the Achaeans for the year B. c. 227. Delphi, to commemorate their victory over the Thes-
(Plut. Arat. 35; Polyb. ii. 44; Paus. ii. 8. $ 5; salians. (Paus. x. 1. SS 3—10. ) (C. P. M. )
Plut. Cleom. 4. ) In this capacity he undertook ARISTO'MENES ('Aplotouévns), the Messe-
the command in the war against Cleomenes of nian, the hero of the second war with Sparta, has
Sparta, but he seems to have been checked by the been connected by some writers with the first war
jealousy of Aratus, in consequence of which he (Myron. ap. Paus. iv. 6; Diod. Sic. xv. 66, Fragm.
afterwards deserted the cause of the Achaeans and X. ), but in defiance apparently of all tradition.
went over to Cleomenes, who with his assistance (Tyrt. ap. Paus. l. c. ; Müller, Dor. i. 7. $ 9. ) For
took possession of Argos. Aristomachus now again the events of his life our main authority is Pausa-
assumed the tyranny at Argos. Aratus tried in nias, and he appears to have principally followed
vain to recover thai city for the Achaean league, Rhianus the Cretan, the author of a lost epic poem,
and the consequence only was, that the tyrant of which Aristomenes was the hero. (Paus. iv 6. )
ordered 80 uistinguished Argives to be put to death, The life of Aristomenes, therefore, belongs more to
as they were suspected of being favourable to legend than to history, though the truth of its
wards the Achacans. Not long afterwards, how general outline may be depended on. (Paus. iv. 22;
erer, Argos was taken by Antigonus Doson, whose Polyb. iv. 33. )
## p. 308 (#328) ############################################
308
ARISTOMENES.
ARISTOMENES.
9
1
Thirty-nine* years had clapsed since the capture was made, and Aristomenes, wandering on the
of Ithome and the end of the first Messenian war, faith of it too far from Eim, was seized by som
when the spirit of Messenin, chafing under a de Cretan bowmen (mercenaries of Sparta) and place!
grading yoke (Polyb. iv. 32 ; Justin. iii. 5 ; Tyrt. in bonds, but again burst them, and slew his foes
ap. l'aus. iv. 14), and cager for revolt, found a through the aid of a maiden who dwelt in the
leader in Aristomenes of Andania, sprung from the house where they lodged him, and whom he be-
royal line of Aepytus, and even referred by legen- trothed in gratitude to his son Gorgus. But the
dary tradition to a miraculous and superhuman anger of the Twins was roused against him, for he
origin. (Paus. iv. 14. ) Having gained promises of was said to have counterfeited them, and polluted
assistance from Argos, Arcadia, Sicyon, Elis, and with blood a Spartan festival in their honour.
Pisa (Paus. iv. 15; Strab. viii. p. 362), the hero (Thirlwall, Gr. Hist. rol. i. p. 364 ; Polyaen. xi.
began the war, B. C. 685. The first battle at 31. ) So the favour of heaven was turned from his
Derae, before the arrival of the allies on either country, and the hour of her full came. A wild
side, was indecisive; but Aristomenes so distin- fig-tree, called in the Messenian dialect by the
guished himself there by his valour, that he was i same name that also means a goat (Tpásyos), which
offered the throne, but refused it, and received the overhung the Neda, touched at length the water
office of supreme commander. This was followed with its leaves, and Theoclus the seer privately
by a remarkable exploit. Entering Sparta by warned Aristomenes that the Delphic oracle was
night, he affixed a shield to the temple of Athena accomplished, which after the battle of the Trench
of the Brazen llouse (Xarxloikos), with the in- had thus declared (Paus. ir. 20):
scription, “Dedicated by Aristomenes to the god-
έστε τράγος πίνησι Νέδης έλικόρδοον ύδωρ,
dess from the Spartan spoils. ” The next year, he
ουκ έτι Μεσσήνην ρύομαι, σχεδόθεν γαρ όλεθρος.
utterly defeated the enemy at the battle of the
Boar's Pillar (kámpov onua), a place in the region Sparta, therefore, was to triumph ; but the future
of Stenyclerus, at which the allies on both sides revival of Messenia had been declared in the pro-
were present, and the hosts were animated respec- phecies of Lycus, son of Pandion (Paus. iv. 20,
tively by the exhortations of Tyrtaeus and the 26, x. 12) to depend on the preservation of a sa-
Messenian Hierophants. (Paus. iv. 16 ; Müller, cred tablet, whereon were described the forms of
Dor. i. 5. § 16, i: 7. $ 9, note, ï. 10. § 3. ) His worship to Demeter and Persephore, said to have
next exploit was the attack and plunder of Pharae been brought of old by the priestly hero Caucon
(Pharis, Il. ii. 582); and it was only the warning from Eleusis to Messenia. (Paus. ir. 26. ) This
voice of Helen and the Twin Brothers, visiting holy treasure Aristomenes secretly buried in
him in a dream, that saved Sparta itself from his Ithome, and then returned to Eira prepared for
assault. But he surprised by an ambush the the worst. Soon after, the Spartans surprised Eira
Laconian maidens who were celebrating at Caryae by night, while Aristomenes was disabled by a
with dances the worship of Artemis, and carried wound, even as though it had been impossible for
them to Messenia, and himself protected them Messenia to fall while her hero watched ; yet for
from the violence of his followers, and restored three days and nights (though he knew the will of
them, for ransom, uninjured. Next came, in the the gods, and was fighting against hope) he main-
third year of the war, at which point the poem of tained the struggle with his thinned and fainting
Rhianus began, the battle of the Trench (ueyáin band, and at length, forming the remnant into a
Táopos), where, through the treachery of Aristo- hollow square, with the women and children in
crates, the Arcadian leader, Aristomenes suffered the midst, he demanded and obtained a free pas-
his first defeat, and the Messenian army was cut sage from the enemy. (Paus. ir. 20, 21. ) Arriving
almost to pieces. (Paus. iv. 17. ) But the hero safely and receiving a hospitable welcome in Arca-
gathered the remnant to the mountain fortress of dia, he formed a plan for surprising and assaulting
Eirm and there maintained the war for eleven Sparta, but was again betrayed by Aristocrates :
years (Rhian. ap. Paus. iv. 17), and so raraged him his countrymen stoned for his treachery, while
the land of Laconia, that the Spartans decreed Aristomenes, gentle as brave, wept for the traitor's
that the border should be left untilled. In one of fate. (Paus. iv. 22; Polyb. iv. 33; but sce Müll.
his incursions, however, they met and overpowered Dor. i. 7. $ 11. ) Yet he could not bear to relin-
him with superior numbers, and carrying him with quish the thought of war with Sparta, and he re-
fifty of his comrades to Sparta, cast them into the fused therefore to take the lead of the band which,
pit (keáðas) where condemned criminals were under his sons, went and settled at Rhegium. lle
thrown. The rest perished; not so Aristomenes, obtained, however, no opportunity for vengeance ;
the favourite of the gods ; for legends told how an it was not in his life that retribution was to come ;
eagle bore him up on its wings as he fell, and a but while he was consulting the Delphic oracle,
fox guided him on the third day from the cavern. Damagetus, king of lalysus in Rhodes, being there
The enemy could not beliere that he had returned at the same time, was enjoined by the god “ to
to Eira, till the destruction of an army of Corin- marry the daughter of the best of the Greeks. "
thians, who were coming to the Spartans' aid, Such a command, he thought, could have but one
convinced them that Aristomenes was indeed once interpretation ; so he took to wife the daughter of
more amongst them. And now it was that he Aristomenes, who accompanied him to Rhodes,
offered for a second time to Zeus of Ithome the and there ended his days in peace. The Rhodians
sacrifice for the slaughter of a hundred enemies raised to him a splendid monument, and honoured
(ékatoupóvia, comp. Flut.
described as of a coarse and vehement character. of this name is quoted by Celsus, and Pliny:
(Hermog. de Form. Orat. i. p. 296, and the Scho Hardouin (in his Index of authors quoted by
liast passim ; Phot. Cod. p. 496; Plut. Phoc. 10; Pliny) thinks that the two physicians inentioned
Quintil
. xii. 10. $ 22. ) His impudence drew upon by Suidas were in fact one and the same person,
him the surname of “the dog. " He was often ac- and that he was called “ Cnidius" from the place
cused by Demosthenes and others, and defended of his birth, and " Thasius” from his residence ;
himself in a number of orations which are lost. this, however, is quite uncertain. (Fabric. Bibl. Gr.
Among the extant speeches of Demosthenes there vol. xiii. p. 83, ed. vet. ; Kühn, Additam. ad Elen-
are two against Aristogeiton, and among those of chum Medicor. Veter. a Jo. A. Fabricio, fc. exhibitum,
Deinarchus there is one. Suidas and Eudocia Lips. 1826, 4to. , fascic. iii. p. 10. ) (W. A. G. )
(p. 65) mention seren orations of Aristogeiton ARISTOLAUS, a painter, the son and scholar
(comp. Phot. Cod. pp. 491, 495 ; Tzetz. Chil. vi. 94, of Pausias. [PAUSIAS. ] He filourished therefore
&c. , 105, &c. ; Harpocrat. s. vv. Avtoklelons and about Ol. 118, B. C. 308. Pliny (xxxv. 11. s. 40)
Oépoavapos), and an eighth against Phryne is men- mentions several of his works, and characterises
tioned by Athenaeus. (xiii
. p. 591. ) Aristogeiton his style as in the highest degree serere. [C. P. M. ]
died in prison. (Plut. Apophth. Reg. p. 188, b. ; ARISTO'LOCHUS ("Apothoxos ), a tragic
compare Taylor, Praef. ad Demosth. Orat. c. poet, who is not mentioned anywhere except in the
Aristog. in Schaefer's Apparat. Crit. iv. p. 297, collection of the Epistles formerly attributed to
&c. ; and Aeschin. c. Timarch. p. 22; S. Thorlacius, Phalaris (Epist. 18, ed. Lennep. ), where the
Opuscul. ii. pp. 201—240. )
(L. S. ] tyrant is made to speak of him with indignation
ARISTOGEITON ('Apiot oyeitwv), a statuary, for venturing to compete with him in writing
a native of Thebes. In conjunction with Hypato- tragedies. But with the genuineness of those
dorus, he was the maker of some statues of the epistles the existence of Aristolochus must fall to
heroes of Argive and Theban tradition, which the the ground, and Bentley (Phalaris, p. 260) has
Argires had made to commemorate a victory gained shewn, that if Aristolochus were a real personage,
by themselves and the Athenians over the Lace- this tragic writer must have lived before tragedy
daemonians at Oenoe in Argolis, and dedicated in was known.
(L. S. )
a
## p. 307 (#327) ############################################
ARISTOMACHUS.
307
ARISTOMENES.
ΛRISTO'MACHE ('Αριστομάχη). 1. The assistance Aratus had called in. Aristomachus
daughter of Hipparinus of Syracuse, and the sister fell into the hands of the Achaeans, who strangled
of Dion, was married to the elder Dionysius on him and threw him into the sea at Cenchreae.
the same day that he married Doris of Locri. (Polyb. ii. 59, 60; Plut. Arat. 44 ; Schorn, Ge-
She bore him two sons and two daughters, with schihte Griechenl. p. 118, note 1. )
one of whom, namely Arete, she afterwards 3. The leader of the popular party at Croton, in
perished. (Plut. Dion, 3, 6; Diod. xiv. 44, xvi. the Hannibalian war, about B. c. 215. At that
6; Aelian, V. H. xiii. 10, who crroneously calls time nearly all the towns of southern Italy were
her Aristaenete ; Cic. Tusc. v. 20; Val. Max. ix. divided into two parties, the people being in favour
13, ext. 4. ) Respecting her death, see ARETE. of the Carthaginians, and the nobles or senators in
2. Of Erythrae, a poetess, who conquered at the favour of the Romans. The Bruttians, who were
Isthmian games, and dedicated in the treasury of in alliance with the Carthaginians, had hoped to
Sicyon a golden book, that is, probably one written gain possession of Croton with their assistance.
with golden letters. (Plut. Symp. v. 2. $ 10. ) As this had not been done, they determined to
ARISTO'MACHUS ('Aplotouaxos). 1. A make the conquest by themselves. A deserter
son of Talaus and Lysimache, and brother of from Croton informed them of the state of political
Adrastus. (Apollod. i. 9. § 13. ) He was the parties there, and that Aristomachus, was ready
father of Hippomedon, one of the seven heroes to surrender the town to them. The Bruttians
against Thebes. (Apollod. iii. 6. § 3. ) Hyginus marched with an army against Croton, and as the
(Fab. 70) makes Hippomedon a son of a sister of lower parts, which were inhabited by the people,
Adrastus. (Comp. Paus. x. 10. § 2. )
were open and easy of access, they soon gained
2. A son of Cleodemus or Cleodacus, and great possession of them. Aristomachus, however, as if
grandson of Heracles, was the father of Temenus, he had nothing to do with the Bruttians, withdrew
Cresphontes, and Aristodemus. He marched into to the arx, where the nobles were assembled and
Peloponnesus at the time when Tisamenus, the defended themselves. The Bruttians in conjunc-
son of Orestes, ruled orer the Peninsula; but his tion with the people of Croton besieged the nobles
expedition failed as he had misunderstood the in the arx, and when they found that they made
oracle, and he fell in battle. (Apollod. ii. 8. $ 2; no impression, they applied to Hanno the Cartha-
Paus. ii. 7. $ 6; Herod. vi. 52. ) Another Aris ginian for assistance. He proposed to the Croto-
tomachus occurs in Paus. vi. 21. $ 7. (L. S. ] niats to receive the Bruttians as colonists within
ARISTOʻMACHUS('Apiotó uaxos). 1. Tyrant the extensive but deserted walls of their city; but
of Argos, in the reign and under the patronage of all the Crotoniats, with the exception of Aristoma-
Antigonus Gonatas.
He kept the citizens of chus, declared that they would rather die than sub-
Argos in a defenceless condition, but a conspiracy mit to this. As Aristomachus, who had betrayed
was formed against him, and arms were secretly the town, was unable to betray the arx also, he
introduced into the town by a contrivance of saw no way but to take to flight, and he accord-
Aratus, who wished to gain Argos for the Achaean ingly went over to Hanno. The Crotoniats soon
league. The plot was discovered, and the persons after quitted their town altogether and migrated
concerned in it took to fight. But Aristomachus to Locri. (Liv. xxir. 2, 3. )
was soon after assassinated by slaves, and was suc- 4. A Greek writer on agriculture or domestic
ceeded by Aristippus II. (Plut. Arut. 25. ) economy, who is quoted several times by Pliny.
2. Succeeded Aristippus II. in the tyranny (H. N. xiii. 47, xiv. 24, xix. 26. $ 4. ) [L. S. )
of Argos, apparently towards the end of the reign ARISTOMACHUS('Apotbuayos), a statuary,
of Demetrius. (B. C. 240—230. ) He seems to born on the banks of the Strymon, made statues
have been related to some of his predecessors in of courtezans. His age is not known. (Anthol.
the tyranny of Argos. (Polyb. ii. 59. ) After the Palat. vi. 268. )
(C. P. M. ]
death of Demetrius, B. c. 229, he resigned his ARISTOM'E'DES ('Apirtourons), a statuary,
power, as Lydiades had done before, and several a native of Thebes, and a contemporary of Pindar.
others did now, for the influence of Macedonia in In conjunction with his fellow-townsman Socrates,
Peloponnesus had nearly ceased, and the Aetolians he made a statue of Cybele, which was dedicated
were allied with the Achaeans. Aristomachus by Pindar in the temple of that goddess, near
had been persuaded to this step by Aratus, who Thebes. (Paus. ix. 25. $ 3. ) [C. P. M. )
gave him fifty talents that he might be able to pay ARISTO'MEDON ('Apiotouédwv), an Argive
off and dismiss his mercenaries. Argos now joined statuary, who lived shortly before the Persian wars,
the Achaean league, and Aristomachus was chosen made some statues dedicated by the Phocians at
strategus of the Achaeans for the year B. c. 227. Delphi, to commemorate their victory over the Thes-
(Plut. Arat. 35; Polyb. ii. 44; Paus. ii. 8. $ 5; salians. (Paus. x. 1. SS 3—10. ) (C. P. M. )
Plut. Cleom. 4. ) In this capacity he undertook ARISTO'MENES ('Aplotouévns), the Messe-
the command in the war against Cleomenes of nian, the hero of the second war with Sparta, has
Sparta, but he seems to have been checked by the been connected by some writers with the first war
jealousy of Aratus, in consequence of which he (Myron. ap. Paus. iv. 6; Diod. Sic. xv. 66, Fragm.
afterwards deserted the cause of the Achaeans and X. ), but in defiance apparently of all tradition.
went over to Cleomenes, who with his assistance (Tyrt. ap. Paus. l. c. ; Müller, Dor. i. 7. $ 9. ) For
took possession of Argos. Aristomachus now again the events of his life our main authority is Pausa-
assumed the tyranny at Argos. Aratus tried in nias, and he appears to have principally followed
vain to recover thai city for the Achaean league, Rhianus the Cretan, the author of a lost epic poem,
and the consequence only was, that the tyrant of which Aristomenes was the hero. (Paus. iv 6. )
ordered 80 uistinguished Argives to be put to death, The life of Aristomenes, therefore, belongs more to
as they were suspected of being favourable to legend than to history, though the truth of its
wards the Achacans. Not long afterwards, how general outline may be depended on. (Paus. iv. 22;
erer, Argos was taken by Antigonus Doson, whose Polyb. iv. 33. )
## p. 308 (#328) ############################################
308
ARISTOMENES.
ARISTOMENES.
9
1
Thirty-nine* years had clapsed since the capture was made, and Aristomenes, wandering on the
of Ithome and the end of the first Messenian war, faith of it too far from Eim, was seized by som
when the spirit of Messenin, chafing under a de Cretan bowmen (mercenaries of Sparta) and place!
grading yoke (Polyb. iv. 32 ; Justin. iii. 5 ; Tyrt. in bonds, but again burst them, and slew his foes
ap. l'aus. iv. 14), and cager for revolt, found a through the aid of a maiden who dwelt in the
leader in Aristomenes of Andania, sprung from the house where they lodged him, and whom he be-
royal line of Aepytus, and even referred by legen- trothed in gratitude to his son Gorgus. But the
dary tradition to a miraculous and superhuman anger of the Twins was roused against him, for he
origin. (Paus. iv. 14. ) Having gained promises of was said to have counterfeited them, and polluted
assistance from Argos, Arcadia, Sicyon, Elis, and with blood a Spartan festival in their honour.
Pisa (Paus. iv. 15; Strab. viii. p. 362), the hero (Thirlwall, Gr. Hist. rol. i. p. 364 ; Polyaen. xi.
began the war, B. C. 685. The first battle at 31. ) So the favour of heaven was turned from his
Derae, before the arrival of the allies on either country, and the hour of her full came. A wild
side, was indecisive; but Aristomenes so distin- fig-tree, called in the Messenian dialect by the
guished himself there by his valour, that he was i same name that also means a goat (Tpásyos), which
offered the throne, but refused it, and received the overhung the Neda, touched at length the water
office of supreme commander. This was followed with its leaves, and Theoclus the seer privately
by a remarkable exploit. Entering Sparta by warned Aristomenes that the Delphic oracle was
night, he affixed a shield to the temple of Athena accomplished, which after the battle of the Trench
of the Brazen llouse (Xarxloikos), with the in- had thus declared (Paus. ir. 20):
scription, “Dedicated by Aristomenes to the god-
έστε τράγος πίνησι Νέδης έλικόρδοον ύδωρ,
dess from the Spartan spoils. ” The next year, he
ουκ έτι Μεσσήνην ρύομαι, σχεδόθεν γαρ όλεθρος.
utterly defeated the enemy at the battle of the
Boar's Pillar (kámpov onua), a place in the region Sparta, therefore, was to triumph ; but the future
of Stenyclerus, at which the allies on both sides revival of Messenia had been declared in the pro-
were present, and the hosts were animated respec- phecies of Lycus, son of Pandion (Paus. iv. 20,
tively by the exhortations of Tyrtaeus and the 26, x. 12) to depend on the preservation of a sa-
Messenian Hierophants. (Paus. iv. 16 ; Müller, cred tablet, whereon were described the forms of
Dor. i. 5. § 16, i: 7. $ 9, note, ï. 10. § 3. ) His worship to Demeter and Persephore, said to have
next exploit was the attack and plunder of Pharae been brought of old by the priestly hero Caucon
(Pharis, Il. ii. 582); and it was only the warning from Eleusis to Messenia. (Paus. ir. 26. ) This
voice of Helen and the Twin Brothers, visiting holy treasure Aristomenes secretly buried in
him in a dream, that saved Sparta itself from his Ithome, and then returned to Eira prepared for
assault. But he surprised by an ambush the the worst. Soon after, the Spartans surprised Eira
Laconian maidens who were celebrating at Caryae by night, while Aristomenes was disabled by a
with dances the worship of Artemis, and carried wound, even as though it had been impossible for
them to Messenia, and himself protected them Messenia to fall while her hero watched ; yet for
from the violence of his followers, and restored three days and nights (though he knew the will of
them, for ransom, uninjured. Next came, in the the gods, and was fighting against hope) he main-
third year of the war, at which point the poem of tained the struggle with his thinned and fainting
Rhianus began, the battle of the Trench (ueyáin band, and at length, forming the remnant into a
Táopos), where, through the treachery of Aristo- hollow square, with the women and children in
crates, the Arcadian leader, Aristomenes suffered the midst, he demanded and obtained a free pas-
his first defeat, and the Messenian army was cut sage from the enemy. (Paus. ir. 20, 21. ) Arriving
almost to pieces. (Paus. iv. 17. ) But the hero safely and receiving a hospitable welcome in Arca-
gathered the remnant to the mountain fortress of dia, he formed a plan for surprising and assaulting
Eirm and there maintained the war for eleven Sparta, but was again betrayed by Aristocrates :
years (Rhian. ap. Paus. iv. 17), and so raraged him his countrymen stoned for his treachery, while
the land of Laconia, that the Spartans decreed Aristomenes, gentle as brave, wept for the traitor's
that the border should be left untilled. In one of fate. (Paus. iv. 22; Polyb. iv. 33; but sce Müll.
his incursions, however, they met and overpowered Dor. i. 7. $ 11. ) Yet he could not bear to relin-
him with superior numbers, and carrying him with quish the thought of war with Sparta, and he re-
fifty of his comrades to Sparta, cast them into the fused therefore to take the lead of the band which,
pit (keáðas) where condemned criminals were under his sons, went and settled at Rhegium. lle
thrown. The rest perished; not so Aristomenes, obtained, however, no opportunity for vengeance ;
the favourite of the gods ; for legends told how an it was not in his life that retribution was to come ;
eagle bore him up on its wings as he fell, and a but while he was consulting the Delphic oracle,
fox guided him on the third day from the cavern. Damagetus, king of lalysus in Rhodes, being there
The enemy could not beliere that he had returned at the same time, was enjoined by the god “ to
to Eira, till the destruction of an army of Corin- marry the daughter of the best of the Greeks. "
thians, who were coming to the Spartans' aid, Such a command, he thought, could have but one
convinced them that Aristomenes was indeed once interpretation ; so he took to wife the daughter of
more amongst them. And now it was that he Aristomenes, who accompanied him to Rhodes,
offered for a second time to Zeus of Ithome the and there ended his days in peace. The Rhodians
sacrifice for the slaughter of a hundred enemies raised to him a splendid monument, and honoured
(ékatoupóvia, comp. Flut.
