Pausanias Analysis

Not long afterward, the Corinthians who were in exile due to their pro-Spartan sympathies established their own Isthmian Games. Those who remained in the city at the time kept quiet through fear of Agesilaus. But when he withdrew to Sparta, they themselves resumed holding the Isthmian Games jointly with the Argives. Agesilaus again marched against Corinth with his army, yet—as the Hyacinthia festival was approaching—he dismissed the Amyclaeans to return home and carry out the prescribed rites honoring Apollo and Hyacinthus. On their way home, these men were attacked and destroyed by Iphicrates and the Athenians.

Agesilaus also arrived in Aetolia to provide aid to the Aetolians when they were oppressed in war by the Acarnanians, and he compelled the Acarnanians to end the conflict, though they were not far from capturing Calydon and the other towns of the Aetolians. Later in time, he sailed also to Egypt to support the Egyptians, who had revolted from the Persian king. In Egypt, Agesilaus accomplished many deeds worthy of remembrance. But during the return journey—since he was now indeed an old man—his destined end overtook him. When his body was brought home, the Lacedaemonians buried him, bestowing upon him honors surpassing those accorded to any king.

During the reign of Archidamus, son of Agesilaus, the Phocians seized the sanctuary at Delphi. War arose between the Thebans and the Phocians; mercenary forces joined privately for payment on the side of the Thebans, but the Spartans and Athenians openly defended the Phocians in alliance. The Athenians supported them, recalling a certain ancient benefit from the Phocians; the Spartans publicly claimed friendship as their reason, but in my opinion, their true motive was hatred of the Thebans. Theopompus, son of Damasistratus, says that Archidamus himself accepted money from the Phocian leaders, and moreover, that Deinicha, Archidamus' wife, receiving bribes from those controlling affairs in Phocis, made Archidamus even more eager for alliance with them.

That Archidamus received sacred money and aided men who had plundered the most famous of oracles, I do not consider praiseworthy. Yet there is this much in his favor: the Phocians intended to kill all the adult Delphians, enslave their women and children, and raze the city itself to the ground; Archidamus, therefore, persuaded them not to inflict these sufferings upon the Delphians.

Afterwards he crossed also into Italy to assist the Tarentines in a war against neighboring barbarians. There he died at the hands of the barbarians, and the wrath of Apollo prevented his corpse from receiving burial. Concerning this Archidamus, his elder son Agis met death fighting against Antipater and the Macedonians, whereas his younger son, Eudamidas, reigned over the Lacedaemonians while they enjoyed peace. The further events involving Agis, son of Eudamidas, and Eurydamidas, son of Agis, have already been related in my account of Sicyon.

As you go on from the Hermae, this entire area is filled with oak trees; the place is called Skotitas. It is not, however, the dense shade of the trees that gave the spot its name, but rather Zeus received the surname Skotitas ("of Darkness"). Approximately ten stades to the left off the road lies a sanctuary dedicated to Zeus Skotitas. When you return from this sanctuary, after proceeding a short distance further and turning left again, there is a statue of Herakles and a trophy which he is said to have set up after killing Hippocoon and his sons.

The third branching from the main road on the right leads to Caryae and to the sanctuary of Artemis. For Caryae is sacred to Artemis and to the Nymphs, and there stands in the open air an image of Artemis Caryatis. Here the maidens of the Lacedaemonians annually perform dances, and a traditional dance has become customary among them. Turning back and continuing along the highway, one reaches the ruins of Sellasia. As I have written previously, the Achaeans reduced this town to slavery, having defeated in battle the Lacedaemonians and their king Cleomenes, the son of Leonidas.

In Thornax—for as you advance you will arrive there—is an image of Apollo Pythaeus, made the same way as that at Amyclae; however, I shall describe its form when I come to that one. For the Lacedaemonians hold the sanctuary at Amyclae in greater esteem; so much so that even the gold, which Croesus the Lydian had sent to Apollo Pythaeus, they used for adorning the image at Amyclae.