Pausanias Analysis

Passage 3.4.4

← 3.4.3 3.4.5 →

Passage 3.4.4: Demaratus' legitimacy contested at Delphi.

Historical Skeptical

Greek Text

εἴχετο δὲ Λεωτυχίδης λόγων οὓς Ἀρίστων ποτὲ ἐς Δημάρατον τεχθέντα ἐξέβαλεν ὑπὸ ἀμαθίας οὐχ αὑτοῦ παῖδα εἶναι φήσας. τότε δὲ οἱ μὲν ἐς τὸ χρηστήριον οἱ Λακεδαιμόνιοι τὸ ἐν Δελφοῖς, ὥσπερ καὶ τὰ ἄλλα εἰώθεσαν, ἀνάγουσι καὶ τὸ ἀμφισβήτημα τὸ ὑπὲρ Δημαράτου· ἡ δέ σφισιν ἔχρησεν ἡ πρόμαντις ὁπόσα ἦν Κλεομένει κατὰ γνώμην.

English Translation

Leotychides based his arguments on words once spoken by Ariston, who had disowned Demaratus at his birth, due to ignorance asserting that he was not his own son. At that time, the Lacedaemonians, as was their usual practice in all other matters, brought this controversy concerning Demaratus as well before the oracle at Delphi; and the priestess gave them an answer which corresponded exactly to the wishes of Cleomenes.

Proper Nouns

Demaratus (Δημάρατος) person Q334478
Cleomenes (Κλεομένης) person
Lacedaemonians (Λακεδαιμόνιοι) person
Leotychides (Λεωτυχίδης) person
Ariston (Ἀρίστων) person
Delphi (Δελφοί) place Q75459 Pleiades
← 3.4.3 3.4.5 →