Pausanias Analysis

Passage 4.29.11

← 4.29.10 4.29.12 →

Passage 4.29.11: Deinocrates repels an Achaean invasion of Messenia

Historical Non-skeptical

Greek Text

καὶ ὁ μὲν Σπαρτιάτης τύραννος ἀπῆλθεν ὑπόσπονδος, Ἀχαιοὶ δὲ ὕστερον τούτων μεμφόμενοί τι Μεσσηνίοις στρατεύουσιν ἐπʼ αὐτοὺς παρασκευῇ τῇ πάσῃ καὶ τὰ πολλὰ ἔτεμον τῆς χώρας. καὶ οἳ μὲν αὖθις περὶ ἀκμὴν σίτου συνελέγοντο ὡς ἐς τὴν Μεσσηνίαν ἐσβαλοῦντες· Δεινοκράτης δὲ δήμου τε προεστηκὼς καὶ Μεσσηνίων ἄρχειν ἐν τῷ τότε ᾑρημένος Λυκόρταν μὲν καὶ τὴν σὺν αὐτῷ στρατιὰν ἀναχωρῆσαι παρεσκεύασεν ἄπρακτον, τὰς ἐς τὴν Μεσσηνίαν ἐκ τῆς Ἀρκαδίας παρόδους προλαβὼν τοῖς τε ἐκ τῆς πόλεως Μεσσηνίοις καὶ ὅσοι τῶν περιοίκων σφίσιν ἤμυναν·

English Translation

The Spartan tyrant departed under terms of agreement, but afterward the Achaeans, finding fault with the Messenians on some count, marched against them with all available forces and devastated most of their land. Then, around the time of the grain harvest, they gathered again with intentions of invading Messenia. But Deinocrates, who was then the leader of the democratic party and had been appointed ruler of the Messenians, compelled Lycortas and his forces to withdraw without achieving anything, by occupying beforehand the routes from Arcadia into Messenia with the citizens from the city itself and all among the surrounding population who had come to their defense.

Proper Nouns

Deinocrates (Δεινοκράτης) person Q16190826
Also in: 8.51.7 8.51.8
Lycortas (Λυκόρτας) person
Messenians (Μεσσήνιος) person
Spartan (Σπαρτιάτης) person
Achaean (Ἀχαιός) person
Messenia (Μεσσηνία) place Q1247159
Arcadia (Ἀρκαδία) place Q12898802
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