Pausanias Analysis

Passage 9.13.4

← 9.13.3 9.13.5 →

Passage 9.13.4: Omen to Cleombrotus and the Spartans: wolves killed the lead goats (katoiades).

Historical Non-skeptical

Greek Text

ἐνταῦθα καὶ αὐτῷ Κλεομβρότῳ καὶ Λακεδαιμονίων τῷ κοινῷ σημεῖα ἐγένετο ἐκ τοῦ θεοῦ. τοῖς βασιλεῦσιν αὐτῶν ἐς τὰς ἐξόδους πρόβατα εἵπετο θεοῖς τε εἶναι θυσίας καὶ πρὸ τῶν ἀγώνων καλλιερεῖν· ταῖς δὲ ποίμναις ἡγεμόνες τῆς πορείας ἦσαν αἶγες, κατοιάδας οἱ ποιμένες ὀνομάζουσιν αὐτάς. τότε οὖν ὁρμήσαντες ἐς τὴν ποίμνην λύκοι τοῖς μὲν προβάτοις ἐγίνοντο οὐδὲν βλάβος, οἱ δὲ τὰς αἶγας τὰς κατοιάδας ἔκτεινον.

English Translation

At this place, signs from the god appeared both to Cleombrotus himself and to the Spartan people in common. It was customary for their kings, whenever they set out on expeditions, to have sheep accompany them for sacrifices to the gods and divination before battles; yet in these flocks goats served as leaders on the march, which the shepherds call "katoiades." At that time, wolves attacked the flock, but no harm befell the sheep; instead, the wolves killed only the goats called "katoiades."

Proper Nouns

god (θεός) deity
Cleombrotus (Κλεομβρότος) person
Also in: 3.6.2 8.52.2
Lacedaemonians (Λακεδαιμόνιοι) person
← 9.13.3 9.13.5 →