Androkles (son of Phintas)

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Androkles ( ancient Greek Ἀνδροκλῆς ; † 746 BC) was according to Pausanias the son of the Messenian king Phintas of the Aipytid family . After the death of his father, he and his brother Antiochus took over the rule in Messenia.

In 746 BC There was considerable tension between the Messenians and Sparta , which demanded the extradition of the Polychares , who, in revenge for his slain son, slew every Spartan he met. The Messenians called a popular assembly. While Androkles was in favor of the murderer's extradition, his brother pleaded against it. At the gathering, the followers of Antiochus attacked their opponents, and Androkles was killed. His daughter and grandson fled to Sparta, which is why, after the Messenian defeat at the Great Ditch, the descendants of Androkles received lands from the Spartans.

The historicity of the literarily embellished events is critically assessed in research and the dates given in Pausanias are considered incorrect and should be set around 40 years later.

King Androkles is possibly identical to the Messenian Olympic champion Androklos, who took part in the third Olympiad in 768 BC. Won the stadium run.

Individual evidence

  1. ^ V. Parker: The Dates of the Messenian Wars ; 1991 Chiron 21: 25-47.
  2. ^ Pausanias: Travels in Greece. Complete edition in three volumes based on the commented translation by Ernst Meyer . Edited by Felix Eckstein . Artemis, Zurich and Munich 1986–1989 (= The Library of the Old World. Greek Series ). P. 537.

swell

  • Pausanias , Travels in Greece 4.4 f .; 4.14.3

literature

personal data
SURNAME Androkles
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Ἀνδροκλῆς (Greek)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Son of the Messenian king Phintas of the Aipytid family
DATE OF BIRTH 9th century BC BC or 8th century BC Chr.
DATE OF DEATH 746 BC Chr.