Oibalos (Messenian War)

Oibalos ( Greek  Οἴβαλος ) was a legendary figure of early Spartan history in the 8th century BC. Chr.

In the twentieth year of the First Messenian War (around 715 BC) the Messenians questioned the Oracle of Delphi about the outcome of the war. The answer they received was that those who would first light a hundred tripods in the temple of Zeus Ithomatas would also achieve victory. The Messenians were very happy about this, as this temple was on Mount Ithome within the city wall. Oibalos, who learned of the oracle, made 100 tripods out of clay, stowed them in a sack and went to Messene. He could get into the city undetected and light the tripods in the sanctuary at night. When the Messenians saw the tripods, they knew what had happened and, as prophesied, were defeated by the Spartans.

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• Pausanias , Travel in Greece , 4, 12, 7-10.