Polydoros (Sparta)

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Polydoros ( Greek Πολύδωρος Polydoros ), son of Alcamenes was, in Greek mythology, the tenth or eleventh king of Sparta from the House of Agiaden , depending on whether you Menelaos counts as a king or not.

Domination

Polydorus was considered a just and kind ruler. He is said to have added 3000 more to Laconia, which Lycurgus had divided into 6000 parcels. He and Theopompus passed a law that gave kings and senators a veto right against unfortunate decrees of the people. During his reign, Spartan settlers founded Crotone and Locri on the south coast of Calabria . He should at the Olympic Games in the Pentathlon won.

First Messenian War

Polydoros carried on the First Messenian War that his father had started. Together with Theopompus he launched a campaign against Messenia . Pytharatus , the general of the Polydoros faced, was killed, but neither side could achieve a victory. It was not until the twentieth year of the war that the Spartans were able to gain an advantage through the heroic deed of Oibalos , which ultimately resulted in the Spartans' victory in the first year after the 14th Olympic Games in 724/3 BC BC ended.

death

After the war, Polydorus was murdered by Polemarchus , a Spartan from a respectable family. Polydoros was so venerated that a statue was erected for him at the tomb of Orestes and the official seals now bore his image. In the Excerpta Latina Barbari , the successor of Alkamenes is assigned 25 years of reign. However, it is incorrectly called Automedus. It is believed that the name of Automenes was accidentally moved from the Corinthian to the Spartan list. He was succeeded by his son Eurykrates .

swell

  • Herodotus , Histories , 7, 204.
  • Pausanias, travels in Greece , 3, 3, 1 - 4; 3, 11, 10; 3, 12, 3; 4, 7, 7-8; 4, 8, 10; 6, 1, 7; 8, 52, 1.
  • Plutarch , Apophthegmata laconica .
  • Plutarch, Lykurg , 6, 4; 8, 3.
predecessor Office successor
Alkamenes King of Sparta Eurycrates