[75]
"The Spartans received many warnings given at
that time of their impending defeat at Leuctra.
For example, a crown of wild, prickly herbs suddenly
appeared on the head of the statue erected at
Delphi in honour of Lysander, the most eminent
of the Spartans. Furthermore, the Spartans had
set up some golden stars in the temple of Castor
and Pollux at Delphi to commemorate the glorious
victory1 of Lysander over the Athenians, because,
it was said, those gods were seen accompanying the
Spartan fleet in that battle. Now, just before the
battle of Leuctra these divine symbols—that is,
the golden stars at Delphi, already referred to—
fell down and were never seen again.
1 At Aegospotami 405 B.C.
Cicero: De Senectute De Amicitia De Divinatione. With An English Translation. William Armistead Falconer. Cambridge. Harvard University Press; Cambridge, Mass., London, England. 1923.
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