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ἐπιμειξίης. The detail of a ‘truce for intercourse’ comes in to explain how Lichas could be in Tegea.

ἐξελαυνόμενον (cf. 50. 2); the surprise at the working of iron is a very primitive feature that has become incorporated in a sixthcentury myth.


χαλκεύς is used even of an iron-worker; cf. Lucr. v. 1287 ‘Prior aeris erat quam ferri cognitus usus’.


Cf. Il. i. 272 and H. ii. 91. 3 for the great stature of early heroes; a tall mortal might be six feet; cf. Arist. Ran. 1014.


ἐκ λόγου πλαστοῦ, ‘banished him on a fictitious charge’; the prosecution was a pretence to secure Lichas admittance to Tegea. As an alien he had no ἔγκτησις γῆς there, and so was compelled to ‘hire’ the court.


ἤδη δέ σφι: an exaggeration, although Lacedaemonian hegemony was established over Arcadia by 550 B.C.

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