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It is interesting to note H.'s claim to speak from complete knowledge of Greek poets; cf. ch. 53. 1, and Introduction, § 18. The poets' story was that Aristodemus died just before the Dorian invasion (Paus. iii. 1. 6; Apollodorus ii. 8. 2). H. follows local Spartan tradition, as does Xenophon (Ages. viii. 7).


Ἀργείην. Sister of Theras (iv. 147), and of Theban descent.


τιμᾶν. Probably the oracle punned on the double sense of γεραίτερον, ‘elder’ and ‘more honourable’. The verse may have ended γεραίτερον ἔστι γεραίρειν. For τιμᾶν and γεραίρειν together cf. v. 67. 5.


The device of Panites, used to interpret the oracle, might well have settled the question of succession. Indeed, the younger child seems to have been brought up as a private individual (§ 7). The story is inconsistent as well as unhistorical.


ἐν τῷ δημοσίῳ, ‘in some state building’ (cf. vii. 144 ἐν τῷ κοινῷ) (Abbott) rather than (Stein) ‘at the public charge’ under official guardianship (cf. ch. 57. 2, 92. 2). Theras is ignored in this story, but cf. iv. 147.

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