Clitorians
Encyclopedia
Clitorians were the inhabitants of Kleitor
in ancient Arcadia
, made war with Sparta
n king Soos
in 9 century BCE. They were mentioned by Plutarch
, Pausanias
, Xenophon
. The Clitorians were members of Achaean League
.
s. But the road that leads from the fountains of Ladon
, towards the river Aroanius, is narrow, and the river Clitor flows near the town of the Clitorians. This river pours itself into Aroanius, at no greater distance than a mile from the city. There are various fish in the Aroanius. Some say these fishes emit sounds similar to a thrush
. Have seen fishes, indeed, taken, but never heard any sound proceed from them, though staid near the river till sun-set, at which time these fishes are said to be particularly vocal. But this city of the Clitorians was denominated from the son of Azan
. It is situated, too, in a plain, and is surrounded with mountains of no great altitude. The most illustrious of its temple
s are those of Ceres, Esculapius, and Lucina.
Homer
, indeed, mentions many Lucinas, and introduces them without any limited number. But Lycius Olen, who was more ancient than Homer, and who was a Delian, composed hymns to other divinities, and one to Lucina, whom he calls Eulinon, or the spinner; evincing by this that she is the same with Pepromene
, or Fate; and that she is more ancient than Saturn. The Clitorians, too, have a temple of the Dioscuri, whom they call mighty gods. This temple is about a half mile from the city, and contains brazen statues of the Dioscuri. But on the summit of a mountain, which around 3.5 miles from the city, there is a temple and statue of Minerva Coria.
, that, being besieged by the Clitorians in a dry and stony place so that he could come at no water, he was at last constrained to agree with them upon these terms, that he would restore to them all his conquests, provided that himself and all his men should drink of the nearest spring. After the usual oaths and ratifications, he called his soldiers together, and offered to him that would forbear drinking, his kingdom for a reward; and when not a man of them was able to forbear, in short, when they had all drunk their fill, at last comes king Sous himself to the spring, and. having sprinkled his face only, without swallowing one drop, marches off in the face of his enemies, refusing to yield up his conquests, because himself and all his men had not, according to the articles, drunk of their water.
A later war, unconnected with the greater concerns of the Lacedaemonian confederacy, already existed within Boeotia
. In that empire, which some of the Grecian republics exercised over others, and the Lacedaemonian, for a long time, over all, we see something of the principle of some despot
ic governments of modern Europe; allowing the people, as a recompense for deprivation of other liberty, that of assassinating one another. The little, almost unheard of, municipality of the Clitorians waged war with their neighbours the Orchomenians.
Unequal to their enemies in native military force, they had however pecuniary resources that enabled them to supply the deficiency: they took into their pay a body of those troops, the use of which had, as we have seen, long been increasing in Greece; vagabonds from various republics, who made war a trade, and were ready to engage in any service for the best hire. Thus hostilities went forward, unregarded by any superintending authority, till a particular interest of Lacedaemon required that the broil should stop; and then a mandate from Sparta sufficed to still the storm. Agesilaus I
saw means prepared by this little war for securing the passage of his army, over the mountains, into the Boeotian plain. He demanded the service of the Clitorian mercenaries for the purpose.
The Clitorians, desirous of gratifying the king and people of Lacedaemon, were only anxious that, while their mercenaries were employed in the Lacedaemonian service, their lands, which they were themselves unable to protect, might not be ravaged. For this Agesilaus undertook to provide; and he did it effectually, by sending his orders to the Orchomenians to abstain from hostility while Lacedaemon might have occasion for the Clitorian troops. It seems there was an existing decree of the congress of the confederacy, forbidding war between the confederated republics while an expedition in the common cause was going forward; and, under the sanction of this decree, Agesilaus threatened the Orchomenians with the first vengeance of the arms of that confederacy, of which their city was a member, if they disobeyed his order. The Orchomenians prudently acquiesced, and the Clitorian mercenaries occupied the passes.
Kleitor
Kleitor is a former municipality in Arcadia, Peloponnese, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Gortynia, of which it is a municipal unit. Its population was 2,584 as of 2001...
in ancient Arcadia
Arcadia
Arcadia is one of the regional units of Greece. It is part of the administrative region of Peloponnese. It is situated in the central and eastern part of the Peloponnese peninsula. It takes its name from the mythological character Arcas. In Greek mythology, it was the home of the god Pan...
, made war with Sparta
Sparta
Sparta or Lacedaemon, was a prominent city-state in ancient Greece, situated on the banks of the River Eurotas in Laconia, in south-eastern Peloponnese. It emerged as a political entity around the 10th century BC, when the invading Dorians subjugated the local, non-Dorian population. From c...
n king Soos
Soos
Soos was a partially mythological king of Sparta. According to Pausanias son of Procles and father of Eurypon. His name means stability a key concept for Spartan identity - such personifications of concepts are typical of orally transmitted lists...
in 9 century BCE. They were mentioned by Plutarch
Plutarch
Plutarch then named, on his becoming a Roman citizen, Lucius Mestrius Plutarchus , c. 46 – 120 AD, was a Greek historian, biographer, essayist, and Middle Platonist known primarily for his Parallel Lives and Moralia...
, Pausanias
Pausanias (geographer)
Pausanias was a Greek traveler and geographer of the 2nd century AD, who lived in the times of Hadrian, Antoninus Pius and Marcus Aurelius. He is famous for his Description of Greece , a lengthy work that describes ancient Greece from firsthand observations, and is a crucial link between classical...
, Xenophon
Xenophon
Xenophon , son of Gryllus, of the deme Erchia of Athens, also known as Xenophon of Athens, was a Greek historian, soldier, mercenary, philosopher and a contemporary and admirer of Socrates...
. The Clitorians were members of Achaean League
Achaean League
The Achaean League was a Hellenistic era confederation of Greek city states on the northern and central Peloponnese, which existed between 280 BC and 146 BC...
.
Description
At the distance of about seven miles from the fountains of Ladon is the city of the ClitorianKleitor
Kleitor is a former municipality in Arcadia, Peloponnese, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Gortynia, of which it is a municipal unit. Its population was 2,584 as of 2001...
s. But the road that leads from the fountains of Ladon
Ladon River
The river Ladon features in Greek mythology. It rises in Arcadia, west of Tripoli. It is a tributary to the river Alfeios, which empties into the Ionian Sea....
, towards the river Aroanius, is narrow, and the river Clitor flows near the town of the Clitorians. This river pours itself into Aroanius, at no greater distance than a mile from the city. There are various fish in the Aroanius. Some say these fishes emit sounds similar to a thrush
Thrush (bird)
The thrushes, family Turdidae, are a group of passerine birds that occur worldwide.-Characteristics:Thrushes are plump, soft-plumaged, small to medium-sized birds, inhabiting wooded areas, and often feed on the ground or eat small fruit. The smallest thrush may be the Forest Rock-thrush, at and...
. Have seen fishes, indeed, taken, but never heard any sound proceed from them, though staid near the river till sun-set, at which time these fishes are said to be particularly vocal. But this city of the Clitorians was denominated from the son of Azan
Azan (mythology)
In Greek mythology, Azan was the son of Arcas and the Dryad Erato, brother of Apheidas, Elatus and Hyperippe. Azania in Arcadia was named after him. He married Hippolyte, daughter of Dexamenus, and had a son Cleitor. When Azan died, the first funeral games in history were held in his honor. It was...
. It is situated, too, in a plain, and is surrounded with mountains of no great altitude. The most illustrious of its temple
Temple
A temple is a structure reserved for religious or spiritual activities, such as prayer and sacrifice, or analogous rites. A templum constituted a sacred precinct as defined by a priest, or augur. It has the same root as the word "template," a plan in preparation of the building that was marked out...
s are those of Ceres, Esculapius, and Lucina.
Homer
Homer
In the Western classical tradition Homer , is the author of the Iliad and the Odyssey, and is revered as the greatest ancient Greek epic poet. These epics lie at the beginning of the Western canon of literature, and have had an enormous influence on the history of literature.When he lived is...
, indeed, mentions many Lucinas, and introduces them without any limited number. But Lycius Olen, who was more ancient than Homer, and who was a Delian, composed hymns to other divinities, and one to Lucina, whom he calls Eulinon, or the spinner; evincing by this that she is the same with Pepromene
Pepromene
Pepromene is a goddess and personification of fate/destiny in Greek mythology . Her name seems to be a synonym to other Greek terms for destiny and fate Pepromene is a goddess and personification of fate/destiny in Greek mythology (personification of "the destined share", which implies a person's...
, or Fate; and that she is more ancient than Saturn. The Clitorians, too, have a temple of the Dioscuri, whom they call mighty gods. This temple is about a half mile from the city, and contains brazen statues of the Dioscuri. But on the summit of a mountain, which around 3.5 miles from the city, there is a temple and statue of Minerva Coria.
Lacedaemonians
There goes a story of a Spartan king SoosSoos
Soos was a partially mythological king of Sparta. According to Pausanias son of Procles and father of Eurypon. His name means stability a key concept for Spartan identity - such personifications of concepts are typical of orally transmitted lists...
, that, being besieged by the Clitorians in a dry and stony place so that he could come at no water, he was at last constrained to agree with them upon these terms, that he would restore to them all his conquests, provided that himself and all his men should drink of the nearest spring. After the usual oaths and ratifications, he called his soldiers together, and offered to him that would forbear drinking, his kingdom for a reward; and when not a man of them was able to forbear, in short, when they had all drunk their fill, at last comes king Sous himself to the spring, and. having sprinkled his face only, without swallowing one drop, marches off in the face of his enemies, refusing to yield up his conquests, because himself and all his men had not, according to the articles, drunk of their water.
A later war, unconnected with the greater concerns of the Lacedaemonian confederacy, already existed within Boeotia
Boeotia
Boeotia, also spelled Beotia and Bœotia , is one of the regional units of Greece. It is part of the region of Central Greece. It was also a region of ancient Greece. Its capital is Livadeia, the second largest city being Thebes.-Geography:...
. In that empire, which some of the Grecian republics exercised over others, and the Lacedaemonian, for a long time, over all, we see something of the principle of some despot
Despotism
Despotism is a form of government in which a single entity rules with absolute power. That entity may be an individual, as in an autocracy, or it may be a group, as in an oligarchy...
ic governments of modern Europe; allowing the people, as a recompense for deprivation of other liberty, that of assassinating one another. The little, almost unheard of, municipality of the Clitorians waged war with their neighbours the Orchomenians.
Unequal to their enemies in native military force, they had however pecuniary resources that enabled them to supply the deficiency: they took into their pay a body of those troops, the use of which had, as we have seen, long been increasing in Greece; vagabonds from various republics, who made war a trade, and were ready to engage in any service for the best hire. Thus hostilities went forward, unregarded by any superintending authority, till a particular interest of Lacedaemon required that the broil should stop; and then a mandate from Sparta sufficed to still the storm. Agesilaus I
Agesilaus I
Agesilaus I , son of Doryssus, was the sixth king of the Agiad line at Sparta, excluding Aristodemus. According to Apollodorus, reigned forty-four years, and died in 886 BC. Pausanias makes his reign a short one, but contemporary with the legislation of Lycurgus. He was succeeded by his son...
saw means prepared by this little war for securing the passage of his army, over the mountains, into the Boeotian plain. He demanded the service of the Clitorian mercenaries for the purpose.
The Clitorians, desirous of gratifying the king and people of Lacedaemon, were only anxious that, while their mercenaries were employed in the Lacedaemonian service, their lands, which they were themselves unable to protect, might not be ravaged. For this Agesilaus undertook to provide; and he did it effectually, by sending his orders to the Orchomenians to abstain from hostility while Lacedaemon might have occasion for the Clitorian troops. It seems there was an existing decree of the congress of the confederacy, forbidding war between the confederated republics while an expedition in the common cause was going forward; and, under the sanction of this decree, Agesilaus threatened the Orchomenians with the first vengeance of the arms of that confederacy, of which their city was a member, if they disobeyed his order. The Orchomenians prudently acquiesced, and the Clitorian mercenaries occupied the passes.
External articles
- Cleitor, Dictionary of Greek and Roman GeographyDictionary of Greek and Roman GeographyThe Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography, first published in 1854, was the last of a series of classical dictionaries edited by the English scholar William Smith , which included as sister works A Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities and the Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and...
, Volume 1 edited by Sir William Smith. Pg., 632+.