History of the Peloponnesian War

About the same time the Lacedaemonians, too, marched out with all their forces to Leuctra, a place on their own borders opposite Mt. Lycaeum, under the command of King Agis son of Archidamus; and no one knew whither they were marching, not even the cities from which they were sent.

But as the sacrifices for crossing the border[*](The sacrifices offered to Zeus by the Spartan kings before crossing the border.) were not favourable, they went back home themselves, and sent word to their allies, after the coming month— the Carneian month,[*](Corresponding to the Attic Metageitnion, nearly our August.) a holiday among the Dorians—to prepare to take the field.

When they withdrew, the Argives set out on the twenty-seventh of the month preceding the Carneian, and continuing to observe that day during the whole time,[*](They called every day the 27th as long as they were in Epidaurian territory and thus postponed the beginning of the following month until their work was done. Probably the Argives, on religious grounds (as Dorians), took holiday as soon as the Carneian month began.) invaded Epidaurus and proceeded to ravage it.

The Epidaurians called upon their allies for help; but some of these made the month an excuse, while the rest went merely to the borders of Epidauria and there remained quiet.