Lacaenarum Apophthegmata

Of the Sayings of Spartan Women the same may be said as of the Sayings of Spartans. It truly represents the work of Plutarch, and many of the sayings are repeated elsewhere in his writings; others perhaps in his writings that are now lost. Whether the sayings were collected in this form by Plutarch or by someone else is a matter of minor importance.

Argileonis, the mother of Brasidas, when her son had met his death,[*](At the battle of Amphipolis, 422 b.c.) and some of the citizens of Amphipolis arrived at Sparta and came to her, asked if her son had met his death honourably and in a manner worthy of Sparta. And when th ey proceeded to tell of his greatness, and declared that he was the best of all the Spartans in such enterprises, she said, Sirs, my son was a gude and honourable mon, but Sparta has mony a mon better than him.[*](Cf. the note on Moralia, 190 b, supra.)