Histories

Herodotus

Herodotus. Godley, Alfred Denis, translator. Cambridge, MA; London: Harvard University Press; William Heinemann, Ltd., 1920-1925 (printing).

If indeed it seems to you to be a good thing that the cities be ruled by tyrants, set up a tyrant among yourselves first and then seek to set up such for the rest. As it is, however, you, who have never made trial of tyrants and take the greatest precautions that none will arise at Sparta [22.4417,37.0667] (Perseus) Sparta, deal wrongfully with your allies. If you had such experience of that thing as we have, you would be more prudent advisers concerning it than you are now.”

The Corinthian state was ordered in such manner as I will show.There was an oligarchy, and this group of men, called the Bacchiadae, held sway in the city, marrying and giving in marriage among themselves. Now Amphion, one of these men, had a crippled daughter, whose name was Labda.[*](Because (according to the Etymologicum Magnum) the “outward distortion of the feet” resembled the letter *l.) Since none of the Bacchiadae would marry her, she was wedded to Eetion son of Echecrates, of the township of +Petra [22.7083,39.4917] (Perseus) Petra, a Lapith by lineage and of the posterity of Caeneus.

When no sons were born to him by this wife or any other, he set out to Delphi [22.5167,38.4917] (Perseus) Delphi to enquire concerning the matter of acquiring offspring. As soon as he entered, the Pythian priestess spoke these verses to him:

  1. Eetion,worthy of honor, no man honors you.
  2. Labda is with child, and her child will be a millstone
  3. Which will fall upon the rulers and will bring justice to Corinth [22.9083,37.9083] (Perseus) Corinth.

This oracle which was given to Eetion was in some way made known to the Bacchiadae. The earlier oracle sent to Corinth [22.9083,37.9083] (Perseus) Corinth had not been understood by them, despite the fact that its meaning was the same as the meaning of the oracle of Eetion, and it read as follows:

  1. An eagle in the rocks has conceived, and will bring forth a lion,
  2. Strong and fierce. The knees of many will it loose.
  3. This consider well, Corinthians,
  4. You who dwell by lovely Pirene and the overhanging heights of Corinth [22.9083,37.9083] (Perseus) Corinth.