Histories

Herodotus

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

From the +Peloponnese [22,37.5] (region), Greece, Europe Peloponnese came Leocedes, son of Phidon the tyrant of Argos [22.7333,37.6417] (Perseus) Argos, that Phidon who made weights and measures for the Peloponnesians [*](P. introduced the “Aeginetan” system of weights and measures. For the chronological difficulty connected with this mention of him, see the commentators.) and acted more arrogantly than any other Greek; he drove out the Elean contest-directors and held the contests at Olympia [21.6333,37.65] (Perseus)Olympia himself. This man's son now came, and Amiantus, an Arcadian from +Trapezus [39.7167,41] (Perseus) Trapezus, son of Lycurgus; and an Azenian from the town of Paeus, Laphanes, son of that Euphorion who, as the Arcadian tale relates, gave lodging to the Dioscuri, and ever since kept open house for all men; and Onomastus from +Elis [21.4,37.8833] (Perseus) Elis, son of Agaeus.

These came from the +Peloponnese [22,37.5] (region), Greece, Europe Peloponnese itself; from Athens Megacles, son of that Alcmeon who visited Croesus, and also Hippocleides son of Tisandrus, who surpassed the Athenians in wealth and looks. From +Eretria [23.8083,38.3917] (Perseus) Eretria, which at that time was prosperous, came Lysanias; he was the only man from +Euboea [23.833,38.566] (island), Nomos Evvoias, Central Greece and Euboea, Greece, Europe Euboea. From +Thessaly [22.25,39.5] (region), Greece, Europe Thessaly came a Scopad, Diactorides of Crannon; and from the Molossians, Alcon.

These were the suitors. When they arrived on the appointed day, Cleisthenes first inquired the country and lineage of each; then he kept them with him for a year, testing their manliness and temper and upbringing and manner of life; this he did by consorting with them alone and in company, putting the younger of them to contests of strength, but especially watching their demeanor at the common meal; for as long as he kept them with him, he did everything for them and entertained them with magnificence.

The suitors that most pleased him were the ones who had come from Athens [23.7333,37.9667] (Perseus)Athens, and of these Hippocleides son of Tisandrus was judged foremost, both for his manliness and because in ancestry he was related to the Cypselids of Corinth [22.9083,37.9083] (Perseus) Corinth.

When the appointed day came for the marriage feast and for Cleisthenes' declaration of whom he had chosen out of them all, Cleisthenes sacrificed a hundred oxen and gave a feast to the suitors and to the whole of Sikyon [22.725,37.9833] (Perseus)Sicyon.