Histories

When it was the time of the Gymnopaidia,[*](A midsummer festival, celebrated at Sparta [22.4417,37.0667] (Perseus) Sparta by bands of naked boys and men.) Leotychides, now king in his place, saw him in the audience and, as a joke and an insult, sent a messenger to him to ask what it was like to hold office after being king.

He was grieved by the question and said that he had experience of both, while Leotychides did not, and that this question would be the beginning for Sparta [22.4417,37.0667] (Perseus) Sparta of either immense evil or immense good fortune. He said this, covered his head, left the theater, and went home, where he immediately made preparations and sacrificed an ox to Zeus. Then he summoned his mother.

When she came in, he put some of the entrails in her hands and entreated her, saying, “Mother, appealing to Zeus of the household and to all the other gods, I beseech you to tell me the truth. Who is my father? Tell me truly.

Leotychides said in the disputes that you were already pregnant by your former husband when you came to Ariston. Others say more foolishly that you approached to one of the servants, the ass-keeper, and that I am his son.

I adjure you by the gods to speak what is true. If you have done anything of what they say, you are not the only one; you are in company with many women. There is much talk at Sparta [22.4417,37.0667] (Perseus) Sparta that Ariston did not have child-bearing seed in him, or his former wives would have given him children.”