Histories

Herodotus

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

When the Spartans asked the oracle about this war when it broke out, the Pythia had foretold that either Sparta [22.416,37.83] (inhabited place), Laconia, Peloponnese, Greece, Europe Lacedaemon would be destroyed by the barbarians or their king would be killed. She gave them this answer in hexameter verses running as follows:

  1. For you, inhabitants of wide-wayed Sparta [22.4417,37.0667] (Perseus) Sparta,
  2. Either your great and glorious city must be wasted by Persian men,
  3. Or if not that, then the bound of Sparta [22.416,37.83] (inhabited place), Laconia, Peloponnese, Greece, Europe Lacedaemon must mourn a dead king, from Heracles' line.
  4. The might of bulls or lions will not restrain him with opposing strength; for he has the might of Zeus.
  5. I declare that he will not be restrained until he utterly tears apart one of these.
Considering this and wishing to win distinction for the Spartans alone, he sent away the allies rather than have them leave in disorder because of a difference of opinion.