Histories

Some say that Aristodemus came home safely to Sparta [22.4417,37.0667] (Perseus) Sparta in this way and by this excuse. Others say that he had been sent out of the camp as a messenger and could have gotten back in time for the battle but chose not to, staying behind on the road and so surviving, while his fellow-messenger arrived at the battle and was killed.

When Aristodemus returned to Sparta [22.416,37.83] (inhabited place), Laconia, Peloponnese, Greece, Europe Lacedaemon, he was disgraced and without honor. He was deprived of his honor in this way: no Spartan would give him fire or speak with him, and they taunted him by calling him Aristodemus the Trembler. In the battle at Plataea [23.2667,38.2] (Perseus) Plataea, however, he made up for all the blame brought against him.

It is said that another of the three hundred survived because he was sent as a messenger to +Thessaly [22.25,39.5] (region), Greece, Europe Thessaly. His name was Pantites. When he returned to Sparta [22.4417,37.0667] (Perseus) Sparta, he was dishonored and hanged himself.

The Thebans, whose general was Leontiades, fought against the king's army as long as they were with the Hellenes and under compulsion. When, however, they saw the Persian side prevailing and the Hellenes with Leonidas hurrying toward the hill, they split off and approached the barbarians, holding out their hands. With the most truthful words ever spoken, they explained that they were Medizers, had been among the first to give earth and water to the king, had come to +Thermopylae [22.5583,38.8] (Perseus) Thermopylae under constraint, and were guiltless of the harm done to the king.