Histories

By so saying he imitated Melampus, in so far as one may compare demands for kingship with those for citizenship. For when the women of Argos [22.7333,37.6417] (Perseus) Argos had gone mad, and the Argives wanted him to come from Pylos [21.7083,36.9167] (Perseus) Pylos and heal them of that madness,[*](According to the legend, the Argive women were driven mad by Dionysus for refusing to take part in his orgies, and cured by Melampus. Many Greek authors refer to it, with varying details.) Melampus demanded half of their kingship for his wages.

This the Argives would not put up with and departed. When, however, the madness spread among their women, they promised what Melampus demanded and were ready to give it to him. Thereupon, seeing their purpose changed, he demanded yet more and said that he would not do their will except if they gave a third of their kingship to his brother Bias; now driven into dire straits, the Argives consented to that also.

The Spartans too were so eagerly desirous of winning Tisamenus that they granted everything that he demanded. When they had granted him this also, Tisamenus of +Elis [21.4,37.8833] (Perseus) Elis, now a Spartan, engaged in divination for them and aided them to win five very great victories. No one on earth save Tisamenus and his brother ever became citizens of Sparta [22.4417,37.0667] (Perseus) Sparta.

Now the five victories were these: one, the first, this victory at Plataea [23.2667,38.2] (Perseus) Plataea; next, that which was won at Tegea [22.4,37.5] (Perseus) Tegea over the Tegeans and Argives; after that, over all the Arcadians save the Mantineans at Dipaea; next, over the Messenians at +Ithome [21.8167,39.4167] (Perseus) Ithome; lastly, the victory at +Tanagra [23.6,38.3083] (Perseus) Tanagra over the Athenians and Argives, which was the last won of the five victories.[*](The battle at +Ithome [21.8167,39.4167] (Perseus) Ithome was apparently in the third Messenian war; that at +Tanagra [23.6,38.3083] (Perseus) Tanagra, in 457 B.C. (Thuc. 1.107). Nothing is known of the battles at Tegea [22.4,37.5] (Perseus) Tegea and Dipaea.)

This Tisamenus had now been brought by the Spartans and was the diviner of the Greeks at Plataea [23.2667,38.2] (Perseus) Plataea. The sacrifices boded good to the Greeks if they would just defend themselves, but evil if they should cross the Asopus and be the first to attack.