Polydor ( dr. Greek Πολύδωρος , "richly gifted") is the king of Sparta from the Agiad family, who ruled in the 730-720s BC. e. (by traditional dating). Son of Alkamen [1] . According to some scientists, he lived no earlier than the VII century BC. e. [2] .
| Polydor | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greek Πολύδωρος | |||||||
| |||||||
| Predecessor | Alkamen | ||||||
| Successor | Euricrates | ||||||
| Kind | Agiad | ||||||
| Father | Alkamen | ||||||
| Children | son of Euricrates | ||||||
The main event of Polydor’s reign is the First Messenian War . He commanded the Spartans along with Theopompom (another king of Sparta from the Euripontis dynasty) in the battle of 739 BC. e. [3] . According to Polien , before one of the battles he sent a deserter to the Messenians, falsely reporting his quarrel with Theopompom, and Theopomp hid his army. Then the Messenians attacked the army of one Polydor, but were defeated by Theopompus, who occupied the citadel [4] .
Several of his sayings are given by Plutarch [5] .
When Polydor led his army to Messena, they asked him if he was really going to fight with his brothers. “No,” the king answered, “I only want to go to the undivided lands.” [6]
Polydor and Theopomp introduced an amendment to Lycurgus Retra on the right of Geronts and archagets to cancel the decision of the people [7] . Under his rule, the Lacedaemonians founded two colonies: in Croton and in the area of the [8] .
After the victory, Polydor carried out the division of lands, allocating 3,000 or 4,500 allotments [9] . At the end of the war he was killed by the Spartan Polemarch [10] . Pausanias claims that he was especially loved by the people. His statue was in the square of Sparta, and on the state press of Sparta was his image [11] .
Notes
- ↑ Herodotus . History (Book VII, chapter 204).
- ↑ Comment by Botvinnik M.N. // Plutarch. Table conversations. - M. , 1990 .-- S. 550 .
- ↑ Pausanias . Description of Hellas (book IV, chapter 7.7); dating Pausanias
- ↑ Polyan . Strategies (Book I, Chapter 15).
- ↑ Plutarch . Sayings of the Spartans (chapter 63).
- ↑ Plutarch . Sayings of the Spartans (chapter 63.2) // translation by Botvinnik M.N.
- ↑ Plutarch . Comparative biographies : Lycurgus (chapter 6).
- ↑ Pausanias . Description of Hellas (Book III, Chapter 3.1).
- ↑ Plutarch . Comparative biographies: Lycurgus (chapter 8).
- ↑ Pausanias . Description of Hellas (Book III, Chapter 3.2-3).
- ↑ Pausanias . Description of Hellas (Book III, Chapter 11.10).