Aristocrates

Family: Arcadians · Role: king and general · First appears: Book 4 · Chapter 17

In the third year of the war, the Lacedæmonians bribed Aristocrates, son of Icetas and king and general of the Arcadians. At the Great Trench, he led the Arcadians away at the start of battle, leaving the Messenian centre and left wing exposed. Later, when asked to lead the Arcadians in rescuing the surviving Messenians, he refused.

In Book 4, Chapter 22, Aristocrates betrayed Aristomenes by sending his plan in a letter to Anaxander at Sparta. The following day, the secret was exposed, and the Arcadians learned that Aristomenes had been betrayed by Aristocrates for the second time. They stoned him to death and cast him unburied beyond Arcadia’s borders. Book 8 also records that he violated the priestess of Artemis Hymnia.

Relationship record

Life events

• The Lacedæmonians bribed Aristocrates before the Great Trench engagement.(Book 4 · Chapter 17)
  • “the Lacedæmonians bribed Aristocrates, the son of Icetas, a native of Trapezus, king and general of the Arcadians at this period.”
• Aristocrates led away the Arcadians, exposing the Messenian centre and left wing.(Book 4 · Chapter 17 · 📍 The Great Trench)
  • “thereupon at the commencement of the battle Aristocrates led off the Arcadians, and thus the Messenian centre and left wing was left exposed.”
• Aristocrates refuses to lead the Arcadians in rescuing the surviving Messenians.(Book 4 · Chapter 22)
  • “But he having been bribed by the Lacedæmonians refused to lead them, and said that he knew none of the Messenians were alive for them to assist.”
• Aristocrates betrays Aristomenes’ plan by sending it in a letter to Anaxander.(Book 4 · Chapter 22 · 📍 Sparta)
  • With: Anaxander
  • “For Aristocrates had at once disclosed by letter the design of Aristomenes, and given the letter to his most trusty slave, and sent it to Anaxander at Sparta.”
• Aristomenes’ secret is exposed, revealing Aristocrates’ second betrayal.(Book 4 · Chapter 22)
  • With: Aristomenes
  • “On the following day however they knew that their secret had been revealed to the Lacedæmonians, and that they had been betrayed by Aristocrates for the second time.”
• Aristocrates is stoned to death and cast unburied beyond Arcadia’s borders.(Book 4 · Chapter 22)
  • “So the Arcadians stoned Aristocrates to death, and cast him unburied out of their borders”
• Aristocrates violated the priestess of Artemis Hymnia.(Book 8 · Chapter 13)
  • “the tomb of Aristocrates, who violated the priestess of Artemis Hymnia.”

Book 4 · Chapter 17

• parent: Icetas “the Lacedæmonians bribed Aristocrates, the son of Icetas, a native of Trapezus, king and general of the Arcadians at this period.”

Book 4 · Chapter 22

• with Aristomenes (Aristocrates betrayed Aristomenes by revealing his plan.) “For Aristocrates had at once disclosed by letter the design of Aristomenes, and given the letter to his most trusty slave, and sent it to Anaxander at Sparta.”
• with Anaxander (Aristocrates sent Anaxander a letter containing Aristomenes' plan.) “For Aristocrates had at once disclosed by letter the design of Aristomenes, and given the letter to his most trusty slave, and sent it to Anaxander at Sparta.”
• enemies with Aristomenes (Aristocrates betrayed Aristomenes by revealing his plan.) “For Aristocrates had at once disclosed by letter the design of Aristomenes, and given the letter to his most trusty slave, and sent it to Anaxander at Sparta.”

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Extracted from the original text of Pausanias' Description of Greece. Made with Rho MD.