Archidamus (son of Agesilaus)

Also known as: Archidamus · Family: Lacedæmonians · Role: king · First appears: Book 3 · Chapter 10

During his reign, the Phocians seized Apollo’s temple at Delphi. Theopompus said that Archidamus and his wife, Dinichas, had received money from the Phocians; despite this, Archidamus prevented them from massacring Delphi’s youth and enslaving its women and children.

Afterwards, he crossed to Italy to aid Tarentum in its war with the barbarians, and was killed there. He was the only Spartan king without burial, a fate attributed to the wrath of Apollo.

Relationship record

Life events

• Theopompus revealed that Archidamus and Dinichas had received bribes from the Phocians.(Book 3 · Chapter 10 · 📍 Delphi)
  • With: Theopompus Dinichas
  • “And Theopompus, the son of Damasistratus, said that Archidamus also had a share of the money at Delphi, and that also Dinichas, his wife, had received a bribe from the authorities of the Phocians”
• Archidamus prevented the Phocians from massacring Delphi’s youth and enslaving its women and children.(Book 3 · Chapter 10 · 📍 Delphi)
  • “all this Archidamus successfully deprecated.”
• Archidamus was killed by barbarians while aiding Tarentum.(Book 3 · Chapter 10 · 📍 Italy)
  • “And he afterwards crossed over into Italy, to assist the people of Tarentum in a war with their barbarian neighbours: and he was slain there by the barbarians”
• Archidamus died fighting barbarians and was the only Spartan king without burial.(Book 6 · Chapter 4)
  • “for he died fighting against the barbarians, and was the only one of the Spartan kings that lacked sepulture.”

Book 3 · Chapter 10

• parent: Agesilaus “And during the reign of Archidamus, the son of Agesilaus, the Phocians seized the temple of Apollo at Delphi.”
• married with Dinichas “And Theopompus, the son of Damasistratus, said that Archidamus also had a share of the money at Delphi, and that also Dinichas, his wife, had received a bribe from the authorities of the Phocians, and that all this made Archidamus more willing to bring the Phocians aid.”
• child: Agis (son of Archidamus son of Agesilaus) “And Agis, the elder son of this Archidamus, met his death fighting against the Macedonians and Antipater.”
• with Apollo (Apollo's wrath prevented Archidamus from receiving a tomb.) “And he was slain there by the barbarians, and his dead body failed to find a tomb through the wrath of Apollo.”
• enemies with Apollo “And he was slain there by the barbarians, and his dead body failed to find a tomb through the wrath of Apollo.”

Book 6 · Chapter 4

• parent: Agesilaus (Agesilaus was Archidamus's father.) “a statue of Archidamus, the son of Agesilaus, king of the Lacedæmonians”
• with Sodamas (Archidamus's statue is next to Sodamas's.) “And next to Sodamas is a statue of Archidamus”

Book 6 · Chapter 15

• parent: Agesilaus “There is also a statue of Archidamus the son of Agesilaus”

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