Theoclus

Family: Messenian · Role: seer · First appears: Book 4 · Chapter 16

Theoclus was a Messenian seer and a descendant of Eumantis. In Book 4, Chapter 16, he tried to prevent Aristomenes from passing near a wild pear tree. Later, after the disaster at the Great Trench, he went with Aristomenes to Delphi, where the Pythian Priestess foretold Messene’s imminent fall and the Messenians’ dispersal. At the Neda, he interpreted the oracle’s he-goat as a wild fig tree and convinced Aristomenes that Messene’s fate was imminent.

At Eira, Theoclus and Aristomenes remembered the oracle and secretly understood that Messene was doomed, but concealed their knowledge. When the enemy entered the walls, he rushed to defend the city alongside Aristomenes, Gorgus, Manticlus, and Euergetidas. Theoclus, father of Manticlus, charged the enemy the next morning, killed opponents, and died after being wounded.

Relationship record

Life events

• The Pythian Priestess foretells Messene’s imminent fall and the Messenians’ dispersal.(Book 4 · Chapter 20 · 📍 Delphi)
  • With: Aristomenes
  • “For when they went to Delphi after the disaster at the Great Trench, and enquired as to their safety, the Pythian Priestess replied as follows,”
• Theoclus identifies the oracle’s he-goat as a fig tree and convinces Aristomenes that their safety has ended.(Book 4 · Chapter 20 · 📍 Neda)
  • With: Aristomenes
  • “And the seer Theoclus having noticed it conjectured that by the he-goat drinking of the Neda the Pythian Priestess meant this wild fig, and that therefore the fate of Messene was imminent.”
• The Messenian leaders rushed to defend Eira after the enemy entered the walls.(Book 4 · Chapter 21 · 📍 Eira)
  • With: Gorgus Aristomenes Manticlus Euergetidas
  • “The first who noticed that the enemy had got inside the walls, and who rushed up to the fray, were Gorgus the son of Aristomenes, and Aristomenes himself, and Theoclus the seer and Manticlus his son, and with them Euergetidas”
• Aristomenes and Theoclus secretly recognized that the oracle foretold Messene’s imminent destruction.(Book 4 · Chapter 21)
  • With: Aristomenes
  • “Aristomenes and the seer knew that it was all up with the Messenians, remembering the Pythian Priestess’ oracle about the he-goat, but they concealed none the less the true state of affairs, and were silent about it to everybody.”
• Theoclus charged into the enemy, killed opponents, and died after being wounded.(Book 4 · Chapter 21 · 📍 Eira)
  • “After that he fiercely attacked those who were opposite to him and slew them, and was himself wounded, and breathed out his last having first glutted his soul with slaughter.”

Book 4 · Chapter 16

• with Eumantis (Theoclus is identified as a descendant of Eumantis.) “the Messenian seer being Theoclus, a descendant of Eumantis”
• with Aristomenes (Theoclus tried to prevent Aristomenes from passing.) “But near a wild pear tree that grew in the plain Theoclus tried to prevent his passing”
• elder kin: Eumantis “the Messenian seer being Theoclus, a descendant of Eumantis”
• with Aristomenes (interaction) “But near a wild pear tree that grew in the plain Theoclus tried to prevent his passing”

Book 4 · Chapter 20

• with Aristomenes (Theoclus acted as a seer and adviser to Aristomenes.) “but he took Aristomenes to this fig tree, and pointed out to him that their period of safety had passed.”

Book 4 · Chapter 21

• child: Manticlus (Theoclus is Manticlus's father.) “Theoclus the seer and Manticlus his son”

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