Aristodemus (king of Messenia)

Also known as: Aristodemus · Family: Messenian · Role: man of the family of the Æpytidæ · First appears: Book 4 · Chapter 6

Life events

• Aristodemus died during the events described by Myron.(Book 4 · Chapter 6)
  • “Myron has described the capture of Amphea and its consequences up to the death of Aristodemus”
• Aristodemus offers his own daughter as a sacrificial victim.(Book 4 · Chapter 9)
  • “Aristodemus, a man of the family of the Æpytidæ, and in other respects and in war more illustrious than Lyciscus, offered to sacrifice his own daughter.”
• Aristodemus kills his daughter in anger and discovers she was not pregnant.(Book 4 · Chapter 9)
  • “driven to madness in his anger he killed his daughter, and afterwards cut her up and found she was not pregnant.”
• Aristodemus is elected king over Cleonnis and Damis.(Book 4 · Chapter 10)
  • With: Cleonnis Damis
  • “Nevertheless Aristodemus was elected and became king.”
• Aristodemus appointed Cleonnis to command the troops positioned near Ithome.(Book 4 · Chapter 11 · 📍 Ithome)
  • With: Cleonnis
  • “And he appointed Cleonnis to the command here”
• Aristodemus and Damis remained with the light-armed troops concealed in ambush.(Book 4 · Chapter 11 · 📍 Ithome)
  • With: Damis
  • “and himself and Damis stayed with the light-armed troops, and a few slingers and archers”
• The Lacedæmonians broke ranks after prolonged fighting and harassment by the Messenian forces.(Book 4 · Chapter 11)
  • With: Cleonnis Damis
  • “And eventually the Lacedæmonians, spent with the length of the battle and their wounds, and at the same time harassed beyond measure by the light-armed troops, broke their ranks.”
• Aristodemus places the already-made wooden tripods at the altar after the Spartan deception is discovered.(Book 4 · Chapter 12 · 📍 Ithome)
  • “however Aristodemus consoled them with arguments suited to the present conjuncture, and placed their wooden tripods which were already made at the altar at Ithome.”
• Aristodemus cut his throat at his daughter’s grave and died.(Book 4 · Chapter 13)
  • “cut his throat at his daughter’s grave, being such an one as would in all human calculation have saved his country had not fortune brought to nothing his plans and actions. And he died after a reign of six years and a few months.”

Book 4 · Chapter 6

• with Theopompus (Theopompus survived until the end of the war, in contrast to the account placing his death before Aristodemus's.) “Theopompus did not die in battle or in any other way before the end of the war.”