The Spartan King Leonidas and the Delphian Prophecy

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The Spartan King Leonidas and the Delphian Prophecy. / Печатнова, Лариса Гаврииловна.

In: Studia Antiqua et Archaeologica, Vol. 30, No. 1, 11.2024, p. 37–49.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

BibTeX

@article{0d7cf13198ca49789bf966de9d48f9dc,

title = "The Spartan King Leonidas and the Delphian Prophecy",

abstract = "The article examines the Delphic prophecy, which, as ancient authors believed, concerned the Spartan king Leonidas and was associated with the events at Thermopylae in 480 BC . Herodotus quotes this oracle both in prose and in poetic retelling (VII. 220. 3–4). Researchers have considerable doubts about the authenticity of both versions. We sought to prove that the two versions of the prophecy arose at different times: one, prosaic, and most likely authentic, appeared before Thermopylae, and the second, fabricated in Delphi, probably by order of the royal family of the Agiads, appeared after Thermopylae. It is important to emphasize that the Delphic prophecy, in which the death of the king was declared a condition for the salvation of Sparta, became an integral part of the myth of Leonidas. With the help of this heroic myth, Sparta skillfully transformed the defeat at Thermopylae into a victory for the Spartan spirit. The myth of Leonidas became a central part of the patriotic education of Spartan citizens.",

keywords = "Delphic oracle, Thermopylae, Sparta, Spartiates, Spartan kings, Leonidas, Herodotus, Plutarch, Delphic oracle, Herodotus, Leonidas, Plutarch, Sparta, Spartan kings, Thermopylae",

author = "Печатнова, {Лариса Гаврииловна}",

note = "Pechatnova L. The Spartan King Leonidas and the Delphian Prophecy // Studia Antiqua et Archaeologica. Vol. 30, 1. P. 37–49; DOI: 10.47743/saa-2024-30-1-2",

year = "2024",

month = nov,

doi = "10.47743/saa-2024-30-1-2",

language = "English",

volume = "30",

pages = "37–49",

journal = "Studia Antiqua et Archaeologica",

issn = "1224-2284",

publisher = "Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iasi",

number = "1",

}

RIS

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AU - Печатнова, Лариса Гаврииловна

N1 - Pechatnova L. The Spartan King Leonidas and the Delphian Prophecy // Studia Antiqua et Archaeologica. Vol. 30, 1. P. 37–49; DOI: 10.47743/saa-2024-30-1-2

PY - 2024/11

Y1 - 2024/11

N2 - The article examines the Delphic prophecy, which, as ancient authors believed, concerned the Spartan king Leonidas and was associated with the events at Thermopylae in 480 BC . Herodotus quotes this oracle both in prose and in poetic retelling (VII. 220. 3–4). Researchers have considerable doubts about the authenticity of both versions. We sought to prove that the two versions of the prophecy arose at different times: one, prosaic, and most likely authentic, appeared before Thermopylae, and the second, fabricated in Delphi, probably by order of the royal family of the Agiads, appeared after Thermopylae. It is important to emphasize that the Delphic prophecy, in which the death of the king was declared a condition for the salvation of Sparta, became an integral part of the myth of Leonidas. With the help of this heroic myth, Sparta skillfully transformed the defeat at Thermopylae into a victory for the Spartan spirit. The myth of Leonidas became a central part of the patriotic education of Spartan citizens.

AB - The article examines the Delphic prophecy, which, as ancient authors believed, concerned the Spartan king Leonidas and was associated with the events at Thermopylae in 480 BC . Herodotus quotes this oracle both in prose and in poetic retelling (VII. 220. 3–4). Researchers have considerable doubts about the authenticity of both versions. We sought to prove that the two versions of the prophecy arose at different times: one, prosaic, and most likely authentic, appeared before Thermopylae, and the second, fabricated in Delphi, probably by order of the royal family of the Agiads, appeared after Thermopylae. It is important to emphasize that the Delphic prophecy, in which the death of the king was declared a condition for the salvation of Sparta, became an integral part of the myth of Leonidas. With the help of this heroic myth, Sparta skillfully transformed the defeat at Thermopylae into a victory for the Spartan spirit. The myth of Leonidas became a central part of the patriotic education of Spartan citizens.

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KW - Thermopylae

KW - Sparta

KW - Spartiates

KW - Spartan kings

KW - Leonidas

KW - Herodotus

KW - Plutarch

KW - Delphic oracle

KW - Herodotus

KW - Leonidas

KW - Plutarch

KW - Sparta

KW - Spartan kings

KW - Thermopylae

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U2 - 10.47743/saa-2024-30-1-2

DO - 10.47743/saa-2024-30-1-2

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EP - 49

JO - Studia Antiqua et Archaeologica

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SN - 1224-2284

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ER -

ID: 127983571