TY - JOUR

T1 - Spartan King Agesilaus and the Case of Sphodrias

AU - Pechatnova, Larisa

PY - 2021

Y1 - 2021

N2 - The article explores the tradition about the unsuccessful attempt of the Spartan harmost Sphodrias to capture Piraeus in 378 BC. Since Sphodrias acted without an order, in Sparta he was brought to trial as a state offender. He owed his acquittal solely to king Agesilaus. The analysis of the tradition of Sphodrias’ trial leads the author to the conclusion that Agesilaus controlled the entire administration of Sparta, including the judicial panel. In Sphodrias’ trial the opinion of one person – Agesilaus – decided the outcome of the vote. The acquittal of Sphodrias initiated by Agesilaus is a weighty testimony to the great authority which this king possessed in the first decades of the 4 th century BC (beforethe battle of Leuctra).

AB - The article explores the tradition about the unsuccessful attempt of the Spartan harmost Sphodrias to capture Piraeus in 378 BC. Since Sphodrias acted without an order, in Sparta he was brought to trial as a state offender. He owed his acquittal solely to king Agesilaus. The analysis of the tradition of Sphodrias’ trial leads the author to the conclusion that Agesilaus controlled the entire administration of Sparta, including the judicial panel. In Sphodrias’ trial the opinion of one person – Agesilaus – decided the outcome of the vote. The acquittal of Sphodrias initiated by Agesilaus is a weighty testimony to the great authority which this king possessed in the first decades of the 4 th century BC (beforethe battle of Leuctra).

KW - Agesilaus

KW - Cleombrotus

KW - Sphodrias

KW - Phoebidas

KW - Xenophon

KW - Diodorus

KW - Plutarch

KW - Sparta

KW - THEBES

M3 - Article

VL - 27

SP - 47

EP - 63

JO - Studia Antiqua et Archaeologica

JF - Studia Antiqua et Archaeologica

SN - 1224-2284

IS - 1

ER -