ARISTOMENES, THE HERO OF MESSENIA., 61

cerned, that in which the hero Aristomenes won his
fame. We shall not ask our readers to believe all
that is told about this ancient champion. Much of
it is very doubtful. But the war in which he took
part was historical, and the conquest of Messenia
was the first great event in Spartan history.

Now for the story itself. In the first Messenian
war, which was fought more than seven hundred
years B.c., the leader of the Messenians was named
Aristodemus. A quarrel had arisen between the
two nations during some sacrifices on their border
lands. The Spartans had laid a snare for their
neighbors by dressing some youths as maidens and
arming them with daggers. They attacked the
Messenians, but were defeated, and the Spartan
king was slain.

In the war that ensued the Messenians in time
found themselves in severe straits, and followed the
plan that seems to have been common throughout
Grecian history. They sent to Delphi to ask aid
and advice from the oracle of Apollo. And the
oracle gave them one of its often cruel and always
uncertain answers; saying that if they would be
successful a virgin of the house of Mpytus must
die for her country. To fulfil this cruel behest
Aristodemus, who was of that ancient house, killed
his daughter with his own hand,—much as Aga-
memnon had sacrificed his daughter before sailing
for Troy.

Aristodemus afterwards became king, and had a
stirring and tragic history, which was full of por-
tents and prodigies. Thus an old blind prophet sud-

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