Page:History of Greece Vol X.djvu/335

 ELIS AND ARCADIA. 313 nian male adults were slain, and the women and children sold into slavery. On returning from his maritime expedition at the end of 363 B. c., Epaminondas was reflected one of the Bceotarchs. He had probably intended to renew his cruise during the coming year. But his chagrin for the Orchomenian affair, and his grief for the death of Pelopidas, an intimate friend, as well as a political colleague whom he could trust, might deter him from a second absence ; while the affairs of Peloponnesus also were now becom- ing so complicated, as to render the necessity of renewed Theban interference again probable. Since the peace concluded in 366 B. c. with Corinth, Phlius, etc., Thebes had sent no army into that peninsula ; though her harmost and garrison still continued at Tegea, perhaps at Mega- lopolis and Messene also. The Arcadians, jealous of her as well as disunited among themselves, had even gone so far as to con- tract an alliance with her enemy Athens. The main conflict however now was, between the Arcadians and the Eleians, respect- ing the possession of Triphylia and the Pisatid. The Eleians about this time (365 B. c.) came into alliance again with Sparta, 1 relinquishing their alliance with Thebes ; while the Achaeans, having come into vigorous cooperation Avith Sparta 2 ever since 367 B. c. (by reaction against the Thebans, who, reserving the judicious and moderate policy of Epaminondas, violently changed the Achaean governments), allied themselves with Elis also, in or before 365 B. c. 3 And thus Sparta, though robbed by the pacifi- cation of 366 B. c. of the aid of Corinth, Phlius, Epidaurus, etc., had now acquired in exchange Elis and Achaia, confederates not less valuable. Triphylia, the territory touching the western coast of Pelopon- nesus, immediately north of the river Neda, and the Pisatid (including the lower course of the river Alpheius and the plain of Olympia), immediately north of Triphylia, both of them between Messenia and Elis, had been in former times conquer- ed and long held by the Eleians, but always as discontented sub- jects. Sparta, in the days of her unquestioned supremacy, had 1 Xen. Ilellen. vii, 4, 19. 2 Xen. Hellen. vii, 1, 43 3 Xen. Hellen. vii, 4, 1 7. VOL. X. 14