Page:History of Greece Vol X.djvu/338

 81G HISTORY OF GREECE. than ever. In hopes of drawing off the; Arcadian invaders, they sent an envoy to Sparta, entreating that the Lacedemonians would make a diversion on their side of Arcadia. Accordingly, the Spartan prince Archidamus (son of king Agesilaus), invading the south-western portion of Arcadia, occupied a hill-town or post called Kromnus (seemingly in the territory of Megalopolis, and cutting off the communication between that city and Messene), which he fortified and garrisoned with about two hundred Spar- tans and Perioeki. The effect which the Eleians contemplated was produced. The Arcadian army (except the garrison of Olympia) being withdrawn home, they had leisure to act against Pylus. The Pylian exiles had recently made an abortive attempt upon Thalamce, on their return from which they were overtaken and worsted by the Eleians, with severe loss in killed, and two hundred of their number ultimately made prisoners. Among these latter, all the Eleian exiles were at once put to death ; all the remainder sold for slaves. 1 Meanwhile the main Arcadian force, which had returned from Elis, was joined by allies, Thebans, 2 Argeians, and Messenians, and marched at once to Kromnus. They there blocked up the Lacedaemonian garrison by a double palisade carried all around, which they kept a numerous force to occupy. In vain did Archi- damus attempt to draw them off, by carrying his devastations into tiie Skiritis and other portions of Arcadia ; for the Skiritae, in former days dependents of Sparta and among the most valuable constituents of the Lacedaemonian armies, 3 had now become inde- pendent Arcadians. The blockade was still continued without interruption. Archidamus next tried to get possession of a hill- top which commanded the Arcadian position. But in marching along the road up, he encountered the enemy in great force, and was repulsed with some loss ; himself being thrust through the thigh with a spear, and his relatives Polyaenidas and Chilon slain.4 1 Xen. Hellen. vii, 4, 26. 2 Xen. Hellen. vii, 4, 27. The Thebans who are here mentioned must have been soldiers in gam- son at Tegea, Megalopolis, or Messene. No fresh Theban troops had coma into Peloponnesus. , 3 Thucyd. v, 68 ; Xen. Rep. Laced, xii, 3 ; xiii, 6. ceived by Archidamus, are alluded to by Justin, vi, 6.
 * The seizure of Kromnus by the Lacedaemonians, and the wound re-