This paper explores the oracular tradition centered on the figure of the Spartan king Leonidas. It is argued that the famous Delphic prophecy quoted by Herodotus at 7.220, according to which Sparta would be de-stroyed unless a Herakleid king sacrificed himself, is part of a wider story that contains three oracles on Leonidas. This story was elaborated by the Agiad family – and certainly endorsed by the Delphic clergy – in order to provide its own interpretation and justification of what happened at Thermopylae. Such a version of events, significantly different from the official Spartan version, reflects a process of heroization of Leonidas. It is also suggested that this tradition was originally based on the logos epitaphios delivered when Leonidas’ bones were transferred back to Sparta.
Oracoli ed eroicizzazione: il sacrificio, il risarcimento e il recupero delle ossa di Leonida
LUPI, Marcello
2014
Abstract
This paper explores the oracular tradition centered on the figure of the Spartan king Leonidas. It is argued that the famous Delphic prophecy quoted by Herodotus at 7.220, according to which Sparta would be de-stroyed unless a Herakleid king sacrificed himself, is part of a wider story that contains three oracles on Leonidas. This story was elaborated by the Agiad family – and certainly endorsed by the Delphic clergy – in order to provide its own interpretation and justification of what happened at Thermopylae. Such a version of events, significantly different from the official Spartan version, reflects a process of heroization of Leonidas. It is also suggested that this tradition was originally based on the logos epitaphios delivered when Leonidas’ bones were transferred back to Sparta.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
