Othryades

Othryades was a Spartan.[1]

As a hoplite,[2] he was one of three hundred selected to fight a force of three hundred Argive soldiers for possession of Thyrea. He was the only survivor of the battle; he later turned his sword against himself while on the same battle-field, ashamed to be the one survivor.[1] He is mentioned by Herodotus in his book The Histories, book 1, 81-83, which mention includes his participation in a Spartan campaign against the Argives. His behavior highlights a cultural emphasis of Spartan culture in Othryades' stubborn resistance and belligerent attitude. He is most well known, however for his suicide after mourning the death of his fallen comrades (he survived a reported 299 of them in the campaign in question as part of a small scale "war" between representative units of both sides, each composed of 300 men). [3]

References

  1. 1 2 E Elder M.A. -. A Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology, Volume 3. J. Murray, 1873. Retrieved 2015-04-13.
  2. ↑ J. E. Lendon - teaches history at the University of Virginia c.2006. Soldiers & Ghosts: A History of Battle in Classical Antiquity (p.51). Yale University Press, 1 Aug 2006 ISBN 0300119798. Retrieved 2015-04-12.
  3. ↑ Herodotus the Histories, Book 1, 81-83


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