92.
About the same time the Lacedaemonians founded Heraclea, their colony in
Trachinia.1 The intention was as follows:—The Trachinians are one of the three
Melian tribes;
[2]
the other two being the Paralians and the Hiereans.
These Trachinians, having suffered greatly in war from their neighbours
the Oetaeans, at first thought of attaching themselves to the Athenians, but, fearing
that they could not trust them2, sent Tisamenus, whom they appointed their envoy, to Lacedaemon.
[3]
The Dorians, who were the mother state of Lacedaemon, joined in the embassy and also
requested help, for they too were suffering from the Oetaeans.
[4]
The Lacedaemonians heard their appeal, and, being desirous of assisting both the
Trachinians and Dorians, made up their minds to send out a colony.
They also thought that the situation of the new city would be convenient for carrying
on the war against the Athenians.
There a navy could be equipped if they wanted to attack Euboea, which was quite near,
and the station would be handy for the conveyance of troops to Chalcidicè.
For every reason they were eager to colonise the place.
[5]
First they enquired of the God at Delphi; he bade them go, and they sent out settlers
taken from their own citizens and the Perioeci, announcing that any Hellenes who
desired, not being of the Ionian, Achaean, or certain other races, might accompany them.
The leaders of the colony were three Lacedaemonians, Leon, Alcidas, and Damagon.
[6]
They set to work and built afresh the walls of the city, which received the name of
Heraclea, and is situated about four miles and a half from Thermopylae and a little more
than two from the sea.
They also constructed docks3, beginning the works near Thermopylae, at the pass, that the
city might be perfectly defended.
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