Aristomenes of Messene - Legends of Sparta's Nemesis (Hardcover)

The substantial legend of Aristomenes, hero of the Messenian resistance to Sparta, is by turns thrilling, mysterious and humorous, and yet it remains almost unknown even to specialist ancient historians. This book, the first monograph to be devoted to Aristomenes, redirects attention to his adventures, which in parts resemble those of King Arthur, Robin Hood and even Sinbad the Sailor, and which may afford us some access to the imagination of a people otherwise muted in the record--the non Spartan population of Messenia. The book goes beyond the question of the historicity of Aristomenes, and examines the story's significance and symbolism in their own right. Of special interest are the ideas surrounding Aristomenes' talismanic shield, which disappears in mid battle, and which miraculously saves him as he is thrown by the Spartans to his death. It is contended in particular that the legend is threaded with a vein of underworld imagery and that this associates Aristomenes with the Andanian mysteries in a significant way. The study will be welcomed by those with an interest in the history of Messenia, in the history of Sparta, in Pausanias (the principal source--among many--for the Aristomenes legend), in Greek traditional narrative, in the history of slavery, or in the ancient underworld.