custom (16) forbade
Hellenes to consult the god for war with Hellenes; and Agis was forced
to go away without offering the sacrifice.

(14) In 421 B.C. (see Thuc. v. 31); for the second charge, see Thuc.
v. 49 foll.

(15) See "Mem." I. ii. 61; Thuc. v. 50; and Jowett, note ad loc. vol.
ii. p. 314.

(16) See Grote, "H. G." ix. 311 note.

In consequence of all these annoyances the ephors and the Assembly
determined "to bring the men of Elis to their senses." Thereupon they
sent an embassy to that state, announcing that the authorities of
Lacedaemon deemed it just and right that they should leave the country
(17) townships in the territory of Elis free and independent. This the
Eleians flatly refused to do. The cities in question were theirs by
right of war. Thereupon the ephors called out the ban. The leader of the
expedition was Agis. He invaded Elis through Achaia (18) by the Larisus;
but the army had hardly set foot on the enemy's soil and the work of
devastation begun, when an earthquake took place, and Agis, taking
this as a sign from Heaven, marched back again out of the country and
disbanded his army. Thereat the men of Elis were much more emboldened,
and sent embassies to various cities which they knew to be hostile to
the Lacedaemonians.

(17) Lit. "perioecid."

(18) From the north. The Larisus is the frontier stream between Achaia
and Elis. See Strabo, viii. 387.

The year had not completed its revolution (19) ere the ephors again
called out the ban against Elis, and the invading host of Agis was this
time swelled by the rest of the allies, including the Athenians; the
Boeotians and Corinthians alone excepted. The Spartan king now entered
through Aulon, (20) and the men of Lepreum (21) at once revolted
from the Eleians and gave in their adhesion to the Spartan, and
simultaneously with these the Macistians and their next-door neighbours
the Epitalians. As he crossed the river further adhesions followed, on
the part of the Letrinians, the Amphidolians, and the Marganians.

(19) Al. "on the coming round of the next year." See Jowett (note to
Thuc. i. 31), vol. ii. p. 33.

(20) On the south. For the history, see Busolt, "Die Laked." pp.
146-200. "The river" is the Alpheus.

(21) See below, VI. v. 11; Paus. IV. xv. 8.

B.C. 400 (?). Upon this he pushed on into Olympian territory and did
sacrifice to Olympian Zeus. There was no attempt to stay his proceedings
now. After sacr