s,
although she knew in truth very well, because she desired that by some
means both might be made kings. The Lacedemonians then were in a strait;
and being in a strait they sent to Delphi to inquire what they should do
in the matter. And the Pythian prophetess bade them regard both children
as their kings, but honour most the first in age. 34 The prophetess,
they say, thus gave answer to them; and when the Lacedemonians were at a
loss none the less how to find out the elder of them, a Messenian
whose name was Panites made a suggestion to them: this Panites, I say,
suggested to the Lacedemonians that they should watch the mother and see
which of the children she washed and fed before the other; and if she
was seen to do this always in the same order, then they would have all
that they were seeking and desiring to find out, but if she too was
uncertain and did it in a different order at different times, it would
be plain to them that even she had no more knowledge than any other,
and they must turn to some other way. Then the Spartans following
the suggestion of the Messenian watched the mother of the sons of
Aristodemos and found that she gave honour thus to the first-born both
in feeding and in washing; for she did not know with that design she was
being watched. They took therefore the child which was honoured by its
mother and brought it up as the first-born in the public hall, 35 and
to it was given the name of Eurysthenes, while the other was called
Procles. These, when they had grown up, both themselves were at
variance, they say, with one another, though they were brothers,
throughout the whole time of their lives, and their descendants also
continued after the same manner.

53. This is the report given by the Lacedemonians alone of all the
Hellenes; but this which follows I write in accordance with that which
is reported by the Hellenes generally,--I mean that the names of these
kings of the Dorians are rightly enumerated by the Hellenes up to
Perseus the son of Danae (leaving the god out of account), 36 and proved
to be of Hellenic race; for even from that time they were reckoned as
Hellenes. I said "up to Perseus" and did not take the descent from a yet
higher point, because there is no name mentioned of a mortal father for
Perseus, as Amphitryon is for Heracles. Therefore with reason, as is
evident, I have said "rightly up to Perseus"; but if one enumerates
their ancestors in succession going back from Danae