#cleomenes

Medici Venus, Parian marble (early 1st century B.C.) The Medici Venus is a 1st-century BC marble sculpture of Aphrodite and a famous example of the "Venus Pudica" (modest Venus) pose. It depicts the goddess caught by surprise while bathing, a composition that later inspired Renaissance masters like Botticelli.

He dies to me again when talk'd of: sure,

When I shall see this gentleman, thy speeches

Will bring me to consider that which may

Unfurnish me of reason. They are come.

Re-enter CLEOMENES and others, with FLORIZEL and PERDITA.

Your mother was most true to wedlock, prince;

For she did print your royal father off,

Conceiving you: were I but twenty-one,

Your father's image is so hit in you,

His very air, that I should call you brother,

As I did him, and speak of something wildly

By us perform'd before. Most dearly welcome!

And your fair princess,—goddess!—O, Alas!

I lost a couple, that 'twixt heaven and earth

Might thus have stood begetting wonder as

You, gracious couple, do: and then I lost—

All mine own folly—the society,

Amity too, of your brave father, whom,

Though bearing misery, I desire my life

Once more to look on him.

A saint-like sorrow: no fault could you make,

Which you have not redeem'd; indeed, paid down

More penitence than done trespass: at the last,

Do as the heavens have done, forget your evil;

With them forgive yourself.

Cleomenes. Maris Warrington Billings. New York: John Lane Company, 1917. First edition. Original dust jacket; art by D. P. Lathrop.

What was the Spartans’ reasoning for waiting until the full moon to join the Athenians in battle? The Athenians clearly did not adhere to that rule, but maybe it only applies to specific circumstances of battle? It was stated that it was Spartan law, but it seems odd that the Athenians wouldn’t have the same law.

I was pleasantly surprised when Cleomenes heeded his young daughter Gorgo’s advice. It seems as though speaking out of turn would be punished, but instead he listens to her eight year old wisdom.