A Founding Myth of Sparta
Tyrtaeus fr. 2 West (= Strabo Geography 8.4.10) For Cronus’ son himself, the spouse of fair-crowned Hera, Zeus, has given this city to Heracles’ sons, At whose side we left windy Erineus And came into the broad island of Pelops. αὐτὸς γὰρ Κρονίων, καλλιστεφάνου πόσις Ἥρης, Ζεὺς Ἡρακλείδαις τήνδε δέδωκε πόλιν: οἷσιν ἅμα προλιπόντες Ἐρινεὸν ἠνεμόεντα εὐρεῖαν Πέλοπος νῆσον ἀφικόμεθα.
Young Women of Sparta, Camille Corot, 1868-70













