The histories of Herodotus;

334 HERODOTUS—BOOK VI, ERATO [51-53
but somehow the family of Eurysthenes was more honoured,
on account of seniority.
For the Lacedaemonians, agreeing with none of the poets,
affirm that Aristodemus himself, son of Aristomachus, son
of Cleodaeus, son of Hyllus, being king, brought them to the
country which they now inhabit, and not the sons of Aristodemus.
And that after no long time Aristodemus's wife,
whose name was Argia, brought forth : they say that she was
daughter of Autesion, son of Tisamenes, son of Thersander,
son of Polynices ; and that she bore twins ; and that Aristodemus,
having looked on the children, died of disease : that
the Lacedaemonians of that day resolved, according to custom,
to make the eldest of the children king; but they knew
not which to choose, since they were alike and of equal size.
Being unable to determine, they then, or perhaps before, asked
the mother; she replied that she herself was unable to distinguish.
She said this, although she knew very well, but
was desirous, if it were possible, that both should be made
kings. That the Lacedaemonians were consequently in doubt,
and being in doubt, sent to Delphi to inquire of the oracle
what they should do in the matter. They add that the Pythian
bade them consider both the children as kings ; but to honour
the eldest most : this answer the Pythian gave them ; but
the Lacedaemonians, being still in doubt how they should
discover the eldest of them, a Messenian, whose name was
Panites, made a suggestion to them : this Panites made the
following suggestion to the Lacedaemonians, to observe which
of the two children the mother would wash and feed first ; and
if she should be found constantly doing the same, they would
then have all they were seeking for and desired to know ; but
if she should vary, attending to them interchangeably, it would
be evident to them that she knew no more than they did ; and
then they must have recourse to some other expedient. Thereupon
the Spartans, in pursuance of the suggestion of the Messenian,
having watched the mother of Aristodemus's children,
discovered that she constantly gave one the preference both
in feeding and washing, she not knowing why she was
watched. Therefore considering that the child which was
honoured by its mother was the eldest, they educated it in
the palace ; and to him the name of Eurysthenes was given,
and to the younger, Procles. They say that both these, though
brothers, when they had reached manhood, were at variance
with each other throughout the whole course of their lives;
and that their descendants continued to be so. The Lacedaemonians
alone of the Greeks give this account: but I now