Agias of Sparta
Encyclopedia
Agias the son of Agelochus and grandson of Tisamenus of Elea, was the Spartan seer of Lysander
, who predicted that general's victory at the battle of Aegospotami
in 404 BC
. Some ancient writers considered Agias' prediction—that Lysander would capture the entire fleet except for ten trireme
s (which fled to Corcyra)--to have been the cause of the victory more than a mere prediction. Pausanias
mentions seeing a bronze statue of Agias at the altar of Augustus
in the marketplace in Sparta
. There was also a statue in Delphi
of both Agias and Lysander, reputedly erected by Lysander, which has been partially recovered.
Lysander
Lysander was a Spartan general who commanded the Spartan fleet in the Hellespont which defeated the Athenians at Aegospotami in 405 BC...
, who predicted that general's victory at the battle of Aegospotami
Battle of Aegospotami
The naval Battle of Aegospotami took place in 405 BC and was the last major battle of the Peloponnesian War. In the battle, a Spartan fleet under Lysander completely destroyed the Athenian navy...
in 404 BC
404 BC
Year 404 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Tribunate of Volusus, Cossus, Fidenas, Ambustus, Maluginensis and Rutilus...
. Some ancient writers considered Agias' prediction—that Lysander would capture the entire fleet except for ten trireme
Trireme
A trireme was a type of galley, a Hellenistic-era warship that was used by the ancient maritime civilizations of the Mediterranean, especially the Phoenicians, ancient Greeks and Romans.The trireme derives its name from its three rows of oars on each side, manned with one man per oar...
s (which fled to Corcyra)--to have been the cause of the victory more than a mere prediction. Pausanias
Pausanias (geographer)
Pausanias was a Greek traveler and geographer of the 2nd century AD, who lived in the times of Hadrian, Antoninus Pius and Marcus Aurelius. He is famous for his Description of Greece , a lengthy work that describes ancient Greece from firsthand observations, and is a crucial link between classical...
mentions seeing a bronze statue of Agias at the altar of Augustus
Augustus
Augustus ;23 September 63 BC – 19 August AD 14) is considered the first emperor of the Roman Empire, which he ruled alone from 27 BC until his death in 14 AD.The dates of his rule are contemporary dates; Augustus lived under two calendars, the Roman Republican until 45 BC, and the Julian...
in the marketplace in Sparta
Sparta
Sparta or Lacedaemon, was a prominent city-state in ancient Greece, situated on the banks of the River Eurotas in Laconia, in south-eastern Peloponnese. It emerged as a political entity around the 10th century BC, when the invading Dorians subjugated the local, non-Dorian population. From c...
. There was also a statue in Delphi
Delphi
Delphi is both an archaeological site and a modern town in Greece on the south-western spur of Mount Parnassus in the valley of Phocis.In Greek mythology, Delphi was the site of the Delphic oracle, the most important oracle in the classical Greek world, and a major site for the worship of the god...
of both Agias and Lysander, reputedly erected by Lysander, which has been partially recovered.