THE SPARTANS IN AFRICA

—THE GREEKS IN AFRICA— PART I

Everyone has already heard the story of the gallant actions of the Spartan King Leonidas and the 300′ last stand against the Persians but few have heard the unfortunate tale of Leonidas’s brother Dorieus of Sparta.

Dorieus was the model Spartan but upon his father the king’s death the throne fell to his elder brother Cleomenes. Dorieus felt sure that since Cleomenes was considered mad and unfit for kingship the throne would be passed to him. Angered at the decision and unwilling to be ruled by the mad Cleomenes Dorieus set about devising a plan to set up a Spartan colony in Libya.Dorieus, asked for a band from the Spartiates who would sail with him to found the new colony. He did not consult the Oracle at Delphi or do any of the things considered customary in setting up a colony at the time. Forthwith he set off for Libya guided to the new continent by sailors from the isle of Thera.

They arrived at a place named Cinyps, famed as being the most beautiful place in all of Libya alongside the river. There they encountered the local Libyan inhabitants called the Macians a tribe said to have tied thier hair at the back. They drove out the Macians and set up a Greek colony here that lasted three years. Soon the Macians had returned with thier Carthaginian and Berber allies and drove the Greeks out of Libya. The Carthaginians went on to set up a colony called Leptis Magna here to prevent any further Greek incursions in Libya.

Dorieus returned to Sparta with the few who had escaped but still unhappy to be ruled by the mad Cleonmenes he set about devising another plan to set up a Spartan colony in Carthaginian held Sicily.

He planned to attack the fortified citadel of Eryx. A town populated by Phoenicians and native Sicilians. This time Dorieus consulted the Oracle at Delphi who told him that it was sure he would take this place. The country about this place was once taken by Hercules and since the Spartans were decended from Hercules the country rightly belonged to them.Along with a few other Greeks of worthy note Dorieus set off for Sicily via Italy.

There it is said that he became embroiled with a war between the Greek cities of Sybaris and Croton before finally making it to the country of Eryx.Finally Dorieus sailed into Sicily with his entire expedition force. Not to be caught by surprise the Phoenicians and the Egestians met the Spartans in battle and worsted the expedition forces. Many died during the fighting and this is where the unfortunate story of the would be Spartan King finds it’s end. Dorieus died in the fighting uneventfully with only one of his fellow co founders named Euryleon surviving. Euryleon went on to take the Tyranny of the city of Minoe for a short time.

“IF”

Now, Dorieus in a manner like that met his end, but if he had held himself up under being ruled by Cleomenes as king and remained behind in Sparta, he would have become king of Lacedemon; for not a long time Cleomenes ruled and he died. His brother Leonidas took the throne and became famous for the battle of the 300. “IF” Dorieus stayed he would have become king and the history of the Greek world might have been much different.