Page:History of Greece Vol X.djvu/337

ARCHIDAMUS IN ARCADIA. 316 drove them out of the district. The victors recovered both La- sion and all the Akroreii, except Thraustus; after which they proceeded to the sacred ground of Olympia, and took formal pos- session of it, planting a garrison, protected by a regular stockaded circle, on the hill called Kronion. Having made good this posi- tion, they marched on even to the city of Elis itself, which waa unfortified (though it had a tenable acropolis), so that they were enabled to enter it, finding no resistance until they reached the agora. Here they found mustered the Eleian horsemen and the chosen hoplites, who repulsed them with some loss. But Elis was in great consternation ; while a democratical opposition now manifested itself against the ruling oligarchy, seizing the aero polis in hopes of admitting the Arcadians. The bravery of the horsemen and hoplites, however, put down this internal movement, recovered the acropolis, and forced the malcontents, to the number of four hundred, to evacuate the city. Thus expelled, the latter seized and established themselves at Pylus (in the Eleian terri- tory, about nine miles from Elis towards the Arcadian border 1 ), where they were reinforced not only by a body of Arcadians, but also by many of their partisans who came from the city to join them. From this fortified post, planted in the country like Deke- leia in Attica, they carried on harassing war against the Eleians in the city, and reduced them after some time to great straits. There were even hopes of compelling the city to surrender, and a fresh invasion of the Arcadians was invited to complete the enterprise. The Eleians were only rescued by a reinforcement from their allies in Achaia, who came in large force and placed the city in safety ; so that the Arcadians could do nothing more than lay waste the territory around. 2 Retiring on this occasion, the Arcadians renewed their invasion not long afterwards ; their garrison still occupying Olympia, and the exiles continuing at Pylus. They now marched all across the country, even approaching Kyllene, the harbor of Elis on the western sea. Between the harbor and the city, the Eleians ven- tured to attack them, but were defeated with such loss, that their general Andromachus (who had prompted the attack) fell upon his sword in despair. The distress of the Eleians became greater 1 Puusanias, vi, 22. 3 2 Xen. Ilellen. vii, 4, 13-18 ; Dioclor. xv, 77