ANCHITA,

Wife of Cleombrutus, king of Sparta; was mother of Pausanius, who distinguished himself at the battle of Platcæa; afterwards, by his foolish and arrogant conduct disgusted his countrymen, whom he also agreed to betray to the Persian king, on condition of receiving his daughter in marriage. His treason being discovered, he took refuge in the temple of Minerva, from which it was not lawful to force him. His pursuers therefore blocked up the door with stones, the first of which, in the proud anguish of a Spartan mother, was placed by Anchita. Pausanias died there of hunger, B. C. 471.