|
Battus, Arcesilaus' son, succeeded to the kingdom, a lame man,
who limped in his walk. Their late calamities now induced the
Cyrenaeans to send to Delphi and inquire of the god what form of
government they had best set up to secure themselves prosperity. The
Pythoness answered by recommending them to fetch an arbitrator from
Mantinea in Arcadia. Accordingly they sent; and the Mantineans
gave them a man named Demonax, a person of high repute among the
citizens; who, on his arrival at Cyrene, having first made himself
acquainted with all the circumstances, proceeded to enrol the people in
three tribes. One he made to consist of the Theraeans and their
vassals; another of the Peloponnesians and Cretans; and a third of
the various islanders. Besides this, he deprived the king Battus of
his former privileges, only reserving for him certain sacred lands and
offices; while, with respect to the powers which had hitherto been
exercised by the king, he gave them all into the hands of the people.
|
|