294 mSTORY OF GREECE. them narassed and plundered by the predatory mountaineers, probably JEtolians, on the high lands between them. At first, the Trachinians were disposed to throw themselves on the protec- tion of Athens ; but not feeling sufficiently assured as to the way in which she would deal with them, they joined with the Dorians in claiming aid from Sparta: in fact, it does not appear that Athens, possessing naval superiority only, and being inferior on land, could have given them effective aid. The Lacedaemonians eagerly embraced the opportunity, and determined to plant a strong colony in this tempting situation : there was wood in the neighboring regions for ship-building, 1 so that they might hope to acquire a naval position for attacking the neighboring island of Euboea, while the passage of troops against the subject-allies of Athens in Thrace, would also be facilitated ; the impractica- bility of such passage had forced them, three years before, to leave Potidaea to its fate. A considerable body of colonists, Spartans and Lacedaemonian Perioeki, was assembled under the conduct of three Spartan oekists, Leon, Damagon, and Alki das ; the latter we are to presume, though Thucydides does not say so, was the same admiral who had met with such little suc- cess in Ionia and at Korkyra. Proclamation was farther made to invite the junction of all other Greeks as colonists, excepting by name lonians, Achaeans, and some other tribes not here spec- ified. Probably the distinct exclusion of the Achaeans must have been rather the continuance of ancient sentiment than dic- tated by any present reasons ; since the Achoeans were not now pronounced enemies of Sparta. A number of colonists, stated as not less than ten thousand, flocked to the place, having confi- dence in the stability of the colony under the powerful protection of Sparta ; and a new town, of large circuit, was built and forti- fied under the name of Herakleia ; 2 not far from the site of Trachis, about two miles and a quarter from the nearest point of 1 Respecting this abundance of wood, as well as the site of Herakleia generally, consult Livy, xxxvi, 22.
- Diodor. xii, 59. Not merely was Herakles the mythical progenitor of
the Spartan kings, but the whole region near (Eta and Trachis was adorned by legends and heroic incidents connected with him : see the il.rama of the
Trachinise by Sophokles.
