The Fox Read online

  The Fox

  M. N. J. Butler

  CnPosner Books

  First published in 1995 by Blackwoods London

  Published 2018 by CNPosner Books under Orphan works licence

  Copyright © M. N. J. Butler 1995, 2018

  To David and to Beryl

  and in memory of I. W. the best of bank managers.

  Glossary of names and terms

  Names marked with a * are those of historical figures

  Achilleslegendary Greek hero of Trojan war

  Agesipolis (1)*Agiad, elder son of King Pausanios, later King Agesipolis I

  (2)*Agiad, elder son of King Kleombrotos, later King Agesipolis II

  Agiads one of the two royal houses of Sparta

  Agis (1)* Agis II, Eurypontid King of Sparta, father of Leotychides

  (2) second son of Leotychides and Kleonike

  Agisilaos* (Agesilaus)Eurypontid, son of King Archidamos and Eupolia, younger brother of King Agis II; later King Agisilaos II

  agora central public space in ancient Greek city-states.

  Ainesiosplatoon leader under Leotychides

  Alexandros (1) Spartan general

  (2)*son of King Philippos of Macedon, later Alexander the Great

  Alkmenawife of Amphitryion, mother of Herakles

  Alkimenes*Corinthian, friend of Tolmaios, later member of peace party

  Alkmaionidsnoble Athenian family

  Alkman* early Spartan poet

  alphainitial letter of Greek alphabet and of Athens; borne on shields by Athenian warriors

  Amphytrionfather of Herakles

  Amyntas (1)*Amyntas III, king of Macedon, son of Arrhidaeus, father of Perdikkas and Philippos

  (2)*Amyntas IV, king of Macedon, son of Perdikkas, deposed by Philippos

  Anakos commander of Spartan cavalry regiment at Lechion

  Anaxandrosboy in Leotychides’s flock, son of Eutelidas, known as the Magpie

  AnaxilasSyracusan runner

  Androklidas*leader of anti-Spartan faction in Thebes

  Antalkidas*boy in Leotychides’s flock, son of Leon; later Spartan admiral, ambassador to Persia, and chief ephor

  Apellathe assembly of all the citizens of Sparta

  Apelleas*up-country sculptor

  Aphrodite goddess of love

  Apollo god of the sun, brother of Artemis

  ApollodorosSpartan warrior, friend of Pityas

  apophthegmA concise saying or maxim, an aphorism

  Archidamos(1)*former Eurypontid King of Sparta, father of Agis II and Agisilaos.

  (2)*son of Agisilaos

  Argileoniswife of Meleas

  AristeasCorinthian runner, member of war party

  AristedesAthenian mercenary

  Aristodemos (1) legendary king of Sparta, father of twin Kings Eurysthenes and Procles, the ancestors of the two royal houses of Sparta

  (2)cousin of King Pausanios

  Aristokrates big boy in Leotychides’s flock, son of Pharax; known as the Donkey, later as Pointer

  Aristomelidas*Father of Queen Eupolia and grandfather of Agisilaos, later ambassador to Thebes

  Ariston* former Eurypontid king of Sparta, father of Demartos

  Aristotle*sophist from Athens; tutor to Prince Alexander

  Artaxerxes*Artaxerxes II, Great King of Persia

  Artemisgoddess of hunting, sister of Apollo

  Artemisionmoon of April

  Asklepiosgod of healing

  Athenagoddess of wisdom

  Athenian War, the the Peloponnesian War, the Long War

  Axiochosson of Alkibiades

  Boiotarchsthe seven chief officers of the Boiotian confederacy

  Boneheadname given to boy in Leotychides’s flock

  Brasidas* commander in Long War

  Bronze Houseshrine of Athena Poliachos (“Holder of the city”), situated on Sparta’s highest hill

  Cattle Price Housesanctuary of Asklepios of the Cattle Price, hospital in Sparta

  Chabrias*Athenian general

  Chaironelderly and wealthy citizen of Sparta, later Elder

  Charmidas*Eleian, victor in Olympic boys’ boxing in 444 B. C.

  Chaste Huntress, the Artemis

  Chionis boy in Leotychides’s flock

  Cockerel, the name given to Leotychides

  Council (gerousia)Spartan governing body, consisting of the two kings and twenty-eight elected members over the age of sixty

  Dancer Leotychides’s horse

  Daphnehetaira, loved by Anaxilas

  Demartos*former Eurypontid king of Sparta, supposed son of Ariston, deposed on the grounds that he was really the son of Agetus, his mother’s first husband

  Derkyllidas*Lakedaimonian general; succeeded Thibron as commander of Hellenic forces in Asia

  Dexippasson of Kallias, cousin of Gorgo

  Dinonfather of Doreius (2) and Hekataios, wounded in Long War

  Dionysosgod of wine

  Diopeithes*Spartan seer, teacher in Leotychides’s flock

  Diphridas*Spartan general in Corinthian War, guest at Menelaos House, later ephor

  Donkey, the name given to Aristokrates

  Doreius (1)* Former Agiad prince, son of King Anaxandridas II; challenged his brother Kleomenes I for the throne, and attempted to establish a colony at Herakleia in Sicily

  (2) patrol leader in Leotychides’s flock, son of Dinon, brother of Hekataios

  (3) son of Gorgo (2), supposedly by Chairon

  Doriskamother of Dexippas

  Dromeaserf, maidservant to Queen Timaia

  eirenboy in flock between ages of sixteen and twenty

  Elders (gerontes)elected members of the Council

  Elucidatescitizen of Sparta

  enomotarchosSpartan platoon commander

  Epaminondas*Theban officer, later general

  ephors the five principal magistrates of Sparta, elected for a term of one year

  Epitadeus*chief ephor of Sparta, said to have made a decree allowing Spartiates to sell their kleroi

  Eratomuse of erotic poetry and mime

  eromenos“junior” partner in homosexual relationship

  Eros Cupid, god of love

  Eteonikos*Spartan general, friend of Lysander, later governor of Aigina

  Etymokles*Spartan ambassador to Athens; supporter of Agisilaos

  Euagorasboy in Leotychides’s flock; later poet and musician

  Eudamidas*Spartan commander of Olynthian expedition, bother of Phoidibas

  EuphronArgive mercenary

  Eupolia (1)*second wife of King Archidamos, mother of Agisilaos and Teleutias, daughter of Aristomelidas, not of royal Heraklid descent

  (2)* elder daughter of Agisilaos

  EurydameAgiad Queen of Sparta, wife of Pausanios, sister of Queen Timaia

  EurymosOlympic victor

  Euryponlegendary king of Sparta, son of Soos and grandson of Procles; supposed ancestor of Eurypontids

  Eurypontidsone of the two royal houses of Sparta

  Eutelidasfather of Anaxandros

  Euterpemuse of lyric poetry

  Falcon Facename given to teacher in Agis’s flock

  flock (agele)institution for the communal rearing of Spartiate children

  Galaxidoros*Theban

  General Pentatarchosname given to Leotychides by the bastards' regiment

  General Rhetraename given to Leotychides

  Geradaslegendary Spartan

  GeraistosSpartan month

  Gitidias*former Lakedaimonian sculptor and composer

  Gorgo (1)*former Agiad queen, wife of King Leonidas

  (2) Spartan maiden; skilled at spear-throwing, cousin of Kallias

  Gorgopas*Spartan squadron commander

  Great Fightmock battle between two teams of boys

  G
reat Kingthe king of Persia

  Gryllos*son of Xenophon

  Gylippos*Spartan commander in Long War

  Gymnopaidiayearly celebration during which naked youths displayed their athletic and martial skills through the medium of war dancing.

  Hall (syssitia)institution for partaking in common meals

  hassocka padded cushion or low stool that serves as a seat or leg rest

  Hekataioscarrot-haired boy in Leotychides’s flock, supposed son of Dinon, brother of Doreius

  Hektorlegendary Trojan prince

  HeraklesHercules, legendary hero

  Herippidas*Spartiate political leader, advisor to Agisilaos and commander of the Cyreans during the 395 Asia Minor campaign

  Herodotos*fifth century Greek-Asian historian

  hetairaa courtesan or mistress, especially an educated one

  Hidden Thing (krypteia) (1) rite of passage, in which youths go alone into the forest to capture animals or criminals

  (2) élite body of law-keepers, including the secret police

  HipparchosSpartan polemarch at Lechion

  hoplitesheavily armed Greek infantry

  Horkiosaspect of Zeus; guardian of oaths

  Hyakinthoslegendary Spartan prince, loved by the gods Apollo and Zephyros, killed by discus

  Hyllus son of Herakles, supposed ancestor of Spartan kings

  Inspector of Boys (paidonomos)magistrate charged with supervision of education of Spartiate boys

  Iphikrates*Athenian mercenary peltast leader

  Iphitoslegendary king of Elis, said to have established the Olympic truce with Lykourgos

  IschalaosSpartan general

  Ismenias*anti-Spartan Theban politician

  Jason (1) legendary hero, leader of the quest for the golden Fleece

  (2)* Jason of Pherae; Thessalian, Spartan consul in Thessaly, tyrant of Pherae, son of Lycophron I, allied with Thebes, later ruler of Thessaly

  Kadmeathe citadel of Thebes

  KalliasSpartan warrior; lover of Hekataios, cousin of Gorgo

  KallibiosLesser Spartiate, member of the secret police, scribe to Queen Timaia

  Kallikratidas*Spartan grand admiral; succeeded Lysander in that office

  Kallipides*Corinthian exile, said to be finest tragic actor in Greece

  Kallistratos* Callistratus of Aphidnae, brown-bearded Athenian orator and general, guest-friend of Meleas, uncle of Tolmaios

  kanathruma fantastic wooden car, shaped like a griffin or an antelope, in which women and children were carried

  kappatenth letter of Greek alphabet, initial letter of Corinth, borne on shields by Corinthian warriors

  Karneiafeast of Apollo; competition of poets

  Kastor Brother of Helen of Troy and Polydeukes, one of the Twin Gods

  Kerberos (Cerberus)legendary hound of the underworld

  Kinadon* Lesser Spartiate and revolutionary conspirator

  kleiros (pl. kleroi)land holding granted by the state to all Spartiates

  Kleinias*father of Alkibiades

  Kleobolosup-country sea-captain, commander of the Bellamina

  Kleombrotos* Agiad, second son of King Pausanios, later King Kleombrotos I

  Kleomenes (1)*Kleomenes I, former Agiad king of Sparta, brother of Doreius (1) and Leonidas (1); plotted against Demartos: said to have gone mad

  (2)*Agiad, second son of Kleombrotos, later King Kleomenes II

  Kleonymos*Son of Sphodrias, lover of Archidamos (2)

  KleonikeSpartan chorus-mistress, wife of Leotychides

  Kleora*wife of Agisilaos, sister of Peisander

  Konon* Athenian general in Long War

  Kritias*leader of ruling council of Athens

  Kyniska*daughter of King Archidamos and Eupolia, sister of Agisilaos

  Kyros*younger brother of Great King Artaxerxes II of Persia; raised a rebellion to oust his brother from the throne

  Lakedaimon, Lakoniathe Spartan homeland

  lamdaeleventh letter of Greek alphabet, initial letter of Lakedaimon, borne on shields by Lakedaimonian warriors

  Lampido* wife of King Archidamos, mother of King Agis II, grandmother of Leotychides

  Law-giver, the Lykourgos, legendary Spartan lawgiver

  Leon (1)*former Agiad king of Sparta, supposed ancestor of Leotychides

  (2)* former chief ephor, father of Antalkidas

  (3) name used by Leotychides

  Leonidas (1)* former Agiad king of Sparta, killed at battle of Thermopylae

  (2) elder son of Leotychides and Kleonike

  LeonidiaSpartan games

  Leontiades*Theban official, political enemy of Ismenias

  Leotychides (1)* former Eurypontid King of Sparta

  (2)*Eurypontid, supposed son of King Agis II of Sparta, known as the Cockerel

  lesser equalsLesser Spartiates

  Lesser Spartiates (Hypomeiones)Spartans who have lost their civil rights

  lochagosSpartan military rank, above pentatarchos, but below strategos; commander of lochos

  Long War, the the Peloponnesian war, fought by the Delian League led by Athens against the Peloponnesian League led by Sparta.

  Lykomedes*“mad” Mantinean merchant; one of the founders of Megalopolis in Arkadia

  Lykourgoslegendary Spartan lawgiver, brother of Eurypontid King Eunomos and regent for his son Charilaos

  Lynkeus legendary hero, famed for his keen sight

  Lysander* Spartan grand Admiral, later vice -admiral

  Magpie, thename given to Anaxandros

  Makariosboy in Leotychides’s flock, known as the Monkey

  Maro Spartan cavalry platoon leader

  Megabates*Persian, son of Spithridates, loved by Agisilaos

  MegaklesSyracusan runner, brother of Anaxilas

  Meleas wealthy citizen of Sparta, lives in Menelaos House, hero of Long War, later general

  melleiren boy in flock between ages of twelve and sixteen

  Menelaoslegendary Spartan king, husband of Helen of Troy

  Menelaos Houseold house in Sparta near racing course, residence of Meleas

  Milian, the Ambassador from Milos to Sparta

  Mnassipos*Spartan, member of Leotychides’s hall: later grand admiral

  Molobrossuccessor of Doreius as commander of Leotychides’s flock

  Monkey, the name given to Makarios

  moraSpartan military unit, believed to be five or six hundred strong

  Naktenabo*Egyptian king, rebel against Persia

  Narkissosson of river god Cephissus and nymph Liriope; falls in love with own reflection

  NikandrosCorinthian, son of Aristeas

  Nikias*Athenian commander in Long War

  Nicholochos*Spartan vice-admiral

  NikomedesCorinthian boxer

  Okyllos*Spartan ambassador to Athens

  owlsAthenian drachma coins, stamped with the image of Athena’s owl

  PandiaSpartan ephor’s wife

  Pasemachos*Spartan cavalry commander at Sikyon

  Pasimelos*Corinthian, leader of peace party

  PatroklosGreek warrior in Trojan war, cousin of Achilles

  Pausanios (1)* Agiad king of Sparta, uncle of Leotychides

  (2)* kinsman of King Perdikkas of Macedon; seized the throne from him.

  Peisander*brother of Kleora, later general in Corinthian war

  Peithogoddess of persuasion

  PellesSpartan cavalryman

  Pelopidas*Theban officer, later commander of Sacred Band

  peltastslight-armed Greek troops, named for their small shields

  pentatarchoscommander of fifty

  peplosa body-length garment for women

  Perdikkas*king of Macedonia, son of Amyntas III, brother of Philippos