May 29: Family Month

When three aspiring kings sought to divide the Peloponnesos between them, they put their name on a pebble and threw those in a jar of water. The first person whose name came up, got the region of Argos, and the next Lakedaimon. But the third candidate had written his name on a lumb of clay instead of a pebble, making sure it would disolve. So he got the kingdom that was left: Messene, which was his plan all along. He knew the gods disapproved about the trickery though, when he found a dead fox on the altar where he was sacrificing. As was to be expected, he didn’t enjoy his reign for long and neither did any of his successors. And as far as Argos goes, the initial king didn’t like either of his sons, so he appointed as his successor his son-in-law Deiphontes, husband of his daughter Hyrnetho. The sons made up all kinds of accusations, but Hyrnetho stood by her man. Wich ultimately cost her her life. People who had known and loved her, built her a shrine and she’s remembered as a loving and courageous wife till this day.

Couple, funerary high relief, Pompeï, Italy

Peplofora, Museo Archeologico Nazionale, Napels, Italy

Did you know...

• These three kings divided the Peloponnesos among them: Themenos (the father of Hyrnetho) got Argos; the sons of Aristodemos (Prokles and Eurysthenes) ruled Lakedaimonia, and Kresphontes got Messene.