The Necropolitan Sentinel

Not related to anything, just interesting, I thought.

As this is Pausanias's work, I will not rub out the particular mass-murdering asshole's name:

[6.9.6] At the Festival previous to this it is said that Cleomedes of Astypalaea killed Iccus of Epidaurus during a boxing-match. On being convicted by the umpires of foul play and being deprived of the prize he became mad through grief and returned to Astypalaea. Attacking a school there of about sixty children he pulled down the pillar which held up the roof.

[6.9.7] This fell upon the children, and Cleomedes, pelted with stones by the citizens, took refuge in the sanctuary of Athena. He entered a chest standing in the sanctuary and drew down the lid. The Astypalaeans toiled in vain in their attempts to open the chest. At last, however, they broke open the boards of the chest, but found no Cleomedes, either alive or dead. So they sent envoys to Delphi to ask what had happened to Cleomedes.

[6.9.8] The response given by the Pythian priestess was, they say, as follows:–

Last of heroes is Cleomedes of Astypalaea;
Honor him with sacrifices as being no longer a mortal.

So from this time have the Astypalaeans paid honors to Cleomedes as to a hero.

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