Location information

Phigalians and Oresthasians

FIGALIA (Ancient city) ILIA
   When the Lacedaemonians attacked the Arcadians and invaded Phigalia, they overcame the inhabitants in battle and sat down to besiege the city. When the walls were in danger of capture the Phigalians ran away, or perhaps the Lacedaemonians let them come out under a truce.The Phigalians who escaped resolved to go to Delphi and ask the god about their return. The Pythian priestess said that if they took with them one hundred picked men from Oresthasium, these would die in the battle, but through them the Phigalians would be restored to their city. When the Oresthasians heard of the oracle delivered to the Phigalians, all vied with one another in their eagerness to be one of the picked hundred and take part in the expedition to Phigalia. They advanced against the Lacedaemonian garrison and fulfilled the oracle in all respects. For they fought and met their end gloriously; expelling the Spartans they enabled the Phigalians to recover their native land.

Perseus: Pausanias, Description of Greece, Arcadia
• http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?lookup=...