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Cook, Arthur B.
Zeus: a study in ancient religion (Band 1): Zeus god of the bright sky — Cambridge, 1914

DOI Seite / Zitierlink: 
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.14695#0526

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44 8

Kleobis and Biton

for her to go to the temple except on an ox-car1 drawn by white
oxen2; that, if she had not performed the rite to time, she would
have been put to death3. Kleobis and Biton, otherwise called
Kleops and Bitias4, when no oxen could be had because a plague
had killed them all5, are said to have stripped off their clothes,
anointed themselves with oil, and stooped their necks to the yoke6.
After sacrificing at the temple they drank7 and feasted with their
mother8 before going to sleep. In another version they bring the
car and their mother safely home, and then worn out with fatigue
succumb to their fatal sleep, while Kydippe, having learnt
wisdom from their example, puts herself to death9.

A second tale of Biton's prowess was told in verse by Lykeas,
an antiquary of Argos10. It was to the effect that once, when the
Argives were driving certain beasts to Nemea in order to sacrifice
to Zeus, Biton full of vigour and strength caught up a bull and
carried it himself. A statue of him bearing the bull was set up at

Argos in the sanctuary of Apollon Lykios11. Biton's exploit has
commonly been regarded as a mere athletic feat; but, as we shall
see later12, it is highly probable that a definite ritual practice lay
behind it.

Returning to the joint performance of the two brothers, we note
that at Argos opposite the sanctuary of Zeus Nemeios there was
a stone relief of Kleobis and Biton in the act of drawing their
mother to the Heraion13. An imperial Argive coin, now in the
Berlin collection (fig. 315)14, shows the scene and may perhaps be

1 Philarg. in Verg. georg. 3. 532, cp. Serv. in Verg. georg. 3. 532, Myth. Vat. 1. 29,

2 Palaiph. 50 (51), Eudok. viol. 435c. Plout. consol. ad Apoll. 14 wrongly says
' mules.'

3 Hyg. fab. 254. Cp. Tert. ad nat. 2. 9 ne in sacris piaculum committeret.

4 Hyg. fab. 254.

5 Serv. and Philarg. in Verg. georg. 3. 532, Myth. Vat. 1. 29, 2. 66.

6 Cic. Tusc. 1. 113. 7 Plout. v. Sol. 27.
8 Cic. Tusc. 1. 113. 9 Ylyg. fab. 254.

10 Paus. 1. 13. 8 f. 11 Paus. 2. 19. 5.

12 Infra ch. i § 6 (g) xvi. 13 Paus. 2. 20. 3.

14 Arch. Ze.it. 1869 xxvh- 98 pi. 23.

Fig- 315-

Fig. 316.

2. 66.
 
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