Megapenthes of Sparta Megapenthes of Sparta In Greek mythology, Megapenthes (; Ancient Greek: Μεγαπένθης "Megapénthēs"), a Spartan prince and son of Menelaus, who ruled after his father's death and sent his mother (or step-mother) Helen into exile. In some legends, Helen was his mother; in most, however, he was Menelaus's son by a concubine, Pieris or Tereis, and was born during the Trojan War. His name means "great sorrow" and he is named that because he was conceived while Menelaus was grieving the loss of Helen. He marries the daughter of Alector in the beginning of Book IV of The Odyssey, whose name
History of Sparta The alarming decline of Spartan citizens was commented on by Aristotle. Sparta never fully recovered from the losses that the Spartans suffered at Leuctra in 371 BC and the subsequent helot revolts. Nonetheless, it was able to continue as a regional power for over two centuries. Neither Philip II nor his son Alexander the Great attempted to conquer Sparta itself. By the winter of late 370 BC, King Agesilaus took the field, not against Thebes, but in an attempt to preserve at least a toehold of influence for Sparta in Arkadia. This backfired when, in response, the Arkadians sent an