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PIETRO VANNICELLI

Università di Roma–La Sapienza

Adeimantus (“dauntless”) was the commander of the Corinthian naval contingent in 480 BCE, the largest one after that of ATHENS. Presented in the Histories as the bitter enemy of THEMISTOCLES (8.59, 61), Adeimantus has to be bribed to remain at ARTEMISIUM (8.5). Moreover, according to the Athenians, at the beginning of the Battle of SALAMIS Adeimantus fled in panic followed by his ships and only returned, after being stopped by a (divine?) vessel, when the fighting was over (8.94). Herodotus rejects this version, adding that “the rest of Greece” gives EVIDENCE in favor of the Corinthians’ claim to have been among the foremost fighters at Salamis. Modern scholars have tried to find a kernel of TRUTH in the Athenian story (a common hypothesis is that the Corinthian contingent was sent west to confront the Egyptian squadron), which should probably be considered as slander circulating in Athens towards the beginning of the PELOPONNESIAN WAR (431 BCE). An additional reason for Athenian hostility towards Adeimantus may have been the role played by his son ARISTEAS in the revolt of POTEIDEIA around that time. PLUTARCH’s virulent reaction against Herodotus’ narrative concerning Adeimantus includes an epitaph for the Corinthians who died at Salamis and were buried on the island by Athenian concession—a fragment of which survives on stone (ML 24)—and an epigram specifically in honor of Adeimantus (Plut. Mor. 870e–871a/DHM 39). Favorinus attributes both to SIMONIDES ([Dio Chrys.] Or. 37.18–19).

SEE ALSO: Athens and Herodotus; Bribery; Corinth; Date of Composition; Ocytus; Source Citations