A young man, pre-eminent above the rest for birth, for valour, and for genius, was the head and the soul of the enterprise (probably B.C.

679).

His name was Aristomenes.

Forming secret alliances with the Argives and Arcadians, he at length ventured to raise his standard, and encountered at Dera, on their own domains, the Spartan force.

The issue of the battle was indecisive; still, however, it seems to have seriously aroused the fears of Sparta: no further hostilities took place till the following year; the oracle at Delphi was solemnly consulted, and the god ordained the Spartans to seek their adviser in an Athenian.