MANTINEA EE-ESTABLISHED. 205 ess was not inferior to that of the Spartans ; while the disappear- ance of the harmosts left them free to follow their own inclinations. It was by the Mantineans that the movement was first commenced. Divested of Grecian city-life, and condemned to live in separate villages, each under its own philo-Spartan oligarchy, they had nourished a profound animosity, which manifested itself on the first opportunity of deposing these oligarchies and coming again to- gether. The resolution was unanimously adopted, to re-establish Mantinea with its walls, and resume their political consolidation ; while the leaders banished by the Spartans at their former inter- vention, now doubtless returned to become foremost in the work. 1 As the breaking up of Mantinea had been one of the most obnox- ious acts of Spartan omnipotence, so there was now a strong sym- pathy in favor of its re-establishment. Many Arcadians from other quarters came to lend auxiliary labor, while the Eleians sent three talents as a contribution towards the cost. Deeply mortified by this proceeding, yet too weak to prevent it by force, the Spartans sent Agesilaus with a friendly remonstrance. Having been connected with the city by paternal ties of hospitality, he had declined the command of the army of coercion previously employed against it ; nevertheless, on this occasion,- the Mantinean leaders refused to convene their public assembly to hear his communication, desiring that he would make known his purpose to them. Accordingly, he intimated that he had come with no view of hindering the re- establishment of the city, but simply to request that they would de- fer it until the consent of Sparta could be formally given ; which (he promised) should soon be forthcoming, together with a hand- some subscription to lighten the cost. But the Mantinean leaders answered, that compliance was impossible, since a public resolution had already been taken to prosecute the work forthwith. Enraged at such a rebuff, yet without power to resent it, Agesilaus was compelled to return home. 2 The Mantineans persevered and com- 1 Xen. Hellen. v, 2, 6 ; yi, 5, 3. 2 Xen. Hellen. vi, 5, 4, 5. Pausanias (viii, 8, 6: ix, 14, 2) states that the Thebans reestablished the city of Mantinea. The act emanated from the spontaneous impulse of the Mantineans and other Arcadians, before the Thebans had yet begun to in- terfere actively in Peloponnesus, which we shall presently find them doing. Bnt it was doubtless done in reliance upon Thebar. support, and was in all
