Agias of Sparta
5th-century Spartan seer
About Agias of Sparta
Lived 500 BC – 400 BC. Agias of Sparta was a fortune teller and seer.
Agias (Gr. ), the son of Agelochus and grandson of Tisamenus of Elea, was the Spartan seer of Lysander, who predicted that general's victory at the battle of Aegospotami in 404 BC. Some ancient writers considered Agias' prediction—that Lysander would capture the entire fleet except for ten triremes (which fled to Corcyra)--to have been the cause of the victory more than a mere prediction. Pausanias mentions seeing a bronze statue of Agias at the altar of Augustus in the marketplace in Sparta. There was also a statue in Delphi of both Agias and Lysander, reputedly erected by Lysander, which has been partially recovered, at the ex voto of the Lacaedemonians. It was a rectangular exedra; in the Sanctuary of Apollo, on the northern side of the Sacred Way, west of the Bull of the Corcyreans. Dated ca. 403 BC.
Recognition With spoils from the recent victory at Aigospotamoi, Lysander commanded statues be built for his military commanders. This was the first time in the history of Sparta that statues of living military commanders were created. There were approximately 39 statues created, the 9 in the front row included Lysander himself, immediately next to him were the statues of Agias, and Hermon, the commander of his Flagship. The statue of Agias is somewhat unique in that it was the only one created by Pison of Kalaureia.
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Important facts
People in Agias of Sparta's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Agias of Sparta's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Agias of Sparta?
5th-century Spartan seer
When was Agias of Sparta born?
Agias of Sparta was born in 500 BC.
When did Agias of Sparta die?
Agias of Sparta died in 400 BC.
What was Agias of Sparta's occupation?
Agias of Sparta was a fortune teller and seer.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Agias of Sparta. https://biography.guide/agias-of-sparta/
MLA: "Agias of Sparta." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/agias-of-sparta/.
Chicago: "Agias of Sparta." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/agias-of-sparta/.
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