Oath-Taking
The sworn invocation of gods as witnesses and avengers to guarantee a promise, treaty, or testimony, often sealed by sacrifice, libation, or touching a sacred object.
How it traveled
- HistoriesThurii (Magna Graecia) · -425explains
- HellenicaAthens · -354explains
- AnabasisAthens · -354explains
- CyropaediaAthens · -354explains
- AgesilausAthens · -354explains
- MemorabiliaAthens · -354explains
- Constitution of the LacedaimoniansAthens · -354explains
- GeographyAmaseia · 24explains
- Quaestiones RomanaeChaeronea · 120explains
- Description of Greece— · 180explains
- DeipnosophistaeNaucratis · 230explains
Key passages(20)
There are no men who respect pledges more than the Arabians. This is how they give them: a man stands between the two pledging parties, and with a sharp stone cuts the palms of their hands, near the t
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As for giving sworn pledges to those who are to receive them, this is the Scythian way: they take blood from the parties to the agreement by making a little cut in the body with an awl or a knife, and
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Glaucus son of Epicydes, it is more profitable now To prevail by your oath and seize the money. Swear, for death awaits even the man who swears true. But Oath has a son, nameless; he is without hands
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But the Zeus in the Council Chamber is of all the images of Zeus the one most likely to strike terror into the hearts of sinners. He is surnamed Oath-god, and in each hand he holds a thunderbolt. Besi
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Why do they tell children, whenever they would swear by Hercules, not to do so under a roof, and bid them go out into the open air? Is it, as some relate, because they believe that Hercules had no ple
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Constitution of the Lacedaimonians · Xenophon
And they exchange oaths monthly, the Ephors on behalf of the state, the King for himself. And this is the King’s oath: I will reign according to the established laws of the state. And this the oath of
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In the end, Alcibiades made oath at Chrysopolis to the representatives of Pharnabazus, Mitrobates and Arnapes, and Pharnabazus at Calchedon to the representatives of Alcibiades, Euryptolemus and Dioti
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After this agreement had been reached, Tissaphernes made oath to the commissioners who were sent to him, Herippidas, Dercylidas, and Megillus, that in very truth and without guile he would negotiate t
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These oaths they sealed by sacrificing a bull, a boar, and a ram over a shield, the Greeks dipping a sword in the blood and the barbarians a lance.
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But Themison was very angry at being thus tricked on his oath and renounced his friendship with Etearchus; presently, he took the girl and sailed away, and so as to fulfill the oath that he had sworn
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As for their manner of swearing and divination, they lay their hands on the graves of the men reputed to have been the most just and good among them, and by these men they swear; their practice of div
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Then when day came, he invited the Barcaeans to confer with him, and they readily consented; at last all agreed to conditions of peace. This was done thus: standing on the hidden trench, they gave and
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When the sworn agreement was made, the townsfolk, trusting in it and opening all their gates, themselves came out of the city, and let all their enemies who so desired enter within the walls. But the
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for when the Scythians will swear their mightiest oath, it is by the king's hearth that they are accustomed to swear. Immediately, the man whom they allege to have sworn falsely is seized and brought
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May I not be the son of Darius son of Hystaspes son of Arsames son of Ariaramnes son of Teispes son of Cyrus son of Cambyses son of Teispes son of Achaemenes, if I do not have vengeance on the Athenia
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Against all of these the Greeks who declared war with the foreigner entered into a sworn agreement, which was this: that if they should be victorious, they would dedicate to the god of Delphi [22.5167
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Further on is what is called the Tomb of Horse. For Tyndareus, having sacrificed a horse here, administered an oath to the suitors of Helen, making them stand upon the pieces of the horse. The oath wa
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An oath is also taken by those who examine the boys, or the foals entering for races, that they will decide fairly and without taking bribes, and that they will keep secret what they learn about a can
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Homer proves this point clearly. For the boar, on the slices of which Agamemnon swore that verily Briseis had not lain with him, Homer says was thrown by the herald into the sea.He spake, and cut the
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This, then, was his first act in Asia. Tissaphernes had sworn the following oath to Agesilaus: If you will arrange an armistice to last until the return of the messengers whom I will send to the King,
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