Editing Eurysthenes (section)

==Legend of the double kingship==
The story of the double kingship of Sparta begins with the invasion of the Peloponnesus by the [[Dorians]], and the [[Aetolia]]n allies, under three Heraclid commanders, [[Temenus]], [[Cresphontes]] and [[Aristodemus]], the three sons of [[Aristomachus (Heracleidae)|Aristomachus]]. [[Karl Otfried Müller]] collected and evaluated the various fragments of the story from classical authors. According to Müller, the state of [[Ancient Elis|Elis]] in [[Arcadia (ancient region)|Arcadia]], allies of the Aetolians, provided a guide ([[Oxylus]]) for passage through Arcadia after crossing the [[Gulf of Corinth]] from [[Naupactus]]. Arcadia gave them a central point from which to attack anywhere else in the Peloponnesus. Their presence was contested by a united Peloponnesian Achaean army (except for Arcadia) under [[Tisamenus (son of Orestes)|Tisamenus]], an Atreid. The Achaeans lost. They were commanded to evacuate to Athens, but many did not; furthermore, much of the region remained unconquered.<ref>{{harvnb|Müller|1830|loc=Sections I.3.9 through I.3.12}}</ref>

Nevertheless, the three commanders divided that which they did not yet possess, Peloponnesus. Following the signs of the gods, Aristodemus received Sparta. There is a question as to whether he ever was actually in possession there. One tradition says that he was and was therefore the first king of Sparta. A second asserts that he died before taking possession and that the Dorians brought his infant twin sons to Sparta as kings under a regent.<ref>{{harvnb|Müller|1830|loc=Section I.5.11}}</ref> Aristodemus was assassinated at Delphi by the Atreids. He had not even had time to designate a successor. The mother did not know which was the elder. The [[oracle at Delphi]] resolved the problem by suggesting that they both be made kings, which is the origin of the dual monarchy. Theras, Argeia's brother, was made regent. There was still a necessity of designating the elder. They chose the one the mother fed and cleaned first, Eurysthenes.<ref name=smitheur/>