Eudamidas
(Εὐδαμίδας).
1. A Spartan of some note, who, when the Chalcidians sent to implore aid against Olynthus in B. C. 383, was sent at the head of 2000 men. Before his departure he prevailed on the ephors to commit the next division which should be sent to the command of his brother Phoebidas. The latter, on his march, seized the Cadmea of Thebes; and in consequence of the delay of the main body of the troops thus occasioned, Eudamidas could effect but little. He, however, garrisoned several of the Chalcidian towns; and, making Potidaea his headquarters, carried on the war without any decisive result. According to Diodorus, he was worsted in several engagements; and it would appear from Demosthenes (de Falsa Legat. p. 425), who speaks of three commanders having in this war fallen on the side of the Chalcidians and Lacedaemonians, that in one of these encounters Eudamidas was killed. (Xen. Hell. 5.2.24; Diod. 15.20, 21.)
2. Two kings of Sparta bore this name. Eudamidas I. was the younger son of Archidamus III. and succeeded his brother Agis III. in B. C. 330. The exact length of his reign is uncertain, but it was probably about 30 years. Plutarch (Apophth. p. 220, 221) records some sayings of Eudamidas, which bespeak his peaceful character and policy, which is also attested by Pausanias (3.10.5).
Eudamidas II. was the son of Archidamus IV. (whom he succeeded) and grandson of Eudamidas I. (Plut. Agis 3.) He was the father of Agis IV. and Archiidamus V. [C.P.M]
- king of Sparta: Paus. 3.10.5