Thorax
(Θώραξ).
1. Of Larissa in Thessaly, and one of the powerful family of the Aleuadae. Thorax and his brothers, wishing to confirm or to increase their power, were among those who urged Xerxes to invade Greece, and promised him their assistance in the enterprise. In the Persian king's retreat, after the battle of Salamis, Thorax formed one of his escort, after which he still continued to show his zeal in the cause of the invaders, and was present with Mardonius at the battle of Plataea, B. C. 479. When the Persians had been finally driven from Greece, Leotychides, king of Sparta, led an army into Thessaly to punish those who had sided with the barbarians, but the Aleuadae purchased his forbearance with bribes. (Hdt. 6.72, 7.6, 9.1, 58.) [Leotychides, No. 2.]
2. A Lacedaemonian, is mentioned by Diodorus (13.76) as acting under Callicratidas during his operations in Lesbos, in B. C. 405, and as having been commissioned by him, after the capture of Methymna, to conduct the heavy-armed troops to Mytilene. In the following year we again find Thorax in command of the land-force which cooperated with the fleet under Lysander in the storming of Lampsacus (Xen. Hell. 2.1.18 ; Plut. Lys. 9); and he was left at Samos as harmost by Lysander, when the latter was on his way to Athens after the battle of Aegospotami. (Diod. 14.3.) According to Plutarch, when the satrap Pharnabazus sent to Sparta to complain of ravages committed in his territory by Lysander, the Lacedaemonian government put Thorax to death, as he was a friend and colleague of the accused admiral, and they had found money in his possession. (Plut. Lys. 19.) The date and circumstances of this, however, are very doubtful. (See Thirlwall's Greece, vol. iv. App. iv.) [E.E]
- his support of Mardonius: Hdt. 9.1
- Mardonius' address to him: Hdt. 9.58