Event #2689: Lightening and thunder from a clear sky at beginning of battle between Spartans, Arcadians and Argives

When these words had been spoken, it is said that from a clear sky there came lightnings and thunderings of favourable omen for him; and it chanced also that on the right wing was a sanctuary and a statue of Heracles¹. As a result, therefore, of all these things, it is reported that the soldiers were inspired with so much strength and courage that it was a task for their leaders to restrain them as they pushed forward to the front. And when Archidamus led the advance, only a few of the enemy waited till his men came within spear-thrust; these were killed, and the rest were cut down as they fled, many by the horsemen and many by the Celts.

In 368, after Archidamus III (the son of Agesilaus II, and king of Sparta from 360 to 338 BC) had drawn up his army to meet the Arcadians and Argives, and the general’s speech was concluded, from a clear sky there came lightning and thunderclaps as favorable omens. Archidamus destroyed Arcadian force without suffering a single casualty. As a result, there was no need to grieve in Sparta and this victory came to be known most popularly as the “Tearless Battle”.