Hippocleides doesn't care!

Sunday, November 30, 2008

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hippocleides

As a young man Hippocleides competed for the hand of Agariste, the daughter of Cleisthenes, the tyrant of Sicyon. By the end of the competitions, only Hippocleides and Megacles remained. According to Herodotus (6.129-130), Hippocleides became intoxicated during a dinner party with Cleisthenes, and began to act like a fool. At one point, he stood on his head and kicked his legs in the air, keeping time with the flute music.

When Hippocleides was informed that he had "danced away his bride," his response was "Hippocleides doesn't care."

The phrase, according to Herodotus, became a common expression.

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