In Greek mythology, Biton and Cleobis were Argives, the sons of Cydippe. Cydippe, a priestess of Hera. Cydippe was on her way to a festival in honor of Argive Hera. The oxen which were to pull her cart were overdue and her sons, Cleobis and Biton, pulled the cart the entire way (45 stades, or 7 km/4.4 miles). Cydippe was impressed with their devotion to her and her goddess and asked Hera to give her children the best gift a god could give a person. Hera ordained that the brothers would die in their sleep.
In Book 1 of Herodotus' Histories, Solon tells the story of Cleobis and Biton to King Croesus as an example of a happy life lived, reckoning them second in happiness only to Tellus the Athenian, much to Croesus' annoyance. Herodotus records that "the Argives had statues of them made and set them up at Delphi, because they had been such excellent men". The modern Delphi Museum displays two identical Archaic kouroi under the names of Cleobis and Biton, although there is no evidence directly connecting these statues with the ones mentioned by Herodotus.
Cleobis and Biton (also called Cleops and Bitias 2), who are said to have surpassed all men in brotherly love and in affection towards their mother, are remembered for having performed a noble deed, which justified the pious prayer that caused their death.
Being exhausted after performing such a huge effort, Cleobis and Biton lay down in the temple and went to sleep, while their mother Cydippe 2, whom many had congratulated for having borne such children, prayed to Hera to grant her children whatever was the best thing a man could receive.
It is added, however, that they died, after the aforementioned prayer, on their return to Argos, and that Cydippe 2, realizing that there was nothing better for mortals than to die, died herself a willing death.
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