A source-book of ancient history - The Search For Mecca

CHAPTER XXIII
THEBES ATTEMPTS TO GAIN THE SUPREMACY
I. Epaminondas
Family and
education.
Nepos,
Epaminondas,
I f.
Greece, 275-
8;; Ancient
World, 260-
67.
On Pythagoras;
Ancient
World,
155-
Epaminondas was the son of Polumnis, and was born
at Thebes. . . . He was of an honorable family, though
left poor by his ancestors; but he was so well-educated
that no Theban was more so; for he was taught to play
upon the harp, and to sing to the sound of its strings, by
Dionysius, who was held in no less honor among musicians
than Damon or Lamprus, whose names are well known;
to play on the flutes by Olympiodorus; and to dance by
Calliphron.
For his instructor in philosophy he had Lysis
of Tarentum, a Pythagorean, to whom he was so devoted
that, young as he was, he preferred the society of a grave
and austere old man before that of all those of his own
age; nor did he part with him until he so far excelled his
fellow students in learning, that it might easily be perceived
he would in like manner excel them all in other
pursuits.
These acquirements according to our habits are
trifling, and rather to be despised; but in Greece, at least
in former times, they were a great subject for praise.
After he grew up, and began to apply himself to gymnastic
exercises, he studied not so much to increase his
strength as the agility of his body; for he thought that
strength suited the purpose of wrestlers, but that agility
conduced to excellence in war. He used to exercise himself
very much, therefore, in running and wrestling, as
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