A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology. By various writers. Ed. by William Smith. Illustrated by numerous engravings on wood.

22 EPAMINONDAS. EPAMINONDAS.
c., Vii. pp. 294, d., 297, c., 304, d., 305, e., 312, b., came forward and took part'decisively with Pelo313, b., ix. pp. 371, e., 395, f., xii. p. 516, c., xiv. pidas and his confederates. (Plut. Pelop. 5, 12,
p. 662, d.) de Gen. Soc. 3; Polyaen. ii. 2; Xen. Hetl. v.
EPA'GATHUS, a profligate freedman, who 4. ~ 2, &c.) In B. c. 371, when the Athenian
along with Theocritus, a personage of the same envoys went to Sparta to negotiate peace, Epamiclass and stamp with himself, exercised unbounded nondas also came thither, as an ambassador, to
influence over Caracalla, and was retained in the look after the interests of Thebes, and highly disservice of his successor. After the disastrous tinguished himself by his eloquence and ready wit
battle of Antioch, he was despatched by Macrinus in the debate which ensued on the question whether
to place Diadumenianus under the protection of Thebes- should be allowed to ratify the treaty in
the Parthian king, Artabanus; and at a subse- the name of all Boeotia, thus obtaining a recogniquent period we find that the death of the cele- tion of her claim to supremacy over the Boeotian
brated Domitius Ulpianus was ascribed to his towns. This being refused by the Spartans, the
machinations, although the causes and circum- Thebans were excluded from the treaty altogether,
stances of that event are involved in deep obscu- and Cleombrotus was sent to invade Boeotia. The
rity. Alexander Severus, apprehensive lest some result was the battle of Leuctra, so fatal to the
tumult should arise at Rome, were he openly to Lacedaemonians, in which the success of Thebes is
take vengeance!on Epagathus, nominated him said to have been owing mainly to the tactics of
Praefect of Egypt; but soon afterwards recalling Epaminondas. He it was, indeed, who most
him from thence, caused him to be conducted to strongly urged the giving battle, while he emCrete, aud there quietly put to death. [MAcRI- ployed all the means in his power to raise the
NUS; DIADUMENIANUS; ULPIANUS]. (Dion. Cass. courage of his countrymen, not excluding even
lxxvii. 21, lxxviii. 39, lxxx. 2.) [W. R.] omens and oracles, for which, when unfavourable,
EPAINE ('E7raLv4), that is, the fearful, a sur- he had but recently expressed his contempt. (Xen.
name of Persephone. (Hom. Ii. ix. 457.) Plu- Hell. vi. 3. ~~ 18-20, 4. ~~ 1-15; Diod. xv.
tarch (de Aud. poet. p. 23, a.) derives the name 38,'51-56; Plut. Ages. 27, 28, Pelop. 20-23,
from aTvos, which suggests, that it might also be Cam. 19, Reg. et Imp. Apoph. p. 58, ed. Tauchn.,
understood in a euphemistic sense as the praised De seips. cit. inv. laud. 16, De San. Tuend. Praec.
goddess. [L. S.] 23; Paus. viii. 27, ix. 13; Polyaen. ii. 2; C.
EPAMINONDAS ('EwraqeeLyvyvas,'EEraiwco'v-y- Nep. Epam. 6; Cic. Tusc. Disp. i. 46, de f. i.
~as), the Theban general and statesman, son of 24; Suid. s. v.'Eircatuvvaas.) The project of
Polymnis, was born and reared in poverty, though Lycomedes for the founding of Megalopolis and the
his blood was noble.'In his early years he is said union of Arcadia was vigorously encouraged and
to have enjoyed the. instructions of Lysis of Taren- forwarded by Epaminondas, B. c. 370, as a barrier
tum, the Pythagorean, and we seem to trace the against Spartan dominion, though we need not
practical influence of this philosophy in several suppose with Pausanias that the plan originated
passages of his later life. (Plut. Pelop. 3, de Gen. with him. (Xen. Hell. vi. 5. ~ 6, &c.; Paus.
Soc. 8, &c.; Ael.. V.H. ii. 43, iii. 17, v. 5, xii. viii. 27, ix. 14; Diod. xv. 59; Aristot. Polit. ii.
43; Paus. iv. 31, viii. 52, ix. 13; C. Nep. Egam. 2, ed. Bekk.) In'the next year, B. c. 369, the
1, 2; comp. Fabric. Bibl. Graec. vol. i. p. 851, first invasion of the Peloponnesus by the Thebans
and the works of Dodwell and Bentley there re- took place, and when the rest of their generals were
ferred to.) His close and enduring friendship with anxious to return home, as the term of their comPelopidas, unbroken as it was through a long mand was drawing to a close, Epaminondas and
series of years, and amidst all the military and Pelopidas persuaded them to remain and to advance
civil offices which they held together, strikingly against Sparta. The country was ravaged as far
illustrates the tendency which contrast of character as the coast, and the city itself, thrown into the
has to cement attachments, when they have for utmost consternation by the unprecedented sight
their foundation some essential point of similarity of an enemy's fires, and endangered also by
and sympathy. According to some, their friend- treachery' within, was saved only by the calm firmship originated in the campaign in which they ness and the wisdom of Agesilaus. Epaminondas,
served together on the Spartan side against Man- however, did not leave the Peloponnesus before he
tineia, where Pelopidas having fallen in a battle, had inflicted a most serious blow on Sparta, and
apparently dead, Epaminondas protected his body planted a permanent thorn in her side by the
at the imminent risk of his own life, B. C. 385. restoration of the Messenians to their country and
(Plut. Pelop. 4; Xen. Hell. v. 2. ~ 1, &c.; Diod. the establishment of a new city, named Messene,
xv. 5, 12; Paus. viii. 8.) When the Theban on the site of the ancient Ithome,-a work which
patriots engaged in their enterprise for the recovery was carried into effect with the utmost solemnity,
of the Cadmeia, in B. C. 379, Epaminondas held and, as Epaminondas wished to have it bealoof from it at first, from a fear, traceable to his lieved, not without the special interposition of gods
Pythagorean religion, lest innocent' blood should and heroes. [ARISTOMENESo] Meanwhile the
be shed in the tumult. To the object of the Lacedaemonians had applied successfully for aid to
attempt, however,-the delivery of Thebes from Athens; but the Athenian general, Iphicrates,
Spartan domination,-he was of'course favourable. seems to have acted on this occasion with less than
He had studiously exerted himself already to raise his usual energy and ability, and the Theban army
the spirit and confidence of the Theban youths, made its way back in safety through an unguarded
urging them to match themselves in gymnastic pass'of the Isthmus. Pausanias tells us that E.paexercises with the Lacedaemonians of the citadel, minondas advanced to the walls of Athens, and
and' rebuking them, when successful in these, for that Iphicrates restrained his countrymen from
the tameness of. their submission to the invaders; marching out against him; but the several accounts
and, when'the first step in the enterprise had been of these movements are by no means clear. (Xen.
taken, and Archias and Leontiades were slain, he Hell. vi. 5. ~ 22, &c., 33-52, vii. 1. ~ 27; Ariste