Epaminondas of Thebes is best known as a military genius. While this assessment is accurate, it overlooks another important aspect of Epaminondas‟ legacy. His role as a statesman is also of great importance. Unfortunately, while Epaminondas was greatly admired by his contemporaries, historical accounts from that time are scant. Plutarch‟s Life of Epaminondas is missing, and while Epaminondas is referred to in the Life of Pelopidas and the Life of Agesilaus, Plutarch avoided duplicating narrative with the result being information about Epaminondas is limited.1 Xenophon does make mention of Epaminondas, however, his accounts must be tempered with those of other historians. In what appears to be an intentional slight, he is often silent in regard
