EPAM'INON'DAS (Lat.. from Gk. 'Eraltei uthvaas, or 'Errapont,v5as) (c.418-362 A Greek statesman and general. Ile was born at Thebes, of an influential, though not wealthy. family, and as a pupil of the Pythagorean phi losopher 1,ysis of 'Parent= his early life was spent in study. When the Theban democracy was established, he came forward as one of its strongest supporters. Ile was a. member of the deputation sent by Thebes to the congress of Grecian States held at Sparta in n.c. 371, and spoke on that occasion in defense of the Theban policy of maintaining a united Bceotia. War was straightway declared by Sparta, and Epam inondas was appointed commander-in-ehief of the Theban army, which consisted of about, 6000 men. The Spartans, with a much larger force, were defeated at Leu•tra in the early part of July, me. 371. The supremacy of Sparta was now at an end. In me. :370 Epaminondas and Pelopidas invaded the Peloponnesns and attacked Sparta, which successfully defended itself under the lead of Agesilaus. Epaminondas restored
Messenia to its former position as an independent State (n.e. 369), and under his auspices Megalop olis was founded as the centre of the Arcadian Confederacy. In B.C. 368 Epaminondas made a second expedition into the l'eloponnesus, and in 366 a third. In 362 he undertook a fourth expe dition, having this time a coalition of Sparta and a number of States opposed to him. He fought a great battle at Mantinea. in which the Thebans were successful, but Epaminondas himself fell. Epaminondas was one of the purest and noblest characters in Grecian history. Con sult: Du Mesnil, "Ucher den Werth der Politik des Epaminondas," in Historisehe Zeitsehrift (Berlin, 1863) ; I'omtow, Das Lawn des Epanti noiakis (Berlin, 1870).