Spartan hype?

[Paullus Scipio]

We're arguing apples and oranges. I only point out that Spartans were more than happy to be on the right flank of the advancing theban column for tactical reasons. The fact that this was almost assured by the geopolitical situation just simplifies the situation. (I'm sure Agiselaos cried his eyes out to think of those poor Mantineans getting hit by the Theban column.)

Yeah ! I bet you are dead right about that ! Interesting, we know that according to one tradition, a spartan fatally wounded Epaminondas with a sword, whilst in Diodorus he dies of a spearhead embedded in his chest. The Athenians credited his death to a Mantinean. If he was slain by a Spartan, then since the Thebans faced the Mantineans, maybe the Spartans did wheel into the Theban flank ( Epaminondas would have been on the right flank, nearest the Spartans.) However the account of Xenophon is brief, and Diodorus, quoting Ephorus, is possibly corrupt in places. Xenophon tells us that the Mantinean side were taken by surprise, and did not put up a fight for long -"By overwhelming the force against which he struck ](the 7000 Mantineans, and possibly the right flank of the Spartans if the 15,000 strong Theban phalanx overlapped ) ,he caused the whole enemy army to turn and fly. But he himself fell in this attack..."
and the Thebans, dismayed , failed to follow up.Xenophon's account is brief, and he ends his history abruptly here, probably because one of his sons was killed serving with the Athenian cavalry ( the Athenians won on their wing).

You have obviously never seen a co-ed with an oboe.

Mmmm.mm...mm co-eds !! wink: (to paraphrase Homer Simpson!)[color=blue]