A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology

(Μενεσθεύς), son of Iphicrates, the famous Athenian general, by the daughter of Cotys, king of Thrace. Hence he said that he owed more to his mother than to his father; for that the latter, as far as in him lay, had made him a Thracian; the former had made him an Athenian. (Nep. Iph. 3; comp. Vol. II. p. 617a.) He was born probably about B. C. 377 (see Rehdantz, Vit. Iphic. Chabr. Timoth. 2.4); and, as he grew up, his great height and size caused him to be thought older than he really was, so that he was called on, while yet a boy, to undertake λειτουπγιαι, a demand which Iphicrates resisted. (Arist. Rhet. 2.23.17.) He married the daughter of Timotheus; and in B. C. 356 was chosen commander in the Social war, his father and his father-in-law, according to C. Nepos, being appointed to aid him with their counsel and experience. They were all three impeached by their colleague, CHARES, for alleged misconduct and treachery in the campaign; but Iphicrates and Menestheus were acquitted in B. C. 355. (Nep. Tim. 3; Dion Hal. Dem. p. 667; Rehdantz, Vit. Iphic. &c., 6.7, 7. §§ 5, 7; comp. Diod. 16.21; Wess. ad loc.; Isocr. περί ἀντιδ. § 137.) Menestheus was distinguished for his military skill; and we find him again appointed commander of a squadron of 100 galleys, sent out, in B. C. 335, to check the Macedonians, who had intercepted some Athenian ships on their voyage down from the Euxine. We do not know the exact period of his death, but it took place before B. C. 325. (Plut. Phoc. 7; Pseudo-Dem., περί τῶν πρὸς Ἀλεξ. συνθ. p.217, Epist. iii. p. 1482; Rehdantz, Vit. Iphic. &c., 7.8.) [IPHICRATES.]

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