A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology

(Μνησίφιλος), an Athenian, who pointed out to Themistocles, B. C. 480, the extreme impolicy of the measure which had been agreed on by the Greek generals, viz. to withdraw the fleet from Salamis and fight the Persians at the isthmus of Corinth. Hereupon Themistocles persuaded Eurybiades to call another council, and therein with much difficulty prevailed on the generals to maintain their position at Salamis. According to Plutarch, Themistocles had, in a great measure, formed himself on the model of Mnesiphilus, who, he tells us, was addicted neither to the arts of rhetoric nor to the speculations of physical philosophy; but was a man of sound, strong, practical, good sense. With nothing of the sophist about him, he applied himself entirely to politics, and was a good specimen of an Athenian statesman of the old school of Solon. This intellectual connection of his with the great legislator is, by a bold fiction of chronology, converted into one of personal friendship, in the Banquet of the Seven Sages, ascribed to Plutarch. (Gerod. 8.57, &c.; Plut. Them. 2, 11, de Herod. Malign. 37, Conv. Sept. Sap. 11.)

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