Death of Epaminondas. A.M. 3642

This is one of a group of drawings by British artist and book illustrator Edward Francis Burney, depicting scenes from Greek and Roman history and mythology. Epaminondas (about 420 - 362 BCE) was Theban general who was killed at the battle of Matinea. Defeating this reknowned general was considered such an achievement that a man from each of the allied armies of Sparta, Athens and Mantinea claimed to have killed him. Burney shows three spears protruding from Epaminondas' chest, perhaps referencing this story.