When the Athenians and Mantineans had fought [sc. the Thebans] Epaminondas received a war-wound; and they carried him, wounded but still alive, out of the line. For a while he kept his hand on the wound and was in a bad way as he watched his allies; but once the combat had ended with honors even, he took his hand away from the wound; and when he had died they buried him on the site of the battle. On the grave stands a pillar and there is a shield on it, bearing the carving of a dragon. The dragon is meant to signify that Epaminondas belonged to the race of the Sparti.[1] One must give Epaminondas praise as the Greeks' most famous general, or [at any rate] make him second to none.
Epaminondas received an oracle [advising him] to be on his guard against 'ocean'. And he was [accordingly] afraid to board a boat. However, by 'ocean' the deity meant the grove 'Ocean'[2] and not the sea. Places of the same name [also misled Hannibal... and the Athenians].[3]