ABSTRACT
Aristoxenus declares, according to Diogenes Laertius, that "Plato served on three military campaigns, once to Tanagra, a second time to Corinth, a third at Delium, in which last he distinguished himself". The only Battle of Tanagra known to history is that in 447, when the Spartans beat the Athenians, well before Plato's birth, though comfortably within the period of Socrates' liability for military service; we could therefore postulate a transference from the Life of Socrates. Plato is duly put up for sale, and bought by a nobleman of Cyrene by the name of Anniceris, who is there on his way to compete in Olympic Games. Anniceris frees Plato and sends him back to Athens, declining to accept the ransom-money which Plato's friends offer him. Xenocrates eventually returns, and puts the situation to rights, scolding Speusippus for not defending Plato properly, and bringing Aristotle to heel.
