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Mantinea is a city in the central Peloponnese that was the site of two significant battles in Classical Greek history.
The first battle of Mantinea, in 418 BC, was the largest land battle of the Peloponnesian War. On one side were Sparta and its remaining allies, and on the other were Athens, its allies, plus the cities that had revolted against the Spartans. The battle turned into a rout of the Athenian and allied armies, a result attributed to greater Spartan courage.
The second battle of Mantinea, in 362 BC, led to the fall of Theban hegemony. In that battle, Athens and Sparta were allied. Thebes won the battle, but its greatest general, Epaminondas, was killed in the fighting.
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