Philip's diet in Thebes

[Alexias]

Philip spent about three years living in Thebes as a hostage at the house of Pammenes from the age of 15. He would have received some of his education from the famous general Epaminondas. According to Athenaeus, this would have been his diet:

Viewing all this, which surpasses what we have, we may well admire Greek poverty, having also before our eyes the dinners of the Thebans, an account of which is given by Cleitarchus in the first book of his History of Alexander.​ He says that "after the demolition of their city by Alexander, Etheir entire wealth was found to be under 440 talents; he further says that they were mean-spirited and stingy where food was concerned, preparing for their meals mincemeat in leaves, and boiled vegetables, anchovies, and other small fish, sausages, beef-ribs, and pease-porridge.