I. Introduction

II. The 'Lives of Pelopidas and Marcellus': The choice of heroes

III. Character-Portrayal

1. Pelopidas and Epaminondas - Marcellus and Fabius Maximus

2. Pelopidas and Alexander of Pherai

a) Pelopidas' first expedition to Thessaly

b) Pelopidas' second mission to Thessaly

c) Pelopidas and Thebe

d) Pelopidas' liberation by Epaminondas

e) Thebe's questionable motivation for revenge

f) Pelopidas' motives

3. Marcellus and Hannibal

a) Hannibal's portrayal

b) Marcellus' motivation for an encounter with Hannibal

4. Marcellus and Archimedes

IV. Miscellaneous

1. Assessment of Pelopidas' and Marcellus' deaths

2. Funeral rites and divine retribution

a) Marcellus and Alexander of Pherai

b) Pelopidas, Dionysius and Alexander the Great

V. Conclusion

VI. Select Bibliography