Hermonymus of Sparta was his master in Greek.
In the wars of the period Athens took a prominent part with a view to upholding the balance of power, joining the Corinthian League in 395, and assisting Thebes against Sparta after 378, Sparta against Thebes after 369.
This revolution was accompanied by a conflict with Sparta and other powers.
In 294 B.C. he was defeated at Mantineia by Demetrius Poliorcetes, who invaded Laconia, gained a second victory close to Sparta, and was on the point of taking the city itself when he was called t So Plut.
Prytanis was also the name of a legendary king of Sparta of the Eurypontid or Proclid line.