Ismenias
(
Ἰσμηνίας).
1.
A celebrated musician of Thebes. When he was taken prisoner by the Scythians, Atheas, the
king of the country, observed that he liked the neighing of his horse better than all the
music of Ismenias.
2.
A Theban general, sent to Persia on an embassy by his countrymen. As none were admitted
into the king's presence without prostrating themselves at his feet, Ismenias, when he was
introduced, dropped his ring, and the motion he made to recover it from the ground being
mistaken for the required homage, Ismenias had a satisfactory audience with the monarch
(Aelian,
V. H. i. 21).