[160]. Rep. 406 B; Protag. 316 D; Aristot. Rhet. i. 5.
An entirely different view of Herodicus is ably stated by Dr. Jüthner in the introduction to his Philostratus. He regards Herodicus as the father of scientific and medical gymnastic, as applied to the preservation of health and the cure of disease, and he claims that Plato himself shows warm recognition of his merits in the passage in the Protagoras, where he classes him with Homer, Hesiod, and others, among the great sophists who beguiled mankind. The passage certainly proves the ability and popularity of Herodicus, but I can see in it no evidence that Plato did not genuinely dislike his system. The strongest proof of the unscientific and useless character of his system is supplied by the deterioration of the athlete and of the national physique, which dates from this period.
[161]. Plato, Leg. 839 C.
[162]. Plutarch, Vita. Alexand. 35.
[163]. Plutus, 1161.
[164]. Xen. Hell. i. 5, 19; Paus. vi. 7, 4.
[165]. Mem. iii. 12. For the contrast between ἀθλητής and ἰδιωτής cp. Hieron, 4, 6; Mem. iii. 7, 7.
[166]. Nub. 961-1023; Ran. 1086.
[167]. Thus in the present day professional football-players are largely drawn from the country districts of Scotland.
[168]. Plato, Meno, 93 D.