Lysander comes from a poor family and has little interest in money. Like other good Spartans of the time, he values strength and glory. Lysander rises to prominence during the Peloponnesian War, when he is selected to command Sparta’s navy. He makes Ephesus his headquarters, spurring the city’s growth and strengthening Sparta’s navy. The location of Ephesus in Asia Minor also allows Lysander to develop a close relationship with the Persians, and he even befriends Cyrus, the son of the Persian king.

While Lysander is at Ephesus, the Athenian naval commander, Antiochus, picks a fight with him that leads to an open battle. Lysander is victorious and captures a few Athenian ships. The Athenians are so humiliated that they strip Alcibiades, Antiochus’s commanding officer, of his position.

Though Lysander is much-loved in Ephesus, Plutarch notes that he is by no means an honest man. Lysander believes that it is legitimate to resort to even the most deceitful means to achieve one’s goal.

When Cyrus leaves to visit his father, he presents Lysander with a lot of money and promises to bring back a strong fleet to help him fight the Athenians: Lysander only needs to wait for him to return.