Biography:

Victory at Stratos:
In the summer after the 84th Olympiad [431 BCE] the beacons were lit for a general muster at Stratos, the capital city of Acarnania. Theolytas, together with his younger brother, Cynes, enlisted in the contingent from the town of Koronta. An enemy force of Spartans and their allies, together with a large number of barbarians had set out from Leucas to invade Acarnania. They had already looted and burnt the village of Limnaea, massacring the inhabitants. They were now approaching Stratos.
The company reached Stratos in the morning, where the men took refreshment. The locals were giving out food and wine from the temple of Zeus. After a cup of wine, and a small salted fish for each man, the company collected javelins and sling leads. Despite the advance of the Spartans and their allies, together with the barbarians towards the city, the Stratians remained confident. One old man who was giving out cups of wine, told Theolytas that a force of Athenians led by Demosthenes was hurrying to help. Another said to Cynes, that with its strong walls, Stratos will be able to hold out until the Athenians arrived. A third man said that the omens had proved favourable to Acarnania, earlier today at the temple.
A messenger arrived, and soon orders were shouted for the company to move. The company ran through the north gate, which closed behind them. The run seemed a long one, and it was with relief that the company stopped at a small farm, north of the city. A short time later, the men were dispersed into woods, either side of the track.
It wasn’t too long before a column of Chaonian barbarians appeared on the track, heading towards Stratos.
On the order to attack, the company sprinted towards the enemy column, throwing their javelins. As they did so, they could see the other party doing the same. As each man in the company, had three or four javelins, the barbarians must have been hit by over 300 of them. As the javelins were expended, men went back for more. Meanwhile the rest of the men, Theolytas and Cynes included, began using their slings. Cynes had only used his sling on the family farm, and then it was stones at wolves. Here for the first time, Cynes used leads. His first lead hurtled into the midst of the enemy column, hitting a Chaonian on his helmet. Despite being so armoured, the Chaonian dropped. Theolytas and Cynes could hear the enemy shouting orders for their troops to form, but none paid any heed, as the lethal barrage of leads from both sides was too disconcerting. One Chaonian managed to rally a few of men and led them to attack, but they were hit in a salvo of leads. Within the enemy column, some were attempting to throw back the javelins, some were assisting the wounded, while others were attempting to escape but were being held back. A few archers managed to shoot off some arrows, but were hit by javelins. Finally, the Chaonians broke, and fled back down the road, towards Amphilochian Argos. The company assembled on the road, and retrieved their javelins from amongst the dead and wounded Chaonians. Those few who had swords in the company swiftly finished off the enemy wounded.
From every direction, the Chaonians were running towards Argos, having not only fallen into the ambush in which Theolytas and Cynes were present, but all along the environs of Stratos. Some other barbarian troops appeared in the distance, but seeing the routed Chaonians, they turned and fled.
The company was ordered to pursue. Any Chaonian attempting to rally others was showered by javelins and salvoes of leads. Eventually, they would break and run. The company had followed the broken enemy some distance, when other enemy troops appeared. These were not more barbarians but Hellenes – Leucadians, Anactorians on the company’s left and the Spartans and Ambraciots on the company’s right. The Hellenic enemy troops opened their ranks to receive the routed barbarians, brought their divisions together, and stood their ground.
Now, orders were given for the company to approach the Hellenic enemy troops, but not to close. Theolytas and Cynes lobbed their javelins at the enemy and then began slinging. The enemy seemed greatly distressed at the slinging. Some arrows were shot by them, but fell short. A group of javelin men emerged from the enemy ranks, but fell back in disorder. The company expected that the enemy would soon advance, but strangely, the enemy did not move forward at all. They remained behind their shields. So the company continued slinging at the enemy from a distance. It was now late in the day, and night was falling. The company posted some sentries, and began to light fires. In the morning, the enemy had gone. However, a small enemy party appeared under truce. They were given leave to recover their dead. The company was present when the city set up a trophy for the victory over the barbarians.

Later history:
Theolytas and Cynes returned to the family farm, but were again mustered that winter, taking part in the defeat of the Spartans and their allies at Olpae, and the subsequent defeat of their Ambraciot reinforcements at Idomene. Theolytas and Cynes were mustered several times for the siege of Oeniadae, which eventually capitulated.
Cynes responded to a appeal by Demosthenes for slingers to participate in an expedition against Syracuse, while Theolytas remained to run the family farm. The expedition failed to capture Syracuse, and after a desperate retreat, the troops had to surrender. Demosthenes was executed, while the men were sent as slaves to work in the mines.
Five years after the disaster at Syracuse, Cynes unexpectedly returned. He had been badly wounded by a enemy spear, on the retreat. Luckily, he had been found by some Catanians and nursed back to health.