Diophantus was a pupil of Julian of Cappadocia, whom he succeeded as rhetor (teacher of rhetoric) in Athens. According to Eunapius, who attended his lectures in the period 362–367, Diophantus recruited students from Arabia. He was also accused of kidnapping students.[1] According to Libanius' own account, he went to Athens intending to become a student of Epiphanius of Syria, but was ambushed by enthusiasts of Diophantus who imprisoned him in a cell until he took an oath to become Diophantus' student.[2] His oath to Diophantus did not prohibit him from attending other lectures.