From the Greek word ephebe (epi- "at, upon" plus hebe- "early manhood").

One source suggests that in ancient Athens (335 B.C.), an ephebe was a young citizen undergoing physical and military training.

To be a citizen, it was necessary that every legitimate son of pure Athenian parentage who had reached the age of eighteen had to be enrolled in an ephebic college and undergo its two year course of rigorous training in military and civic duties and activities.