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Anabasis

by Xenophon

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Set in the aftermath of the death of Cyrus the Younger around 370 BC, this account by Xenophon details the survival of ten thousand Greek mercenaries in Persia. The narrative describes their forced retreat through hostile territory after their employer’s demise during a failed attempt to seize the Persian throne. With their leader killed and the group leaderless, the soldiers face extreme hardships as they navigate deserts, mountain passes, and unfamiliar lands to reach the Black Sea coast. Xenophon, a Greek soldier and one of their elected leaders, records their struggles, strategies, and endurance during this perilous march. The work is categorised as an adventure and provides a detailed historical perspective on ancient Greek mercenary activities, military logistics, and cross-cultural encounters during a turbulent period in Greek and Persian history. Its content reflects themes of leadership, resilience, and survival in a hostile environment.

Xenophon’s “Anabasis” was written around 370 BC and remains a significant historical source on Greek mercenary campaigns and early Greek-Persian relations. It combines elements of adventure and military history, offering insights into the challenges faced by the Greek soldiers as they attempt to escape Persia after being abandoned by their allies. The work is considered an important document in classical history and military studies.

From the opening pages

This was typed from Dakyns' series, "The Works of Xenophon," a four-volume set. The complete list of Xenophon's works (though there is doubt about some of these) is: Work Number of books The Anabasis 7 The Hellenica 7 The Cyropaedia 8 The Memorabilia 4 The Symposium 1 The Economist 1 On Horsemanship 1 The Sportsman 1 The Cavalry General 1 The Apology 1 On Revenues 1 The Hiero 1 The Agesilaus 1 The Polity of the Athenians and the Lacedaemonians 2 Text in brackets "{}" is my transliteration of Greek text into English using an Oxford English Dictionary alphabet table. The diacritical marks have been lost. ANABASIS I. Darius and Parysatis had two sons: the elder was named Artaxerxes, and the younger Cyrus. Now, as Darius lay sick and felt that the end of life drew near, he wished both his sons to be with him. The elder, as it chanced, was already there, but Cyrus he must needs send for from the province over which he had made him satrap, having appointed him general moreover of all the forces that muster in the plain of the Castolus. Thus Cyrus went up, taking with him Tissaphernes as his friend, and accompanied also by a body of Hellenes, three hundred heavy armed men, under the command of Xenias the Parrhasian (1). (1) Parrhasia, a district and town in the south-west of Arcadia. Now when Darius was dead, and Artaxerxes was established in the kingdom, Tissaphernes brought slanderous accusations against Cyrus before his brother, the king, of harbouring designs against him. And Artaxerxes, listening to the words of Tissaphernes, laid hands upon Cyrus, desiring to put him to death; but his mother made intercession for him, and sent him back again in safety to his province. He then, having so escaped through peril and dishonour, fell to considering, not only how he might avoid ever again being in his brother's power, but how, if possible, he might become king in his stead. Parysatis, his mother, was his first resource; for she had more love for Cyrus than for Artaxerxes upon his throne. Moreover Cyrus's behaviour towards all who came to him from the king's court was such that, when he sent them away again, they were better friends to himself than to the king his brother. Nor did he neglect the barbarians in his own service; but trained them, at once to…

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