Agesilaus/Anabasis

by Xenophon, Henry Graham Dakyns

Xenophon the Athenian was born 431 BCE. He was a pupil of Socrates. He marched with the Spartans & was exiled from Athens. Sparta gave him land & property in Scillus, where he lived for many years before having to move once more, to settle in Corinth. He died in 354.
The Agesilaus summarises the life of his Spartan friend & king, whom he met after the events of the Anabasis.
The Anabasis is his story of the march to Persia to aid Cyrus, who enlisted Greek help to try & take the throne from Artaxerxes, & the ensuing return of the Greeks, in which Xenophon played a leading role. This occurred between 401 & 3/399 BCE.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Classics, Greece

Nook

First published June 12, 2011

About the author

Xenophon (Ancient Greek Ξενοφῶν, Modern Greek Ξενοφώντας; ca. 431 – 355 BC), son of Gryllus, of the deme Erchia of Athens, was a soldier, mercenary and a contemporary and admirer of Socrates. He is known for his writings on the history of his own times, preserving the sayings of Socrates, and the life of ancient Greece.

Historical and biographical works:
Anabasis (or The Persian Expedition)
Cyropaedia
Hellenica
Agesilaus

Socratic works and dialogues:
Memorabilia
Oeconomicus
Symposium
Apology
Hiero

Short treatises:
On Horsemanship
The Cavalry General
Hunting with Dogs
Ways and Means
Constitution of Sparta

Reviews

[Sergiy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked it! (DUH that's why I gave it 4 stars!)

This book is a detailed first-hand account of n episode in the history of the ancient world, featuring Greeks, Persians and a supporting cast of Thracians, Egyptians, Kurds, Armenians, and various Anatolian tribes. The basic takeaway from this story is that this was a brutal and savage era. Also people were, as they are to this day, lying self-serving, hypocritical, assholes (for the most part).

Here we see the Greek hoplites in a different light than modern pop culture portrays them. By modern standards they are seen to be little more than opportunistic bands of marauders out to make some money at other's expense. One of their mottos literally is might makes right, and this coming from the mouth of the author who is generally regarded by history as one of the more civilized Greeks (having written several books that have survived this day). This is a far cry from the noble defender of democractic ideals we see portrayed in movies today. People of that day were truly a product of the hellish times they lived in. This reality check alone makes the book worth reading, in my humble opinion.

In addition this book is well served by having read Xenophon's 'Memorable thoughts of Socrates'. As the book progresses and Xenophon begins to take center stage in the narrative you begin to see him personally applying a lot of the ideas from Socrates' teachings. His words and deeds throughout the Anabasis show a mindfulness of the values that Socrates was shown to espouse in the other book. Clearly Xenophon really took those teaching to heart. On the other hand (given how in-sync these two books are) it makes me curious how much of 'memorable thoughts' was Xenophon and/or Xenophon's spin on Socrates rather than purely objective Socrates.

My only complaint is that the story dragged a little bit in the middle, but overall the level of enjoyment I got out of this book warrants at least 4 stars if not more. I found myself taking notes on the book, and developing theories regarding the characters and the intended message of the book. I even went back and re-read passages. Basically I got sucked into it. I may even re-read it in the future.

Recommended to anyone that likes history.

[Maciek · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got lost a few times with the amount of names of people and places, but apart from that the book is a great resource of knowledge about military traditions of ancient Greece and Persia and a great "success story" of loyalty, adaptability to changing circumstances, and bravery and pragmatism in the face of crisis.

[P · Rating 4 out of 5]

In 2013, traveling overland from Southern Iran to the Black Sea would be difficult. These guys did it 2,500 years ago. The values of courage, adaptability, and loyalty remain useful for anyone facing challenges.

[Alexander Khodyrev · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice readable translation.
Good story, too, of course.

[Peter Korman · Rating 2 out of 5]

I felt like I was reading an ancient chronicle of Rome Total War.

[Jake Linton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mad Max, written 2400 years ago, peak Hellenism

[Jack Dawes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Filled with intrigue and fascinating glimpses into ancient life, war, and politics, this a must read.

[Anthony Moreau · Rating 5 out of 5]

A unique read to say the least...

[Kiley Watson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh Xenophon.

[Boris · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is very rare to find a firsthand account from antiquity, so every phrase is a precious gem for a historian. On top of that, it tells an exciting story of survival.