Xenophon's Anabasis, or The Expedition of Cyrus

by Michael A. Flower

Xenophon's Anabasis , or The Expedition of Cyrus , is one of the most exciting historical narratives--as well as the most important autobiographical work--to have survived from ancient Greece. It tells the story of Cyrus, a young and charismatic Persian prince, who in 401 BC enlisted more than ten thousand Greek mercenaries in an attempt to seize the vast Persian empire for himself. Cyrus was killed in a great battle, most of the Greek commanders subsequently fell victim to treachery, and an Athenian aristocrat by the name of Xenophon found himself in the unexpected position of taking charge and leading the Greeks from the vicinity of Babylon in modern Iraq back to the Greek cities in Turkey. This book both places the Anabasis in its historical and literary context and, by employing a variety of critical methods, opens up for the reader different ways of interpreting its major themes. Interrelated chapters investigate Xenophon's self-representation as a model leader, his possible
didactic and apologetic purposes for writing, the generic expectations of his contemporary audience, the factual accuracy of the Anabasis , and the ways in which the gods are depicted as intervening in human affairs. This book unveils the literary artistry and narrative strategies that have gone into shaping one of the greatest survival stories of all time.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Ancient History, Classics, Military History, Classical Studies

272 pages, Hardcover

First published June 19, 2012

Reviews

[Christopher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Xenophon’s Anabasis can be read as a simple rip-roaring adventure, but as this reader’s guide by Michael A. Flower (part of the Oxford Approaches to Classical Literature series) argues, there are depths to Xenophon’s work and inherent contradictions in the text that demand a close and careful reading. Flower examines such issues as the aims Xenophon had in writing his memoir (defending himself against attacks?), how reliable the narration is when it was written decades after the events, and how other sources from antiquity corroborate or contradict Xenophon’s claims about Persian history.

[Elisa Chêca · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't know about its historical verisimilitude but it's a great book, very entertaining and pleasing to read. Once someone asked me what was the worst nighmare I've ever had and even though I trusted said person, we were around people I wouldn't tell this because it's too private to me, so I lied and told the plot of Anabasis with me being Cyrus, the Younger and my older half sister being Artaxerxes II. I felt surprised because everyone thought I was serious, but I also didn't tell the truth in the end.

[winterwind · Rating 5 out of 5]

The year is ending and I don't have time/energy to go back and re-review my books so I'm just pasting things in from my bibliography :P

The \textit{Odyssey} if it were an autobiography and not mythology. Xenophon details the expedition of the \textit{Ten Thousand}, mercenaries who were betrayed and their generals killed on their way out of Persia. Xenophon, along with a few other leaders, rallies the troops and fights as a ``marching republic" northwards to the sea, and thereafter back to Greece, potentially the first historically recorded descriptions of guerilla warfare, attack in depth, and common use of flanking maneuvers and feints.

Regardless of its historicity (Xenophon, after all, is recounting his own journeys), the work is an excellent study on leadership, character, and problem-solving under duress. Often in the book the Greek leadership maneuvers their own soldiers to reach the conclusions the generals wish them to at the start, or heads off conflict through good oratory or goodwill. A theme of the book seems to be that \textit{virtue is self-rewarding}: the characters would rather be betrayed than be betrayers, even though it costs them: still, they also leave provisions so that even in the event of betrayal and duress, there are still avenues of retreat (rather than surrendering their arms \textit{in toto} to the Persian army). May we who face problems in the present-day judge them trifling in comparison to this monumental act of endurance and valor. \textbf{(Rating: 4.5/5)}

[Hank · Rating 5 out of 5]

Couldn’t find cover of ebook edition I read so may not be reviewing the correct translation.

Often with ancient or even more recent texts I have trouble, first following/comprehending and then sticking with the story or point, but this was not the case here. Simply told and very interesting story of a mercenary army stranded far from home when their leader is killed.

Of course I didn’t always follow logic or understand the point, but the bulk of the text is pretty straightforward and very interesting to follow the ancient morals.

The author certainly casts himself in a very favorable light, but does so eloquently and plausibly. Iris rather amazing what life was life for so many centuries of human history.

[Nick · Rating 4 out of 5]

A thrilling tale of some 10,000 mercenaries from various Greek cities, lead astray by duplicitous employers, trapped in hostile territory, and with enemies attacking from all around. Xenophone tells of how he and others cane together to lead their fellows from the claws of the foe to safty in Hellen lands.

[Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I havent read this in sometime so I gave it another go. Still holds up. A good tale that gives you insight into the classic mind. I will not go into detail because if you are reading this review you have almost definitely read this or at least no the story. This is one of the most read books in classical literature.

[Corey Levinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun story. Xenophon is a chad

[Adam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story of adventure.

[Alex Alexapolsky]

Excellent book about my old relatives.

[Pete Flemming · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hard to rate books thousands of years old but it’s an interesting story with some ancient lessons on leadership. In a way, the more things change the more they stay the same.

[Melinda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is no dry classic or boring history book. This is a fantastic adventure memoir! I marvel that something written so long ago by someone I have almost nothing in common with could be so thought-provoking and address the same questions we have been asking for a long time.

What makes a good leader?
What motivates you to get up and fight when all hope is lost?
What keeps an unruly pack of soldiers together? (Answer: money)
What happens to their cherished democracy when they are fighting for survival?
How do you respond to betrayal?

Things I found fascinating:
The Spartan and Athenian divide and how it would break down the unity of the group towards the end.
The way they held tightly to the honor of democracy, but it came close to being mob rule by the end.
The battle scenes were so well recorded and laid out for you. I felt like I was watching a movie.
The way the strengths and weaknesses of weapons and battle tactics were analyzed.

All around favorite thing:
Xenophon was a philosopher (student of Socrates) and a soldier (with real battle experiences) and his insights into how humans work was truly breathtaking. I would sit down and have a chat with this guy anytime.


Caution:
Xenophon is painting a Greek version of these events, and a highly biased perspective on Persia. I highly recommend doing some reading on Persia before diving into this because you will enjoy it more with more context. I listened to a Great Courses series on Persia, and that’s actually how I found out about this book in the first place.

Final recommendation:
Don’t get bogged down by the tedious record of parsangs and travel itineraries. It adds to the veracity of his record (but that’s not to say there is no room to doubt his version of events).
Alexander the Great used these as a travel guide for his Army. So just imagine you are Alexander reading it…doesn’t it feel much more useful now? Also, fun fact, Alexander used the record of the 10,000 crossing the Euphrates on their tents to inspire his own river crossing. (Cite from Phillip Freeman’s book on Alexander the Great)

[Jeff Rudisel · Rating 4 out of 5]

The March of the Ten Thousand.
What a great ancient history/autobiography of an astonishing and harrowing adventure of attempted conquest, treachery, and escape, interspersed with many tribulations and escapades, by 4th century BC (contemporaneous with Socrates) Greek mercenaries into the Persian Empire.
An exiting epic that many of you maybe haven't heard very much about.

[Per · Rating 4 out of 5]

Awesome book! I read a swedish translation.

Thalatta, thalatta!