Hellenica: Books I IV

Ελληνικά #1

by Xenophon

Excerpt from Hellenica: Books I IV
The Hellenica is Xenophon's history of his own times. Beginning in the autumn of 411 B.C., when the author was probably about twenty years of age, it covers the events of the following fifty years, down to 362 B.C.
The Peloponnesian War, which was primarily a struggle for supremacy between Athens and Sparta but which involved the entire Greek world, began in 431 and ended in 404 B.C. The historian of this war was Thucydides, himself at one time a general on the Athenian side. Thucydides died, however, without completing his task, and it is at the point where his history breaks off that Xenophon begins.
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Genres: History, Classics

520 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 351

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

[Koit · Rating 4 out of 5]

Xenophon is, for many, a name that has come at least a few times. For the most, this is because of the ‘Anabasis’ and adventures in Persia. For others, however, the history that is ‘Hellenica’ and forms a continuation on top of Thucydides is the point of reference. I have waded through ‘Anabasis’ a long time ago, but Thucydides relatively recently. As such, this was the perfect continuation from that history.

The style — as it comes across in English after translations through other languages — is good and readable; the topic complex. It’s not so much that war is difficult in itself, but what seems to have happened in the period Xenophon covers here is that the intrigues which used to emanate from Sparta and Athens now have sourced in those places but also tens of smaller cities.

As such, the range of characters we come across is huge and the geography they cover in their activities does not border itself with Hellas proper, but extends well into the Black Sea, Persia, Sicily, and also Southern Mediterranean. Sometimes, this makes for a complex enough story to want to delineate all moves specifically on a map as they happened. Nevertheless, even if the places disappear from memory, certain events stay with the reader.

This review was originally posted on my blog.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tales of the Greeks.

[Leez Matías · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pongo las manos al fuego jurando y perjurando que Jenofonte estaba enamorado de Ciro y Tucídides.

[Emira]

Well, I have read a big part of the prototype of Hellenica and the Anabasis, in untranslated ancient greek although not by this very volume. I truly admire Xenophon's ability to describe such affairs, while slightly commenting, and by using such simple language. He isn't, of course, handling the ancient greek language with the poetic and complex way Thucydides did, so I do not really regard Xenophon as his successor but he doesn't even need that, as he is special in his own way.

[Jeff Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

After reading Herodotus and Thucydides, reading Xenophon seems to be a bit of a let down. This translation of his "continued" history of Greece is exemplary and the story is fascinating...just not as much as the other historians contributing to the same topic. Regardless of that however this period in history is a must-read topic for everyone.

[Adam · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is boring unless you are interested in the Peloponnesian War. Thucydides’ version is much better.