Xenophon's Anabasis

Abstract

Xenophon's Anabasis tells the story of Cyrus the Younger’s failed rebellion against his brother, the Persian King, in 401 BCE and of what happened afterwards to the Ten Thousand Greek mercenaries who enlisted in his army. The account provides a vivid insight into the lived experience of the journey and the key events that defined it. Through his telling of the story, Xenophon furthermore integrates a number of the themes and concerns that recur across his oeuvre, including leadership, panhellenism, Sparta and apologia. Adopting an interdisciplinary perspective, Brennan offers a fresh reading of the text which originates in a broad-ranging consideration of Xenophon’s aims in writing the book some thirty years after the event. The central argument brings the presence of Socrates into relief and demonstrates how the author, representing himself in the story as a model pupil of the philosopher, perpetuates Socratic teachings and values through ‘Xenophon’s’ leadership. Ultimately, Anabasis is revealed to be a ‘Socratic history’, a narrative rooted in a historical event or period and in which the author embeds a reflection of the philosopher and his values.