“The true test of a leader is whether its followers will adhere to his cause from
their own volition, enduring the most arduous hardships without being forced
to do so, and remaining steadfast in the moments of the greatest peril.”
their own volition, enduring the most arduous hardships without being forced
to do so, and remaining steadfast in the moments of the greatest peril.”
—Xenophon, Hellenika
Copyright © 2010 by Robert B. Strassler
“Lavish. . . . Outstanding. . . .
There is nothing else like [it].”
—The New York Review of Books
The Landmark Xenophon’s Hellenika
Edited by Robert B. Strassler
Xenophon’s Hellenika, the primary source for the events of the final
seven years and aftermath of the Peloponnesian War, covers the years
between 411 and 362 B.C.E., a particularly dramatic period during which
the alliances among Athens, Sparta, Thebes, and Persia were in
constant flux. Together with the volumes of Herodotus and
Thucydides, it completes an ancient narrative of the military and
political history of classical Greece.
seven years and aftermath of the Peloponnesian War, covers the years
between 411 and 362 B.C.E., a particularly dramatic period during which
the alliances among Athens, Sparta, Thebes, and Persia were in
constant flux. Together with the volumes of Herodotus and
Thucydides, it completes an ancient narrative of the military and
political history of classical Greece.
Xenophon was an Athenian who participated in the expedition of
Cyrus the Younger against Cyrus’ brother the Persian King Artaxerxes
II. Later Xenophon joined the Spartan army and hence was exiled
from Athens. In addition to the Hellenika, a number of his essays have
survived, including one on his memories of his teacher, Socrates.
Cyrus the Younger against Cyrus’ brother the Persian King Artaxerxes
II. Later Xenophon joined the Spartan army and hence was exiled
from Athens. In addition to the Hellenika, a number of his essays have
survived, including one on his memories of his teacher, Socrates.
Beautifully illustrated, heavily annotated, and filled with detailed,
clear maps, this edition gives us a new, authoritative, and completely
accessible translation by John Marincola, a comprehensive
introduction by David Thomas, sixteen appendixes written by leading
classics scholars, and an extensive timeline/chronology to clarify this
otherwise confusing period. Unlike any other edition of the Hellenika,
it also includes the relevant texts of Diodorus Siculus and the
Oxyrhynchus Historian, with explanatory footnotes and a table that
correlates passages of the three works, which is perhaps crucial to an
assessment of Xenophon’s reliability and quality as a historian.
clear maps, this edition gives us a new, authoritative, and completely
accessible translation by John Marincola, a comprehensive
introduction by David Thomas, sixteen appendixes written by leading
classics scholars, and an extensive timeline/chronology to clarify this
otherwise confusing period. Unlike any other edition of the Hellenika,
it also includes the relevant texts of Diodorus Siculus and the
Oxyrhynchus Historian, with explanatory footnotes and a table that
correlates passages of the three works, which is perhaps crucial to an
assessment of Xenophon’s reliability and quality as a historian.
The Landmark Xenophon’s Hellenika is the most readable and
comprehensive edition available of an essential history.
comprehensive edition available of an essential history.
7 3/8 x 9 1/4, paperback, Anchor Books
John Marincola (translator) is the Leon Golden Professor of Classics at
Florida State University. He is the author and editor of many books
about Greek and Roman historiography and has translated a number
of classical texts. He lives in Florida.
Florida State University. He is the author and editor of many books
about Greek and Roman historiography and has translated a number
of classical texts. He lives in Florida.
Frieze of hoplites with characteristic shield
Bust of Thucydides
SPECIAL FEATURE
Cross-Reference Table of Related
Passages of Diodorus, the Oxyrhynchus
Historian, and Xenophon’s Hellenika
Passages of Diodorus, the Oxyrhynchus
Historian, and Xenophon’s Hellenika
In Print
Forthcoming