The Anabasis of Cyrus (Agora Editions) - Hardcover

Xenophon

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0801443989 ISBN 13: 9780801443985

Publisher: Cornell University Press, 2008

Synopsis

One of the foundational works of military history and political philosophy, and an inspiration for Alexander the Great, the Anabasis of Cyrus recounts the epic story of the Ten Thousand, a band of Greek mercenaries hired by Cyrus the Younger to overthrow his brother, Artaxerxes, king of Persia and the most powerful man on earth. It shows how Cyrus' army was assembled covertly and led from the coast of Asia Minor all the way to Babylon; how the Greeks held the field against a superior Persian force; how Cyrus was killed, leaving the Greeks stranded deep within enemy territory; and how many of them overcame countless dangers and found their way back to Greece. Their remarkable success was due especially to the wily and decisive leadership of Xenophon himself, a student of Socrates who had joined the Ten Thousand and, after most of the Greek generals had been murdered, rallied the despondent Greeks, won a position of leadership, and guided them wisely through myriad obstacles. In this new translation of the Anabasis, Wayne Ambler achieves a masterful combination of liveliness and a fidelity to the original uncommon in other versions. Accompanying Ambler's translation is a penetrating interpretive essay by Eric Buzzetti, one that shows Xenophon to be an author who wove a philosophic narrative into his dramatic tale. The translation and interpretive essay encourage renewed study of the Anabasis as a work of political philosophy. They also celebrate its high adventure and its hero's adroit decision-making under the most pressing circumstances.

About this title

Review:

"'In the army there was a certain Xenophon . . .' Here is a new translation of Xenophon's most beautiful work, done for the first time with the care due to its political acuteness and its philosophical importance. Wayne Ambler and Eric Buzzetti invite us to ponder and enjoy Xenophon's third-person, autobiographical masterpiece." Harvey C. Mansfield, Professor of Government, Harvard University"

"This is a superb translation of a timeless classic of political philosophy. The Anabasis is the most important writing of the political philosopher Xenophon and any introductory or advanced study of the history of political theory must give prominence to this work. So rich is the Anabasis that it will naturally command the interest of scholars and students of political and military history, political leadership, military science, and classics." Peter Ahrensdorf, Davidson College"

Synopsis:

Xenophon's famous work tells of Greek mercenaries hightailing it home in 401 BC after their Persian client Cyrus and their own top commanders were killed. It is widely read by students of Greek literature and history, but Ambler (humanities, U. of Colorado-Boulder) intends also to make it a resource for students of politics, by highlighting the pol

About this edition

• Publisher: Cornell University Press
• Publication date: 2008
• ISBN 10: 0801443989
• ISBN 13: 9780801443985
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 304