First five books of the Anabasis of Xenophon

Introduction

Xenophon was born at Athens probably about 429 B. C, although some historians put the date of his birth about fifteen years earlier. His father, Gryllus, belonged to that class of the Athenian citizens known as "Knights," and appears to have been a man of some means and social standing. Xenophon's early life was, therefore, such that he had both leisure and opportunity to devote himself to intellectual pursuits.

Principal among his instructors was the philosopher and sage Socrates. The following story is told of the first meeting of the master and pupil. One day as Xenophon was passing along a narrow street he met the philosopher, who obstructed the way with his staff, and asked him where men were made honorable and good. Xenophon being at a loss for an answer hesitated, seeing which Socrates said, ' • Follow me and find out. ' ' From this chance meeting there sprung up a sincere and devoted attachment lasting throughout their lives. in

IV INTRODUCTION.

Proxenus, a young friend of Xenophon's had been induced by the prospect of renowi and glory to raise a band of mercenaries and enter the service of Cyrus, the youngei brother of Artaxerxes, King of Persia While at Sardis he wrote to Xenophor urging him to cross over to Asia and join ir a proposed expedition against the Pisidians. Xenophon was anxious to go, but first consulted Socrates as to the advisability of an Athenian entering into the service of a Persian prince. Socrates advised Xenophon to consult the oracle at Delphi. Xenciphon followed this advice, but being bent on joining the expedition, merely asked to what gods he ought to sacrifice in order to make his undertaking a success. Socrates blamed him for not asking the oracle whether he ought to undertake the expedition, but agreed that inasmuch as his question had been definitely answered it would be proper for him to go. Xenophon accordingly joined Proxenus at Sardis about 401 B. C, and attaching himself to the army without any military appointment he accompanied it in its tedious march toward Babylon.

The incidents and adventures of this expedition ; how its real object turned out to

INTRODUCTION. V

be an uprising against Artaxerxes, King of Persia, with a view to overthrowing him and establishing his younger brother Cyrus on the throne ; how Cyrus was killed in the battle of Cunaxa within fifty miles of Babylon, the Persian capital, after first repulsing his brother's troops and wounding Artaxerxes himself; the sufferings and trials of the ten thousand Greeks on their retreat from Babylon, are all most graphically described in the Anabasis. The meaning of the word ''Anabasis" is the **Up March." This title is really applicable to the first book alone, as the remaining books describe the * ' Down March ' ' or Katabasis.

It is probable that Xenophon did not return to Greece immediately after the close of this expedition, but remained for several years in Asia Minor. During this absence sentence of death was passed upon his friend and instructor, Socrates, and he himself was decreed an exile, most probably on account of his relations with the Persians and Spartans. He accordingly attached himself to Agesilaus, King of Sparta, with whom he returned from Asia Minor, about 394 B. C. He rendered the Lacedaemonians valuable services in the war waged rV INTRODUCTION.

Proxenus, a young friend of Xenophon's, had been induced by the prospect of renown and glory to raise a band of mercenaries, and enter the service of Cyrus, the younger brother of Artaxerxes, King of Persia. While at Sardis he wrote to Xenophon urging him to cross over to Asia and join in a proposed expedition against the Pisidians. Xenophon was anxious to go, but first consulted Socrates as to the advisability of an Athenian entering into the service of a Persian prince. Socrates advised Xenophon to consult the oracle at Delphi. Xent»phon followed this advice, but being bent on joining the expedition, merely asked to what gods he ought to sacrifice in order to make his undertaking a success. Socrates blamed him for not asking the oracle whether he ought to undertake the expedition, but agreed that inasmuch as his question had been definitely answered it would be proper for him to go. Xenophon accordingly joined Proxenus at Sardis about 401 B. C, and attaching himself to the army without any military appointment he accompanied it in its tedious march toward Babylon.

The incidents and adventures of this expedition ; how its real object turned out to

INTRODUCTION. V

be an uprising against Artaxerxes, King of Persia, with a view to overthrowing him and establishing his younger brother Cyrus on the throne ; how Cyrus was killed in the battle of Cunaxa within fifty miles of Babylon, the Persian capital, after first repulsing his brother's troops and wounding Artaxerxes himself; the sufferings and trials of the ten thousand Greeks on their retreat from Babylon, are all most graphically described in the Anabasis. The meaning of the word "Anabasis" is the *'Up March." This title is really applicable to the first book alone, as the remaining books describe the * ' Down March ' ' or Katabasis.

It is probable that Xenophon did not return to Greece immediately after the close of this expedition, but remained for several years in Asia Minor. During this absence sentence of death was passed upon his friend and instructor, Socrates, and he himself was decreed an exile, most probably on account of his relations with the Persians and Spartans. He accordingly attached himself to Agesilaus, King of Sparta, with whom he returned from Asia Minor, about 394 B. C. He rendered the Lacedaemonians valuable services in the war waged

VI INTRODUCTION.

against them by the league headed by Athens and Thebes, in consequence of which the Spartans made public recognition of his services, and granted him an estate at Scillus, about two miles to the south of Olympia. Here he gave himself up to literary pursuits, and to hunting and fishing, of which he was very fond, and founded a shrine to Artemis, the Greek goddess of the chase.

Scillus was situated in territory that had lately been conquered from Elis. By the battle of Leuctra, the Kleans regained possession of their lost territory, and Xenophon was forced to flee from his estate. He took up his residence at Corinth, where he probably remained until the close of his life; although after the peace between Athens and Sparta, the decree of banishment against him was repeajed. The date of his death 's uncertain ; but it is probably 355 B. C.

The writings of Xenophon are numeroi 5 and varied, and nearly all of them are extant. The most important of them are ' The Anabasis ;. " ' * The Hellenics, ' ' a continuation of Thucydides' History of the Peloponnesian War; "The Cyropsedia," which, as its name denotes, treats of the education and early training of Cyrus the

INTRODUCTION. Vlf

Great, and "The Recollections of Socrates." The last-named work is made up principally of anecdotes and incidents in the life of Socrates, and is a vindication of his life and character. Xenophon's writings of lesser importance include treatises on * * Horsemanships and Hunting," and an essay on *' The^Constitution of Sparta."

All of Xenophon's writings are characterized by a simple, straightforward, unpretentious style, the best instance of which is *'The Anabasis." Critics say that his Greek is not the purest Attic, and it would indeed be singular if, after association for so many years with the Greeks from the southern part of the peninsula, somewhat of the Dorian had not crept into his style. This alleged defect has, however, been greatly eiaggerated.

In no particular sphere can Xenophon L-e said to have displayed genius of the highest order. As a historian he is con-( fessedly inferior to his countryman, Thucy-' dides, although his narrative and descriptions are most accurate and minute in detail, and the Anabasis, supplying as it does an important link in the history of the relations of Greece and Persia, is a work of great

VIII INTRODUCTION.

historic value. As a philosopher, he must yield the palm to his fellow student, Plato, though he is perhaps a more faithful exponent of the teachings of their common instructor, Socrates, while his manner of conducting the Retreat of the Ten Thousand indicates that he possessed many of the qualities of a great general. It is probably due to his rare gift of adapting himself to circumstances, and making the most of them, that his name has been preserved to posterity.

XENOPHON'S

ANABASIS.

(^ OR

EXPEDITION OF CYRUS.

Book I.— Chapter I

Parentage of Cyrus the Younger, After the death of his father he is accused of plotting against his brother Artaxerxes, who imprisons him, but releases him on the intercession of his mother, and sends him back to his province, where he secretly collects forces, of which a large proportion are from Greece, to make war on his brother.

1. Of Darius and Parysatis were born two sons, the elder Artaxerxes, and the younger Cyrus. After Darius had fallen, sick, and suspected that the end of his life was approaching, he was desirous that both of his sons should attend him. 2. The elder then happened to be present ; Cyrus he sent for from the province of which he had made him satrap. He had also appointed him commander of all the forces that muster in the plain of Castolus.

Cyrus accordingly went up, taking with him Tissaphernes as a friend, and having also with him three hundred heavy-armed Greeks, and Xenias of Parrhasia, their captain.

3. But when Darius was dead, and Artaxerxes was placed upon the throne, Tissaphernes brought an accusation against Cyrus before his brother, saying that he was plotting against him. Artaxerxes was induced to give credit to it, and had Cyrus arrested, with the intention of putting him to death ; but his mother, having begged his life, sent him back to his province.

4. When Cyrus had departed, after being thus in danger and disgrace, he began to consider by what means he might cease to be subject to his brother, and make himself king, if he could, in his stead. \ Parysatis, their mother, was well disposed towards Cyrus, as she loved him better than Artaxerxes, who was on the throne. 5. Whatever messengers from the king came to visit him, he let none of them go till he had inclined them to be friends to himself, rather than the monarch. He also paid ^ucli attention to the Barbarians tha«, were with him, that they were in a condition to take the field, and well inclined towards himself. 6. His Greek force he collected as secretly as he could, that he might surprise the king as little prepared as possible.

He collected troops in the following manner. Whatever garrisons he had in his towns, he sent orders to the commanders of them to procure respectively as many Peloponnesians as they could, of the best class of soldiers, on pretence that Tissaphernes was forming designs upon those towns. For the cities of Ionia had formerly been under the government of Tissaphernes, having been assigned to him by the king, but had at this time all revolted to Cyrus except

CH. 1.] CYRUS COLLECTS FORCES. 5

Miletus. 7. Tissaphernes, discovering that the people of Miletus were forming a similar design, [to go over to Cyrus,] put some of them to death, and sent others into banishment. Cyrus, receiving the exiles under Iiis protection, and assembling an army, laid siege to Miletus by land and sea, and used every exertion to restore these exiles ; and had thus another pretext for augmenting the number of his forces. 8. He then sent to the king, and requested that, as he was his brother, these cities should be given to him rather than that Tissaphernes should govern them; and in this application his mother supported him. Thus the king had no suspicion of the plot against him, but supposed chat Cyrus, from being at war with Tirssaphernes, was spending the money upon troops ; so that he was not at all concerned at the strife between them, especially as Cyrus remitted to him the tribute arising from the cities which Tissaphernes had had. 9. Another army was collected for him in the Chersonesus opposite Abydos, in the following method. Clearchus, a Lacedsemonian, happened to be in exile. Cyrus, having met with him, was struck with admiration for him, and made him a present of ten thousand darics. Clearchus, on receiving the gold, raised by means of it, a body of troops, and making excursions out of the Chersonesus, made war unon the Thracians that are situated above tlie Hellespont, and was of assistance to the Greeks ; so that ihe towns on the Hellespont willingly contributed money for' the support of his men. This too was a force thus secretly maintained for Cyrus.

10. Aristippus, also, a Thessalian, happened to be a guest-friend of Cyrus, and, being pressed by an adverse faction at home, cume to him, and asked him for two thousand mercenary troops, and three months' pay for them, representing that he would thus be enabled to overpower his enemies. Cyrus granted him four thousand, and six months' pay, desiring him not to terminate the strife until he should consult him. Thus another body of troops was clandestinely supported for him in Thessaly.

11. He then requested Proxeuus a Boeotian, who was also his guest-friend, to join him with as many men as he could procure, stating that he intended to make war on the Pisidians, as they molested his territories. He also desired Sophsenetus of Stymphalus, and Socrates, an Achaean, both of them his guest-friends, to come to him, and bring as many men as possible, pretending that he was going to war with Tissaphernes on behalf of the Milesian exiles ; and they acted as he wished.

Chapter II

Cyrus begins his march, proceeding from Sardis through Lydia into Phrygia, where he is joined by new forces. The city of Celsenae; the plain of Oaystrus, where the soldiers demand their arrears of pay, which Cyrus discharges with money received from the queen of Cilicia. The town of Thymbrium; the fountain of Midas. Cyrus enters Cilicia. and is met at Tarsus by Syenuesis, the king of the couniry.

1. When it seemed to him time to march up into the country, he made it his pretext for doing so that he wished to expel the Pisidians

CH. 2.] THE TROOPS MEET AT SARDIS. 7

entirely from the territory, and mustered, as if for the purpose of attacking them, the whole of the troops, as well Barbarian as Greek, that were on the spot. He also sent word to Clearchus to join him, bringing whatever force was at his command ; and to Aristippus, as soon as he had come to terms with the party at home, to send him back the troops that he had. He also desii^d Xenias the Arcadian, who commanded for him the mercenaries in the several towns, to bring him all his men except such as would be required to garrison the citadels. 2. He summoned, too, the army that was besieging Miletus, and invited the exiles to accompany him, on his expedition; promising tliem^ that if he successfully accomplished the objects for which he undertook it, he would never rest until he had re-established them in their country. They cheerfully consented, as they had confidence in him, and, taking their arms, joined him at Sardis.

3. To Sardis also came Xenias, bringing with him the troops from the several towns, to the number of four thousand heavy-armed men. Thither camfe also Proxenus, with heavy-armed men to the number of fifteen hundred, and five hundred light-armed; Sophaenetus the Stympbalian, with a thousand heavy-armed ; Socrates the Achaean with five hundred ; and Pasion of Megara with three hundred heavy-armed and the same number of peltasts. Both Pasion and Socrates were among those serving in the army at Miletus.

4. These joined him at Sardis. Tissaphernes, observing these proceedings, and considering the force to be greater than was necessary to attack the Pisidians, set out, with all possible speed, to give notice of the matter to the king, taking with him about five hundred cavalry; 6. and the king, as soon as he heard from Tissaphernes of the preparations of Cyrus, made arrangements to oppose him.

Cyrus, at the head of the force which I have stated, commenced his journey from Sardis, and proceeded- through Lydia, three days' march, a distance of twenty-two parasangs, as far as the river Maeander. The breadth of this river is two plethra, and a bridge was thrown over it, constructed of seven boats. 6. Having crossed the stream, he went forward through Phrygia, one day's march, eight parasangs, till he reached Colossae, a populous city, wealthy and of considerable magnitude. Here he halted seven days ; when Menon the Thessalian joined him with a thousand heavy-armed troops and five hundred peltasts, consisting of Dolopians, ^nianes, and Olynthians.

7. Hence he proceeded in three days' march, a distance of twenty parasangs^ to Celaenae, a populous, large, and rich city of Phrygia. Here Cyrus had a palace, and an extensive park full of wild beasts, which he was accustomed to hunt on horseback whenever he wished to give himself and his horses exercise. Through the middle of this park flows the river Maeander; its springs issue from the palace itself ; and it runs also through the city of Celaenae.-*-^. There is also at Celaenae a palace of the Great King, situated near the source of the river Marsyas,

CH. 2.] CYKL'S IS JOINED BY CLEARCHUS. 9

under the citadel. This river too runs through the city, and falls into the Mseander. The breadth of the Marsyas is twenty-five feet. Here Apollo is said to have flaj^ed Marsyas, after conquering him in a trial of musical skill, and to have hung up his skin in the cave, where the source of the stream rises : and on this account the river is called Marsyas. 9. Xerxes is said ta^ have built both this palace and the citadel ^f Celaenas, when he was returning from Greece after his discomfiture in battle.

Cyrus remained here thirty days ; during which time Clearchus, the Lacedaemonian exile, joined him with a thousand heavy-armed men, eight hundred Thracian peltasts, and two hundred Cretan archers. At the same time Sosis of Syracuse arrived with three hundred heavy-armed men, and Sophaenetus, an Arcadian, with a thousand. Here Cyrus held a review of the Greeks in the park, and took their number ; and there were in all eleven thousand heavy-armed troops, and about two thousand peHasts. 10. Hence he proceeded two days' march, a distance of ten parasangs, to Peltee, a well-peopled city, where he halted three days, during which Xenias the Arcadian celebrated the sacred rites of Lycaean Jove, and held public games on the occasion ; in which the prizes were golden strigiles. Cyrus was present at the games as a spectator. Thence he proceeded, two days' march, twelve parasangs, to Ceramon Agora, a populous city, the last on the side of Mysia. ^1. Hence he proceeded, in three days' march, the distance of thirty parasangs, to the plain of

Caystnis, a populous city. Here he halted five days ; and at this time more than three months' pay was due the troops, which they frequently went to his tent to demand. Cyrus put them off, giving them hopes, but was evidently distressed ; for it was no part of his character not to pay when he had the means. 12. But while he was there, Epyaxa, the wife of Syennesis king of the Cilicians, paid him a visit, and was said to have presented him with a large sum of money. He in consequence gave the troops pay for four months. The Cilician queen had with her a body-guard of Cilicians and Aspendians ; and it was reported that Cyrus had connexion with her.

13. Hence he proceeded two days' march, ten parasangs, to Thymbrium, a populous city. Here, by the roadside, was a fountain, called the fountain of Midas, king of Phrygia ; at which Midas is said to have captured the Satyr, by mixing wine with the water.

14. Hence he proceeded, two days' march, ten parasangs, to Tyriaeum, a well-peopled city, where he stayed three days. The Cilician queen is said to have requested Cyrus to show her his army. With the desire therefore of exhibiting it to her, he reviewed his troops, as well Greek as Barbarian, in the plain. 15. He ordered the Greeks to be marshalled, and to take their places, as they were accustomed to do for battle, each captain arranging his own men. They were accordingly drawn up four deep; Menon and his troops took the right wing ; Clearchus and his men the left ; and the other

CH. 2.] CYRUS ADVANCES INTO CILICIA. 11

captains occupied the centre. 16. First of all, then, Cyrus reviewed the Barbarians, who marched past him, drawn up in troops and companies ; and afterwards the Greeks, riding by them in his chariot, with the Cilician queen in her car. They had all brazen helmets, scarlet tunics, greaves, and polished shields. 17. When he had ridden past them all, he stopped his chariot in front of their phalanx, and sent Pigres the interpreter to the Greek officers, with orders for thenor-to present arms, and to advance with their whole phalanx. The officers communicated these orders to their soldiers ; and, when the trumpeter gave the signal, they presented arms and advanced. Then, as they proceeded with a quicker pace and loud shouts, the soldiers of their own accord took to running, bearing down upon the tents of the Persians. 18. Upon this, there arose great terror among the rest of the Barbarians ; the Cilician queen fled from her car ; and the people in the market deserted their goods and took to their heels ; while the Greeks marched up to the tents with laughter. The Cilician queen, on beholding the splendour and discipline of the army, was struck with admiration ; and Cyrus was delighted when he saw the terror with which the Greeks inspired the Barbarians.

19. Hence he advanced, three days' march, a distance of twenty parasangs, to Iconium, the last town of Phrygia; where he halted three days. He then went forward through Lycaonia, five days' march, a distance of thirty parasangs ; and this country, as being that of an enemy, he permitted the Greeks to ravage.

20. From hence Cyrus despatched the Cilician queen, by the shortest road, into Cilicia; and sent with her the troops which Menon had, and Menon himself. Cyrus, with the rest of the army, proceeded through Cappadocia, four days* march, a distance of twenty-five parasangs, to Dana, a populous, large, and wealthy city. Here he stayed three days ; in the course of which he put to death a Persian, named Megaphernes, a wearer of the royal purple, and a certain other person in power, one of the provincial governors having accused them of conspiring against him.

21. They then made an attempt to enter Cilicia ; but the sole entrance was a road broad enough only for a single carriage, very steep, and impracticable for an army to pass, if any one opposed them. Syennesis, besides, was said to be stationed on the heights, guarding the defile ; on which account Cyrus halted for a day in the plain. The next day, a messenger came to inform him that Syennesis had quitted the heights, on receiving information that Menon's army was already in Cilicia within the mountains, and hearing that Tamos had a number of galleys, belonging to the Lacedaemonians and Cyrus himself, sailing round from Ionia to Cilicia. 22. Cyrus accordingly ascended the mountains without any opposition, and saw the tents in which the Cilicians kept guard. Hence he descended into a large and beautiful plain, well watered, and abounding with all kinds of trees, as well as vines. It also produced great quantities of sesamum, panic, millet, wheat, and

CH. 2.] CYRUS ARRIVES AT TARSUS. 13

barley. A. chain of hills, strong and high, encompasses it on all sides from sea to sea. 23. Descending through this plain, he proceeded, in four days' march, a distance of twenty-five parasangs, to Tarsus, a large and opulent city of Cilicia. Here was the palace of Syennesis, the king of the Cilicians ; and through the midst of the city runs a river, called the Cydnus, the breadth of which is two plethra. 24. This city the inTTabitants, with Syennesis, had deserted for a strong-hold upon the mountains, except those who kept shops. Those also remained behind, who lived near the sea at Soli and at Issi.

25. Epyaxa, the wife of Syennesis, had arrived at Tarsus five days before Cyrus. But in passing over the mountains which skirt the plain, two companies of Menon's troops had perished ; some said that they had been cut to pieces by the Cilicians, while committing some depredations ; others, that being left behind, and unable to find the rest of the army or their road, they had been destroyed while wandering about. They amounted to a hundred heavy-armed men. 26. When the rest of Menon's troops came up, full of resentment at the fate of their comrades, they plundered both the city of Tarsus and the palace in it. Cyrus, on entering the city, sent for Syennesis to come to him ; but Syennesis answered, that he had never yet put himself in the power of one stronger than himself ; nor would he then consent to go to Cyrus, until his wife prevailed upon him, and he received solemn assurances of safety. 27. Afterwards, when they had met, Syennesis gave

Cyrus a large sum of money for the support of his army, and Cyrus in return presented him with such gifts as are held in estimation by a king, a horse with a golden bit, a golden chain and bracelets, and a golden scimitar and Persian robe. He also engaged that his country should no more be plundered, and that he should receive back the captured slaves, if they anywhere met with them.

Chapter III

Cyrus is forced to stay twenty days at Tarsus by a mutiny of the Greek soldiers, who, suspecting that they were led against the king, refuse to go farther, and offer violence to Clearchus, who endeavours to force them to proceed. But being told by Cyrus that the expedition is directed against Abrocomas, and promised an increase of pay, they agree to continue their march.

1. Here Cyrus and the army remained twenty days ; for the soldiers refused to proceed farther, as they now began to suspect that they were marching against the king, and said that they had not been hired for this purpose. Clearchus, first of all, endeavoured to compel his soldiers to proceed ; but, as soon as he began to advance, they pelted him and his baggage-cattle with stones. 2. Clearchus, indeed, on this occasion, had a narrow escape of being stoned to death. At length, when he saw that he should not be able to proceed by force, he called a meeting of his soldiers ; and at first, standing before them, he continued for some time to shed tears, while they, looking on, were struck with wonder, and remained silent. He then addressed them to this effect :

CH. 3.] THE GREEKS REFUSE TO PROCEED. 15

3. "Wonder not, soldiers, that I feel distressed at the present occurrences ; for Cyrus engaged himself to me by ties of hospitality, and honoured me, when I was an exile from my country, both with other marks of esteem, and by presenting me with ten thou<*and darics. On receiving this money, I did not treasure it up for my own use, or squander it in luxury, but spent it upon you. j 4. First of all, I made war upon the Thracians, and, in the cause of Greece, and'with your assistance, took vengeance upon them by expelling them from the Chersonesus, when they would have taken the country from its Grecian colonists. When Cyrus summoned me, I set out to join him, taking you with me, that if he had need of my aid, I might do him service in return for the benefits that I had received from him. 5. But since you are unwilling to accompany him on this expedition, I am under the obligation, either, by deserting you, to preserve the friendship of Cyrus, or, by proving false to him, to adhere to you. Whether I shall do right, I do not know ; but I shall give you the preference, and will undergo with you whatever may be necessary. Nor shall any one ever say, that, after leading Greeks into a country of Barbarians, I deserted the Greeks, and adopted, in preference, the friendship of the Barbarians.

6. " Since, however, you decline to obey me, or to follow me, I will go with you, and submit to whatever may be destined for us. For I look upon you to be at once my country, my friends, and my fellow-soldiers, and consider that with you I shall be respected, wherever I may be : but that, if separated from you, 1 shall be unable either to afford assistance to a friend, or to avenge myself upon an enemy. Feel assured, therefore, that I am resolved to accompany you wherever you go."

7. Thus he spoke ; and the soldiers, as well those under his own command as the others, on hearing these assurances, applauded him for saying that he would not march against the king ; and more than two thousand of the troops of Xenias and Pasion, taking with them their arms and baggage, went and encamped under Clearchus.