Anabasis

written by: Xenophon

Xenophon's account of "The March of the Ten Thousand" Greek mercenaries, Anabasis or The March Up Country, is a classic of ancient Greek military history. Originally composed circa 360 BC, the seven books of Anabasis tell the story of the Ten Thousand, a mercenary expedition hired by Cyrus the Younger to seize the throne of Persia from his brother Artaxerxes II. After a victorious battle at Cunaxa in Babylon (401 BC), their employer Cyrus and the Greek leaders were killed, leaving the Ten Thousand leaderless and stranded deep in Persian territory. Anabasis recounts their incredible journey back to their Greek homeland, in which the Ten Thousand had to fight their way back through hostile territory. This remarkable and fascinating military campaign is immortalised in Xenophon's Anabasis -- a must-read for anyone interested in ancient Greek history. This edition of Xenophon's remarkable tale is based on the 1890 translation by scholar H.G. Dakyns (1838-1911).

Xenophon of Athens was an ancient Greek historian and philosopher who lived during the 4th century BC. He is best known for his writings on the military campaigns of the Greek general and statesman, Cyrus the Younger. Xenophon was born around 430 BC in the city of Athens and was a student of Socrates. He was a part of the Athenian army, which was defeated by Sparta during the Peloponnesian War. Xenophon wrote extensively on the life, times and military campaigns of Cyrus the Younger, as well as his own experiences in the Greek army. His works include the Anabasis, which detailed the story of the failed expedition undertaken by Cyrus, as well as Hellenica, a history of Greece from 411 BC to 362 BC. Xenophon also wrote about Socrates, with his Symposium and Memorabilia providing invaluable insight into the philosopher’s teachings and life. Xenophon’s writings were influential in the development of political and military thought in the ancient world, and his works are still studied and read today. He is widely regarded as one of the most important historians of ancient Greece, and his works have shaped our understanding of the period. Today, Xenophon remains a major figure in the development of Western thought and philosophy.