Scripta Minora: Hiero/Agesilaus/Constitution of the Lacedaemonians/Ways & Means/Cavalry Commander/Art of Horsemanship/On Hunting/Constitution of the Athenians

by Xenophon, E.C. Marchant, Glen W. Bowersock (Translator)

Xenophon (ca. 430 to ca. 354 BCE) was a wealthy Athenian and friend of Socrates. He left Athens in 401 and joined an expedition including ten thousand Greeks led by the Persian governor Cyrus against the Persian king. After the defeat of Cyrus, it fell to Xenophon to lead the Greeks from the gates of Babylon back to the coast through inhospitable lands. Later he wrote the famous vivid account of this 'March Up-Country' ("Anabasis"); but meanwhile he entered service under the Spartans against the Persian king, married happily, and joined the staff of the Spartan king, Agesilaus. But Athens was at war with Sparta in 394 and so exiled Xenophon. The Spartans gave him an estate near Elis where he lived for years writing and hunting and educating his sons. Reconciled to Sparta, Athens restored Xenophon to honour but he preferred to retire to Corinth.

Xenophon's "Anabasis" is a true story of remarkable adventures. "Hellenica, " a history of Greek affairs from 411 to 362, begins as a continuation of Thucydides' account. There are four works on Socrates (collected in Volume IV of the Loeb Xenophon edition). In "Memorabilia" Xenophon adds to Plato's picture of Socrates from a different viewpoint. The "Apology" is an interesting complement to Plato's account of Socrates' defense at his trial. Xenophon's "Symposium" portrays a dinner party at which Socrates speaks of love; and "Oeconomicus" has him giving advice on household management and married life. "Cyropaedia, " a historical romance on the education of Cyrus (the Elder), reflects Xenophon's ideas about rulers and government; the Loeb edition is in two volumes.

We also have his "Hiero, " a dialogue on government; "Agesilaus, " in praise of that king; "Constitution of Lacedaemon" (on the Spartan system); "Ways and Means" (on the finances of Athens); "Manual for a Cavalry Commander;" a good manual of "Horsemanship;" and a lively "Hunting with Hounds. The Constitution of the Athenians, " though clearly not by Xenophon, is an interesting document on politics at Athens. These eight books are collected in the last of the seven volumes of the Loeb Classical Library edition of Xenophon.

Genres: Classics, Philosophy, History

576 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1925

About the author

Xenophon (Ancient Greek Ξενοφῶν, Modern Greek Ξενοφώντας; ca. 431 – 355 BC), son of Gryllus, of the deme Erchia of Athens, was a soldier, mercenary and a contemporary and admirer of Socrates. He is known for his writings on the history of his own times, preserving the sayings of Socrates, and the life of ancient Greece.

Historical and biographical works:
Anabasis (or The Persian Expedition)
Cyropaedia
Hellenica
Agesilaus

Socratic works and dialogues:
Memorabilia
Oeconomicus
Symposium
Apology
Hiero

Short treatises:
On Horsemanship
The Cavalry General
Hunting with Dogs
Ways and Means
Constitution of Sparta

Reviews

[Robert Palmer · Rating 3 out of 5]

When most people think of ancient historians, they think of Thucydides, Herodotus, Polybius, and Plutarch. For those interested in ancient military tactics, Julius Caesar comes to mind. But Xenophon is another ancient historian, whose participation in many of the things he writes about adds authenticity to his writing.

I never studied ancient Greek in school, though I have, in recent years, studied Biblical Greek informally, using a DVD course, textbook, and workbook. Thus, I decided to read this Loeb Classical Library edition because it has the original Greek on the left-hand page and an English translation on the right-hand page (there is no way to become proficient in another language without at least attempting to read works in that language).

As the title, "Scripta Minora," implies, this work is an anthology of Xenophon's shorter works. As a former U.S. Army officer, I was very much interested in "Cavalry Commander" and "Art of Horsemanship." As an attorney, I was very much interested in "Constitution of the Lacedaemonians."

As with all ancient works, this book is not easily digested by the modern reader. But for those who prefer their history fresh, rather than in a stale, rehashed, and filtered "modern" work, this is definitely worth reading.

[Alexander Rolfe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Xenophon recommends equestrian sports because it's not very hard work as exercise goes, and for anyone who ever wished they could fly-- this is as close as they'll come (p.281).

[Ilja Leonard Pfeijffer · Rating 2 out of 5]

Read the Constitution of the Lacedaemonians. Rather disappointing. Poorly written and not extremely informative. Plutarch's Life of Lycurgus is much better.

[Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting collection of some of Xenophon's (and Pseudo-Xenophon's) minor works. I especially enjoyed the Hiero and the Cavalry Commander

[Hussein]

I only read Hiero. It was interesting.