Xenophon, << ZEHN uh fuhn >> (430?-355? B.C.), was a Greek soldier, historian, and writer. His most important contributions are books about the Greek philosopher Socrates and about Greek history.
Xenophon was born in Athens of a noble family. He studied under Socrates but was more interested in military subjects than in philosophy.
In 401 B.C., Xenophon and other Greek adventurers fought in the Battle of Cunaxa in Persia. The Greeks formed part of an army led by the Persian prince Cyrus the Younger, who wanted to seize the throne of Persia from his brother Artaxerxes II. Cyrus was killed in the battle, and all the Greek commanders were killed soon afterward. Thus, the remaining Greeks–about 10,000–were stranded without a commander in a strange country. They chose Xenophon to lead their retreat. Xenophon described this 1,500-mile (2,400-kilometer) march in his book Anabasis.
After returning home, Xenophon became a close friend and admirer of King Agesilaus of Sparta, under whom he served in Asia and in Greece. The Spartans rewarded Xenophon by granting him an estate near Olympia in Elis. The Eleans later drove him from his estate. Xenophon then moved to Corinth, where he died.
Xenophon’s book Hellenica is the major source for Greek history from 411 to 362 B.C. His Memorabilia and Apology tell much about Socrates. Xenophon’s Constitution of Sparta and his eulogy of Agesilaus are vital to the understanding of Sparta.
