Born (c. 430 – 354 BC) during the early years of the Peloponnesian War and into a wealthy equestrian family, Xenophon was an Athenian active during a tumultuous period in the Classical period of Ancient Greece.

Contemporary readers know him not only as a student of famous philosopher Socrates but also as a historian, philosopher, and soldier (1). Xenophon held several philosophical views in which he stressed the importance of self-control, encouraged a demanding work-ethic, and espoused a type of utilitarianism and a type of egalitarianism (2). And although he was born in Athens, Xenophon had relations with Sparta, the enemies of the Athenians at the time. He served as a soldier for the Spartans against Persia and had a friendship with Agesilaus II, the Spartan king from 398 to about 360 BC (3). Xenophon was also a mercenary for the Achaemenian prince Cyrus The Younger and was involved in rebellion against his brother, the Persian king Artaxerxes II.

For the following 23 years of his life, Xenophon lived on an state in Elis given to him by the Spartans. On this estate he penned most of his works and had two sons with his wife Philesia. However, when Sparta was defeated in 371 BC he was driven from the estate and moved to Corinth where he lived out the remainder of his days.

Xenophon penned a large body of work and is therefore particularly valuable for historians wishing to examine events that took place during the Peloponnesian War (431-404 BC) (a1). Some of Xenophon’s most notable writings include Hellenica (covering the concluding years of the Peloponnesian War), Anabis (a soldier’s journal of his time as a Greek mercenary soldier and the leader of the Ten Thousand,), and Memorabilia (a writing chronicling Socrate’s trial while also acting as an apologetic in defense of Socrates before the jury).

References

1. Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Browning, E.). Xenophon (430 – 354 B.C.E.). Available.

2. Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Browning, E.). Ibid.

3. Encyclopaedia Britannica (Tupkin, C). Xenophon: Greek historian. Available.