Interesting reads: "The Anabasis" by Xenophon

For those who read for pleasure, some books must simply be read more than once. One such work for me is the "Anabasis" by Xenophon.  

A tale of adventure and daring, Xenophon's Anabasis begins at the conclusion of the Peloponnesian War (431-404 BCE), a protracted conflict between the allies of Athens and Sparta (aided in the latter stages by Persia). Much of Greece was mobilized during the conflict, and few years in that stretch passed without fighting in some part of Hellas (the contemporary term for "Greece").

At about the same time as the war was winding down in Greece (404), the King of Persia, Darius the second of his name, died and gave control of Persia over to his first son Arsicas, who took the name Artaxerxes the second of his name upon taking the crown. However, the king's second son, Cyrus the Younger, felt he should be king, and plotted to overthrow his brother. Cyrus' plot was revealed to the king by Tissaphernes, and was imprisoned until the urging of the brothers' mother saw Cyrus released. It is with this episode that Xenophon's account begins.

Cyrus returned to his lands along the coast of Asia Minor (present day Turkey) on the eastern periphery of the empire, where he began in secret to recruit an army, the core of which would eventually include a little over 10,000 Greek soldiers.

An anabasis is Greek term denoting a march up from the sea and into the country. Once gathered, this is precisely what the army of Cyrus the Younger did, marching across modern Turkey, Lebanon, Syria, and Iraq, where on the banks of the Euphrates river they defeated the Persian army of Artaxerxes II at Cunaxa. While victorious, Cyrus the Younger fell during the battle, leaving the Greek army of 10,000 without a leader or purpose for being in the middle of Persia. Artaxerxes offers to negotiate with the Greeks, and invites their leaders to a feast to discuss terms. Unfortunately for the Greeks, the feast turns out to be a trap, and in a single evening nearly all the generals of the Greek army are executed.

It is at this point that Xenophon, a veteran of the Peloponnesian war, emerges to rally and eventually lead the Greek army out of Persia, and back to their homes in Greece. They march far to the north, battling many foes, eventually reaching the Black Sea. Here it is said the Greeks famously broke out in chants of "Thálatta! Thálatta!" which means "The sea! The sea!" and indicated they were nearly home.

The Anabasis is a lovely read, full of history, adventure, drama, and beautiful language. It has influenced numerous artists over the centuries, and continues to find its way into culture today. Whether one has a scholarly bent or merely after an interesting story, the Anabasis is full of interesting qualities and worth reading if one has the time.