Cyropaedia: Difference between revisions
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'''''Cyropaedia''''' (from Greek ''Kúrou paideía'' "The education of Cyrus") is a "partly fictional biography"<ref name="Sancisi-Weerdenburg">{{citation|last=Sancisi-Weerdenburg|first=Heleen|chapter=Cyropaedia|title=Encyclopaedia Iranica|volume=6.5|year=1993|location=Cosa Mesa|publisher=Mazda|chapter-url=http://www.iranica.com/newsite/articles/v6f5/v6f5a023.html}}</ref> of [[Cyrus the Great]], written by the [[Athens|Athenian]] gentleman-soldier [[Xenophon]]. |
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'''''Cyropaedia''''' ([[Ancient Greek]] for "The Education of Cyrus") is a biography of [[Cyrus the Great]], written by the [[Athens|Athenian]] philosopher and historian, [[Xenophon]]. The work narrates, in its entirety, the life of Cyrus. Like Xenophon's other works, it was intended as history, although some critics have questioned and debated whether parts of the account are fictional. |
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==Content== |
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| ⚫ | [[Postmodern]] critics may see a dual sense in the phrase "education of Cyrus", which could mean the education he received or the one he gave, especially since Cyrus' preferred verb seems to be ''didaskein'' (to teach) and Xenophon seems concerned primarily with the alterations Cyrus made to [[ |
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In substance, the ''Cyropaedia'' is "a political romance, describing the education of the ideal ruler, trained to rule as a benevolent despot over his admiring and willing subjects."<ref name="Dakyns">{{citation|author=Xenophon|title=Cyropaedia: The Education of Cyrus|editor=Dakyns, Henry Graham, trans., Stawell, F. M.|year=1914<!-- posthumously published-->|location=London|publisher=Macmillan|url=http://onlinebooks.library.upenn.edu/webbin/gutbook/lookup?num=2085}}</ref> |
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Although it is "generally agreed" that Xenophon "did not intend ''Cyropaedia'' as history,"<ref name="Sancisi-Weerdenburg" /> what other literary genre the work may belong to remains unclear. The validity as a source of [[Achaemenid]] history has been repeatedly questioned, and numerous descriptions of events or personae have been determined to be in error.<ref name="Sancisi-Weerdenburg" /> Other issues have been noted to be anachronistic and/or have a historic bias. |
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The ''Cyropaedia'' is less an historical work and more a practical treatise on political virtue and social organization. The ancients believed that Xenophon composed it in response to the ''[[Plato's Republic|Republic]]'' of [[Plato]], or vice versa, and Plato's ''Laws'' seems to allude to the ''Cyropaedia.'' |
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Xenophon (ca. 431 – 355 BCE) was not a contemporary of Cyrus (ca. 580 — 530 BCE) and it is likely that at least some of the historiographer's observations were based on events that occurred at the later Achaemenid court. It is also probable that stories of the great King were recounted (and embellished) by court society and that these are the basis of Xenophon's text. |
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Although the work narrates, in its entirety, the life of Cyrus, only the first of the 8 books is - technically speaking - the ''Cyropaedia''. This first book is devoted to Cyrus' descent, education and his stay at the court of his maternal grandfather, the [[Media]]n dynast [[Astyages]]. Book 2 through 7 cover Cyrus' life while still a vassal of the Medians. Book 8 is a sketch of Cyrus' kingship and his views of monarchy. |
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==References== |
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<references/> |
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* Nadon, Christopher, ''Xenophon's Prince: Republic and Empire in the Cyropaedia'', Berkeley: University of California Press, 2001. ISBN 0-520-22404-3 |
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The book was considered a classic in antiquity: the ancients believed that Xenophon composed it in response to the ''[[Plato's Republic|Republic]]'' of [[Plato]], or vice versa, and Plato's ''Laws'' seems to allude to the ''Cyropaedia.'' [[Scipio Africanus]] is said to have carried a copy with him at all times.<ref name="Cawkwell">{{citation|last=Cawkwell|first=G. L.|title=The Persian Expedition</i> (introduction)<i>|publisher=Penguin Classics|year=1972}}</ref> |
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* Hosted by [[Project Gutenberg]] [http://onlinebooks.library.upenn.edu/webbin/gutbook/lookup?num=2085] |
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The ''Cyropaedia'' was "re-discovered" in the [[Renaissance]] as a practical treatise on political virtue and social organization.<ref name="Nadon">{{citation|last=Nadon|first=Christopher|title=Xenophon's Prince: Republic and Empire in the Cyropaedia|location=Berkeley|publisher=UC Press|year=2001|id=ISBN 0-520-22404-3}}</ref> In his preface to ''[[The Faerie Queene]]'', [[Edmund Spenser]] remarked: "Xenophon's ''Cyropaedia'' is to be preferred to Plato, for it demonstrates exquisite depth of monarchial judgement. Cyrus' formation of commonwealth is such as it should be, and government by example is much more profitable and gracious than government by rule."{{ref_label|Spenser|a|none}} |
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==See also== |
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*[[Xenophon]] |
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| ⚫ | in the . of the [[Founding Fathers]] of the United States of America sought inspiration from the [[Cyropaedia]] [[Thomas Jefferson]] had two personal copies of the book, "which was a mandatory read for statesmen alongside [[Machiavelli]]'s ''The Prince''."<ref>Cliff Rogers : http://www.spentaproductions.com/Cyrus-the-Great-English/cyruspreview_english.htm</ref> In modern times, its reputation has declined; it has been described as "surely one of the most tedious books to have survived from the ancient world."<ref Cawkwell /> |
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*[[Cyrus the Great]] |
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*[[Persian empire]] |
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| ⚫ | [[Postmodern]] critics may see a dual sense in the phrase "education of Cyrus", which could mean the education he received or the one he gave, especially since Cyrus' preferred verb seems to be ''didaskein'' (to teach) and Xenophon seems concerned primarily with the alterations Cyrus made to [[|Persian]] society in order to make it fit for empire, which could be described as an education. |
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==Notes== |
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{| |
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|valign="top" style="padding-left="2em;" | <small>a.</small> {{note_label|Spenser|a|none}} |
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| ⚫ | | The : "For this cause is Xenophon preferred before Plato, for that the one, in the exquisite depth of his judgement, formed a Commune welth, such as it should be; but the other in the person of Cyrus, and the Persians, fashioned a government, such as might best be: So much more profitable and gratious is doctrine by ensample, then by rule." |
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==Bibliography== |
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{{reflist}} |
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{{refbegin}} |
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{{refend}} |
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==Full Texts== |
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{{refbegin}} |
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* {{citation|author=Xenophon|title=Cyropaedia: The Education of Cyrus|editor=Dakyns, Henry Graham, trans., Stawell, F. M.|year=1914<!-- posthumously published-->|location=London|publisher=Macmillan|url=http://onlinebooks.library.upenn.edu/webbin/gutbook/lookup?num=2085}} [Project Gutenberg] |
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{{refend}} |
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[[Category:Works of Xenophon]] |
[[Category:Works of Xenophon]] |
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Revision as of 12:52, 6 August 2007
Cyropaedia (from Greek Kúrou paideía "The education of Cyrus") is a "partly fictional biography"[1] of Cyrus the Great, written by the Athenian gentleman-soldier Xenophon.
Content
In substance, the Cyropaedia is "a political romance, describing the education of the ideal ruler, trained to rule as a benevolent despot over his admiring and willing subjects."[2]
Although it is "generally agreed" that Xenophon "did not intend Cyropaedia as history,"[1] what other literary genre the work may belong to remains unclear. The validity as a source of Achaemenid history has been repeatedly questioned, and numerous descriptions of events or personae have been determined to be in error.[1] Other issues have been noted to be anachronistic and/or have a historic bias.
Xenophon (ca. 431 – 355 BCE) was not a contemporary of Cyrus (ca. 580 — 530 BCE) and it is likely that at least some of the historiographer's observations were based on events that occurred at the later Achaemenid court. It is also probable that stories of the great King were recounted (and embellished) by court society and that these are the basis of Xenophon's text.
Although the work narrates, in its entirety, the life of Cyrus, only the first of the 8 books is - technically speaking - the Cyropaedia. This first book is devoted to Cyrus' descent, education and his stay at the court of his maternal grandfather, the Median dynast Astyages. Book 2 through 7 cover Cyrus' life while still a vassal of the Medians. Book 8 is a sketch of Cyrus' kingship and his views of monarchy.
Legacy
The book was considered a classic in antiquity: the ancients believed that Xenophon composed it in response to the Republic of Plato, or vice versa, and Plato's Laws seems to allude to the Cyropaedia. Scipio Africanus is said to have carried a copy with him at all times.[3]
The Cyropaedia was "re-discovered" in the Renaissance as a practical treatise on political virtue and social organization.[4] In his preface to The Faerie Queene, Edmund Spenser remarked: "Xenophon's Cyropaedia is to be preferred to Plato, for it demonstrates exquisite depth of monarchial judgement. Cyrus' formation of commonwealth is such as it should be, and government by example is much more profitable and gracious than government by rule."[a]
Similar sentiments have been been expressed in the modern-age. Many of the Founding Fathers of the United States of America sought inspiration from the Cyropaedia, and Thomas Jefferson had two personal copies of the book, "which was a mandatory read for statesmen alongside Machiavelli's The Prince."[5] In modern times, its reputation has declined; it has been described as "surely one of the most tedious books to have survived from the ancient world."[3]
Postmodern critics[who?] may[weasel words] see a dual sense in the phrase "education of Cyrus", which could either mean the education he received or the one he gave, especially since Cyrus' preferred verb seems to be didaskein (to teach) and Xenophon seems concerned primarily with the alterations Cyrus made to Achaemenid Persian society in order to make it fit for empire, which could be described as an education.
Notes
| a. ^ | The original reads: "For this cause is Xenophon preferred before Plato, for that the one, in the exquisite depth of his judgement, formed a Commune welth, such as it should be; but the other in the person of Cyrus, and the Persians, fashioned a government, such as might best be: So much more profitable and gratious is doctrine by ensample, then by rule." |
Bibliography
- ^ a b c Sancisi-Weerdenburg, Heleen (1993), "Cyropaedia", Encyclopaedia Iranica, vol. 6.5, Cosa Mesa: Mazda
- ^ Xenophon (1914), Dakyns, Henry Graham, trans., Stawell, F. M. (ed.), Cyropaedia: The Education of Cyrus, London: Macmillan
{{citation}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: editors list (link) - ^ a b Cawkwell, G. L. (1972), The Persian Expedition (introduction), Penguin Classics
- ^ Nadon, Christopher (2001), Xenophon's Prince: Republic and Empire in the Cyropaedia, Berkeley: UC Press, ISBN 0-520-22404-3
- ^ Cliff Rogers (USMA) as quoted in Kar, Cyrus (2006), Film Preview: In Search of Cyrus The Great, Spenta Productions
Full Texts
- Xenophon (1914), Dakyns, Henry Graham, trans., Stawell, F. M. (ed.), Cyropaedia: The Education of Cyrus, London: Macmillan
{{citation}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: editors list (link) [Project Gutenberg]