Though few details are known about the life of Xenophon, his hatred toward Athens and Athenian democracy is one of the primary themes communicated throughout the body of Xenophon’s work. Born into an aristocratic family within a democratic society that placed commoners in an equal political position to the wealthy, Xenophon was part of a class of people who were “greatly dissatisfied…with the operation of democracy.” Even if he had not been born into an aristocratic social class that showed little support for the concept or the application of Athenian democracy, he would likely have arrived at the same conclusions upon hearing of the executions of many Athenian generals for which he expressed great sympathy for in his History of Greece. After biding his time in Athens during the third phase of the Peloponnesian War and likely serving in the cavalry during that time, in 401 BC, after the end of the War, Xenophon acquired a “taste for war and a distaste for democracy.” His hatred for Athens lead him to the next logical step: to leave Athens at all costs, even going so far as to venture outside of Greece to join Cyrus—Darius’ second son and thereby the second in line for his throne—and his army in their attempts to secure Cyrus’ kingship in Persia over his brother, the reigning king Artaxerxes II. In contrast to his decidedly negative experience amongst Athenian Greeks, Xenophon enjoyed an “idyllic life” amongst the Spartan Greeks—who naturally adhered to Xenophon’s negative outlook on Athens and its politics as well. It is likely that Xenophon found happiness in Sparta because he admired the totalitarianism of its government , which functioned as a type of political system fundamentally opposed to the democratic government of the Athens from which Xenophon so eagerly escaped and that ultimately exiled him. His exile from Athens was supposedly a result of his “aiding Cyrus…in Spartan service against the Persians…as part of Athens’ successful effort to win the friendship” of Artaxerxes II. He allegedly fought in and among the Spartan army from spring 399 BC until his return to Greece with Agesilaus in 394 BC, a;; the while establishing lifelong friendships with influential individuals—such as the King—as well as cultivating a favorable relationship with the Spartan people. Upon returning to the Peloponnese, his friend, King Agesilaus, established Xenophon as one of the “’best men’ of the Peloponnese,” allowing him to enjoy life as a land-owning aristocrat in an area near Olympia. Xenophon briefly described what it was like at his estate in chapter three of book V, stating that, “There happened to be a river called Selinus which ran through the estate…[with] fishes and shellfish…and hunting also,…[with] all kinds of game…available,” as well as a festival supplied with “barley, bread, wine, dainties and a share of both of the animals sacrificed from the sacred herds and also of the animals caught in hunting,” caught by Xenophon’s sons and other sons in the community. One’s first assumption about Xenophon’s view of Persians is likely that he felt intense hatred for them simply because they were not Greek, concluding that they were inferior peoples, perhaps even barbarians, assuming that he shared the opinions of some of his other Greek contemporaries (citation). However, Xenophon’s treatment of Persians in The Persian Expedition is significantly more complicated than mere universal hatred; his treatment of Persians appears to differ according to the individual’s
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For example, at one point, two generals desert Cyrus’ army while on their way to march against the King, and a rumor spreads throughout the remaining armies that Cyrus sent warships after the defectors; however, when he addresses the remaining generals, he states that he was “certainly not going to pursue them” lest people believe that he would punish anyone for “the good service they did for [him] in the past.” Moreover, in chapter 9 of book I, Xenophon essentially eulogizes Cyrus, commending him endlessly for his early accomplishments as a child in the Court, his commitment to always keeping his word, his fairness and also his strength of character, and even for the quality of his friendship. Xenophon finishes by saying that, based on what he had heard, “…there has never been anyone, Greek or foreigner, more generally
For example, at one point, two generals desert Cyrus’ army while on their way to march against the King, and a rumor spreads throughout the remaining armies that Cyrus sent warships after the defectors; however, when he addresses the remaining generals, he states that he was “certainly not going to pursue them” lest people believe that he would punish anyone for “the good service they did for [him] in the past.” Moreover, in chapter 9 of book I, Xenophon essentially eulogizes Cyrus, commending him endlessly for his early accomplishments as a child in the Court, his commitment to always keeping his word, his fairness and also his strength of character, and even for the quality of his friendship. Xenophon finishes by saying that, based on what he had heard, “…there has never been anyone, Greek or foreigner, more generally