Cyropaedia

Common card · No. 310582

The Cyropaedia (also spelled Cyropedia; Ancient Greek: Κύρου παιδεία, Kýrou Paideía, lit. 'The Education of Cyrus') is a work by the Greek soldier, historian, and philosopher Xenophon. Written around 370 BC, it presents an account of Cyrus the Great, founder of the Achaemenid Persian Empire. The Cyropaedia is Xenophon's longest work and among his most difficult to classify, as it does not fit neatly into any established Greek literary genre. It has been variously interpreted as an early novel, a biography, and a manifesto on leadership. Its authorial intent is also difficult to interpret. However, most scholars agree that the Cyropaedia is not strictly historical but is also intended to communicate political and moral instruction. The Cyropaedia is traditionally divided into eight books recounting Cyrus's upbringing, military campaigns, and the organization of his empire. Xenophon does not provide an exhaustive account of Cyrus's life and campaigns. Instead, he concentrates on events occurring...

Read on Wikipedia · Image Ashley Cooper, Maurice Publication date 1803, Public domain