The First Four Books of Xenophon's AnabasisXenophon
History
The First Four Books of Xenophon's Anabasis
Xenophon
Cyrus, the Younger, approximately 423 B.C.-401 B.C.; Iran -- History -- To 640
14. Hence he proceeded, two days' march, ten parasangs, to Tyriæum, a
well-peopled city, where he stayed three days. The Cilician queen is
said to have requested Cyrus to show her his army. With the desire
therefore of exhibiting it to her, he reviewed his troops, as well Greek
as Barbarian, in the plain. 15. He ordered the Greeks to be marshalled,
and to take their places, as they were accustomed to do for battle, each
captain arranging his own men. They were accordingly drawn up four deep;
Menon and his troops took the right wing; Clearchus and his men the
left; and the other captains occupied the centre. 16. First of all,
then, Cyrus reviewed the Barbarians, who marched past him, drawn up in
troops and companies;[27] and afterwards the Greeks, riding by them in
his chariot, with the Cilician queen in her car.[28] They had all brazen
helmets, scarlet tunics, greaves, and polished shields. 17. When he had
ridden past them all, he stopped his chariot in front of their phalanx,
and sent Pigres the interpreter to the Greek officers, with orders for
them to present arms,[29] and to advance with their whole phalanx. The
officers communicated these orders to their soldiers; and, when the
trumpeter gave the signal, they presented arms and advanced. Then, as
they proceeded with a quicker pace and loud shouts, the soldiers of
their own accord took to running, bearing down upon the tents of the
Persians. 18. Upon this, there arose great terror among the rest of the
Barbarians; the Cilician queen fled from her car; and the people in the
market deserted their goods and took to their heels; while the Greeks
marched up to the tents with laughter. The Cilician queen, on beholding
the splendour and discipline of the army, was struck with admiration;
and Cyrus was delighted when he saw the terror with which the Greeks
inspired the Barbarians.
19. Hence he advanced, three days' march, a distance of twenty
parasangs, to Iconium, the last town of Phrygia; where he halted three
days. He then went forward through Lycaonia, five days' march, a
distance of thirty parasangs; and this country, as being that of an
enemy, he permitted the Greeks to ravage.
20. From hence Cyrus despatched the Cilician queen, by the shortest
road, into Cilicia; and sent with her the troops which Menon had, and
Menon himself. Cyrus, with the rest of the army, proceeded through
Cappadocia, four days' march, a distance of twenty-five parasangs, to
Dana, a populous, large, and wealthy city. Here he stayed three days; in
the course of which he put to death a Persian, named Megaphernes, a
wearer of the royal purple,[30] and a certain other person in power, one
of the provincial governors having accused them of conspiring against
him.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account