® ® Audio Connoisseur

THE FINEST IN RECORDED LITERATURE HELLENICA Narrated by Charlton Griffin

Information & Map Hellenica by Xenophon (430 – 354 B.C.) covers the final seven years of the Peloponnesian War and its aftermath. It is a faithful continuation of Thucydides’ History of the Peloponnesian War. In substance and style, Xenophon provides an excellent companion piece to Thucydides. The word “hellenica” itself simply means writings on Greek (or Hellenic) subjects. In fact, several histories of fourth century B.C. Greece, which were written by others in emulation of Thucydides, came to be called by the Latin term “Hellenica”. Xenophon’s version is the sole survivor among these histories and has come down to us fully extant. It is one of the principal sources of our knowledge of what occurred during the final stages of the Peloponnesian conflict – the portion not covered by Thucydides......

Some historians consider Xenophon’s history a very personal work, written by him in retirement on his Spartan estate, and intended primarily for circulation among his friends or for people who already knew the main protagonists and events. If this is so, then many of his readers had probably participated in those events. Xenophon’s account starts in 411 B.C., the year where Thucydides breaks off, and ends in 362 B.C., the year of the Battle of Mantineia. There is virtually no transition between the two works, to the extent that the opening words of Hellenica, “µετὰ δὲ ταῦτα”, are translated as After this, or sometimes Following these events.

...... Above is shown an Athenian terracotta stamnos painted in the black and reg figure technique, and it is at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in N.Y. The marble bust depicted on the cover is thought to be of Xenophon, and was credited as being housed in the Kgl. Museum (the Old Museum), Berlin.

2 ......

Despite being born an aristocratic Athenian citizen, Xenophon was closely associated with Sparta, the traditional enemy of Athens. His pro-oligarchic politics, military service under Spartan generals during the Persian campaign and elsewhere, and his friendship with King Agesilaus II, endeared Xenophon to the Spartans. It is apparent that Xenophon regarded with distaste much of the moral degeneration in Athens which followed the death of Pericles in 429 B.C. The simple, soldierly qualities and discipline of the Spartans would have appealed to Xenophon’s old fashioned, aristocratic upbringing, which was in contrast to the chaotic, corrupt Athenian city-state of his youth.

Above is shown a painted Greek ceramic Apulian Volute crater, 4th Century.

...... !

3 ......

! 4 Fifth Century B.C. Corinthian Style Bronze Helmet

® ® Audio Connoisseur

THE FINEST IN RECORDED LITERATURE

© 2019 AUDIO CONNOISSEUR