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This expedition of Cyrus forms the subject of Xenophon's "Anabasis." After the battle of Cunaxa, an army of 10,000 Greek mercenaries was stranded over 1000 miles from home. After its leaders were treacherously slain, they fought their way back to the sea against the armies of Tissaphernes.
Xenias the Parrhasian Parysatis, his mother
Aristippus a Thessalian, Cyrus's friend who under pressure of the rival political party at home, had come to Cyrus and asked him for pay for two thousand mercenaries, Aristippus was, as we learn from the "Meno" of Plato, a native of Larisa, of the family of the Aleuadae, and a pupil of Gorgias. He was also a lover of Menon, whom he appears to have sent on this expedition instead of himself.
Proxenus, a Boeotian, who was another friend, get together as many men as possible, and join him in an expedition which he meditated against the Pisidians (4), who were causing annoyance to his territory. Sophaenetus the Stymphalian Socrates the Achaean, had orders to get together as many men as possible and come to him,
Xenias the Arcadian, who was acting as general-in-chief of the foreign troops in the cities. He arrived at Sardis with the contingent from the cities, four thousand hoplites; Proxenus, also, with fifteen hundred hoplites and five hundred light-armed troops; Sophaenetus the Stymphalian, with one thousand hoplites; Socrates the Achaean, with five hundred hoplites; Megarion Pasion came with three hundred hoplites and three hundred peltasts.
Menon the Thessalian, who arrived with one thousand hoplites and five hundred peltasts, Dolopes, Aenianes, and Olynthians.
Clearchus the Lacedaemonian arrived with one thousand hoplites and eight hundred Thracian peltasts and two hundred Cretan archers.
Sosis the Syracusian with three thousand hoplites Sophaenetus the Arcadian with one thousand hoplites
Cyrus held a review, and numbered his Hellenes in the park, and found that they amounted in all to eleven thousand hoplites and about two thousand peltasts.
Epyaxa, the wife of Syennesis, the king of the Cilicians, arrived on a visit to Cyrus
Cyrus interpreter Pigres
Cyrus put to death, on a charge of conspiracy, a Persian nobleman named Megaphernes,
ships of war, belonging to the Lacedaemonians with Tamos on board as admiral
Tarsus, a large and prosperous city of Cilicia. Here stood the palace of Syennesis, the king of the country;
Issi, the last city in Cilicia. It lies on the seaboard—a prosperous, large and flourishing town. Here they halted three days, and here Cyrus was joined by his fleet. There were thirty-five ships from Peloponnesus, with the Lacedaemonian admiral Pythagoras on board. These had been piloted from Ephesus by Tamos the Egyptian, who himself had another fleet of twenty-five ships belonging to Cyrus
here was a third officer on board the fleet, the Lacedaemonian Cheirisophus, brought with him seven hundred hoplites, over whom he was to act as general in the service of Cyrus. The fleet lay at anchor opposite Cyrus's tent. Here too another reinforcement presented itself. This was a body of four hundred hoplites, Hellenic mercenaries in the service of Abrocomas, who deserted him for Cyrus, and joined in the campaign against the king.
This, however, Abrocomas had not done; but as soon as he learnt that Cyrus was in Cilicia, he had turned round and made his exit from Phoenicia, to join the king with an army amounting, as report said, to three hundred thousand men.
here Xenias the Arcadian general, and Pasion the Megarian got on board a trader, and having stowed away their most valuable effects, set sail for home;
sources of the river Dardas, which is a hundred feet broad. Here stood the palace of Belesys, the ruler of Syria,
he sent Glus to the division in question
ordered Glus and Pigres to take a body of barbarians and to help in extricating the wagons.
Proxenus came up from behind
Now there was a Persian, named Orontas; he was closely related to the king by birth:
ere Gaulites, a Samian exile, and a trusty friend of Cyrus
Battle Hellenes there were ten thousand four hundred heavy infantry with two thousand five hundred targeteers, while the barbarians with Cyrus reached a total of one hundred thousand. He had too about twenty scythe-chariots.
The enemy's forces were reported to number one million two hundred thousand, with two hundred scythe-chariots, besides which he had six thousand cavalry under Artagerses. The royal army was marshalled by four generals or field-marshals, each in command of three hundred thousand men. Their names were Abrocomas, Tissaphernes, Gobryas, and Arbaces. (But of this total not more than nine hundred thousand were engaged in the battle, with one hundred and fifty scythe-chariots; since Abrocomas, on his march from Phoenicia, arrived five days too late for the battle.) Such was the information brought to Cyrus by deserters who came in from the king's army before the battle, and it was corroborated after the battle by those of the enemy who were taken prisoners.
Cyrus summoned Silanus, his Ambraciot soothsayer,
Pategyas, a Persian, a trusty member of Cyrus's personal staff, came galloping up at full speed on his horse, which was bathed in sweat, and to every one he met he shouted in Greek and Persian, as fast as he could ejaculate the words: "The king is advancing with a large army ready for battle."
The orders were carried out with alacrity; the ranks shaped themselves. Clearchus held the right wing resting on the Euphrates, Proxenus was next, and after him the rest, while Menon with his troops held the Hellenic left. Of the Asiatics, a body of Paphlagonian cavalry, one thousand strong, were posted beside Clearchus on the right, and with them stood the Hellenic peltasts. On the left was Ariaeus, Cyrus's second in command, and the rest of the barbarian host. Cyrus was with his bodyguard of cavalry about six hundred strong, all armed with corselets like Cyrus, and cuirasses and helmets; but not so Cyrus: he went into battle with head unhelmeted (2). So too all the horses with Cyrus wore forehead-pieces and breast-pieces, and the troopers carried short Hellenic swords.
It was now mid-day, and the enemy was not yet in sight; but with the approach of afternoon was seen dust like a white cloud, and after a considerable interval a black pall as it were spread far and high above the plain. As they came nearer, very soon was seen here and there a glint of bronze and spear-points; and the ranks could plainly be distinguished. On the left were troopers wearing white cuirasses. That is Tissaphernes in command, they said, and next to these a body of men bearing wicker-shields, and next again heavy-armed infantry, with long wooden shields reaching to the feet. These were the Egyptians, they said, and then other cavalry, other bowmen; all were in national divisions, each nation marching in densely-crowded squares. And all along their front was a line of chariots at considerable intervals from one another—the famous scythe-chariots, as they were named—having their scythes fitted to the axle-trees and stretching out slantwise, while others protruded under the chariot-seats, facing the ground, so as to cut through all they encountered. The design was to let them dash full speed into the ranks of the Hellenes and cut them through.
Curiously enough the anticipation of Cyrus, when at the council of war he admonished the Hellenes not to mind the shouting of the Asiatics, was not justified. Instead of shouting, they came on in deep silence, softly and slowly, with even tread. At this instant, Cyrus, riding past in person, accompanied by Pigres, his interpreter, and three or four others, called aloud to Clearchus to advance against the enemy's centre, for there the king was to be found: "And if we strike home at this point," he added, "our work is finished." Clearchus, though he could see the compact body at the centre, and had been told by Cyrus that the king lay outside the Hellenic left (for, owing to numerical superiority, the king, while holding his own centre, could well overlap Cyrus's extreme left), still hesitated to draw off his right wing from the river, for fear of being turned on both flanks; and he simply replied, assuring Cyrus that he would take care all went well.
nable longer to contain himself, with a cry, "I see the man," he rushed at him and dealt a blow at his chest, wounding him through the corselet. This, according to the statement of Ctesias the surgeon (5), who further states that he himself healed the wound. we have the statement of Ctesias as to the number slain on the king's side, for he was by his side. On the other, Cyrus himself fell, and eight of his bravest companions lay on the top of him. The story says that Artapes, the trustiest among his wand-wearers, when he saw that Cyrus had fallen to the ground, leapt from his horse and threw his arms about him. Then, as one account says, the king bade one slay him as a worthy victim to his brother: others say that Artapates drew his scimitar and slew himself by his own hand. A golden scimitar it is true, he had; he wore also a collar and bracelets and the other ornaments such as the noblest Persians wear; for his kindliness and fidelity had won him honours at the hands of Cyrus. "Ctesias, the son of Ctesiochus, was a physician of Cnidos.
Seventeen years of his life were passed at the court of Persia,
fourteen in the service of Darios, three in that of Artaxerxes; he
returned to Greece in 398 B.C.," and "was employed by Artaxerxes
in diplomatic services." See Mure; also Ch. Muller, for his life
and works. He wrote (1) a history on Persian affairs in three
parts—Assyrian, Median, Persian—with a chapter "On Tributes;"
(2) a history of Indian affairs (written in the vein of Sir John
Maundeville, Kt.); (3) a Periplus; (4) a treatise on Mountains;
(5) a treatise on Rivers.
He was slain, but fighting for his life beside him fell also every one of his faithful bodyguard of friends and table-companions, with the sole exception of Ariaeus, who was in command of the cavalry on the left, and he no sooner perceived the fall of Cyrus than he betook himself to flight, with the whole body of troops under his lead.
The 10,000
Lycius of Syracuse Cheirisophus the Laconian Menon the Thessalian. Cleanor the Arcadian Proxenus the Theban Tolmides the Eleian, the best herald of his time;
Proxenus the Boeotian Agias the Arcadian Clearchus the Laconian Socrates the Achaean
Apollonides the Boeotian Agasias the Stymphalian Hieronymous the Eleian, the eldest of Proxenus's captains, Democrates a native of Temenus, a district of Syracuse Sophaenetus the Stymphalian Polycrates an Athenian Episthenes of Amphipolis Aristonymus the Methydrian Nicomachus the Oetean Callimachus the Parrhasian Agasis the Stymphalian Aristonymous the Methydrian Aeschines an Arcarnanian
Archagoras an Argive Cephisodorus Amphicrates Eurylochus of Lusia an Arcadian hoplite,
Philesius and Xanthicles respectively were condemned to pay a sum of twenty minae, Sophaenetus was fined ten minae for inadequate performance of his duty as one of the chief officers selected There is Boiscus the boxer, a Thessalian, Agasias the Stymphalian Dexippus has gone some way in traducing him to Anaxibius, Timasion, a Dardanian, Eteonicus Eurylochus an Arcadian Philesius an Achaean Coeratadas of Thebes Neon the Asinaean
Proxenus, his friend, who was killed with Clearchus. He left it behind in charge of Megabyzus, the sacristan of the goddess, Timesitheus the Trapezuntine, who was the proxenos (2) of the Mossynoecians, Hecatonymus, who was reported to be a clever orator, acted as their spokesman:
Callimachus the Arcadian, and Ariston the Athenian, and Samolas the Achaean. Silanus the Ambraciot, the soothsayer of Cyrus Timasion the Dardanian, with Thorax the Boeotian Timasion the Dardanian sent a fellow-citizen of his own, Eurymachus, with the Boeotian Thorax, to repeat the same story. Philesius and Lycon, two Achaeans Neon the Asniaean Clearetus the captain market clerk, Zelarchus, Lycon the Achaean, Callimachus the Parrhasian, and Agasias the Stymphalian Callimachus the Parrhasian and Lycon the Achaean. Cleander, the Spartan governor-general at Byzantium, In this way the army was now split up into three divisions (4). First, the Arcadians and Achaeans, over four thousand five hundred men, all heavy infantry. Secondly, Cheirisophus and his men, viz. one thousand four hundred heavy infantry and the seven hundred peltasts, or Clearchus's Thracians. Thirdly, Xenophon's division of one thousand seven hundred heavy infantry, and three hundred peltasts; but then he alone had the cavalry—about forty troopers.
Now Epyaxa, Syennesis's queen, had reached Tarsus five days in advance of Cyrus. Thimbron https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thimbron_(fl._400%E2%80%93391_BC) Lacedaemonian exile, named Clearchus came from Thrace with a private army of some 2000 men. Cyrus w generals Xenias and Pasion deserted at Myriandus in July Syennesis, the local dynast. Menon; mustering around 2000 Persian commander Tissaphernes Armenian satrap Orontas Paphlagonian ruler Corylas An army which accepted Apollonides, a captain who spoke Greek like a Boeotian but had his ears pierced like a Lydian
an Arcadian, Arystas and wounded two captains, These were two agents from Thibron—Charminus, a Lacedaemonian, and Polynicus. Charminus the Lacedaemonian Subsequently Seuthes sent Abrozelmes, his private interpreter,
Gnesippus an Athenian Heracliedes Episthenes the Olynthian Silanus a Macistian Hieronymus an Euodean Theogenes a Locrian. Eurylochus of Lusia, an Arcadian Charminus the Lacedaemonian Polynicus the Lacedaemonian Eucleides the soothsayer, a Phliasian, the son of Cleagoras, Bion Nausicleides
Procles the ruler of Teuthrania. He was a descendant of Damaratus (1) the Laconian, and with him also came Glus the son of Tamos.
Phalinus, a Hellene who lived at the court of Tissaphernes
Theopompus (3) the Athenian
Thracian Miltocythes, with forty horsemen and three hundred Thracian infantry, deserted to the king;
"I have been sent by Ariaeus and Artaozus, who have been trusty friends to Cyrus in past days, and are your well-wishers.
On arrival at the doors of Tissaphernes's quarters the generals were summoned inside. They were P; while the captains remained at the doors. Not long after that, at one and the same signal, those within were seized and those without cut down;
until Nicarchus the Arcadian came tearing along for bare life with a wound in the belly, and clutching his protruding entrails in his hands. He told them all that had happened.
After this, two Hellene generals went out with all precaution. These were Cleanor the Orchomenian (3), and Sophaenetus the Stymphalion, attended by Xenophon the Athenian, who went to learn news of Proxenus.
Cleanor of Orchomenus
He was in the bloom of youth when he procured from Aristippus the command of his mercenaries; he had not yet lost that bloom when he became exceedingly intimate with Ariaeus, a barbarian, whose liking for fair young men was the explanation; and before he had grown a beard himself, he had contracted a similar relationship with a bearded favourite named Tharypas.
Let Tolmides, the herald," Timasion the Dardanian, in place of Clearchus; Xanthicles, an Achaean, in place of Socrates; Cleanor, an Arcadian, in place of Agias; Philesius, an Achaean, in place of Menon; and in place of Proxenus, Xenophon the Athenian.
two eldest generals take in charge the two wings respectively, whilst Timasion and I, the two youngest, will for the present guard the rear.
Nicarchus (1), an Arcadian, who went off in the night with about twenty men.
commandant of cavalry appointed to command—Lycius, the son of Polystratus, by name, an Athenian.
Soteridas the Sicyonian
Cleonymus the Laconian, shot with an arrow in the ribs right through shield and corselet, as also Basias, an Arcadian, shot clean through the head.
two Arcadians, Aristonymus of Methydrium, and Agasias of Stymphalus—and in emulation of these, a third, also an Arcadian, Callimachus from Parrhasia,
Aristeas, a Chian
Cheirisophus and his men
o obviate this, he left some officers in charge of the ridge—Cephisodorus, son of Cephisophon, an Athenian; Amphicrates, the son of Amphidemus, an Athenian; and Archagoras, an Argive exile
In these districts the Cretans were highly serviceable. They were under the command of Stratocles, a Cretan.
These troops were Armenian and Mardian and Chaldaean mercenaries belonging to Orontas and Artuchas.
Then Lycius, who commanded the cavalry, and Aeschines, who was in command of the division of light infantry attached to Cheirisophus,
The district was named Western Armenia. The lieutenant-governor of it was Tiribazus, the king's friend,
Dracontius, a Spartan (who had been banished from home when a lad, having unintentionally slain another boy with a blow of his dagger Antileon of Thurii high admiral, Anaxibius Dexippus, a Laconian, one of the perioeci vanished, ship and all, out of Pontus. Later on, however, he paid the penalty of his misdeeds. He became involved in some meddling and making in Thrace at the court of Seuthes, and was put to death by the Laconian Nicander.
Cleanetus led his own and another company against a strong position, and was killed himself, with many others of his party.
Agasias the Stymphalian and Philoxenus of Pellene Tolmides the herald a Mysian, called after the name of his nation (Mysus The two eldest generals, Philesius and Sophaenetus
Continuing their march that day and the next, on the third they reached Cerasus, a Hellenic city on the sea, and a colony of Sinope, in the country of the Colchians. Here they halted ten days, and there was a review and numbering of the troops under arms, when there were found to be eight thousand six hundred men. So many had escaped; the rest had perished at the hands of the enemy, or by reason of the snow, or else disease.
or a good while the Hellenes maintained a running fight (1); but at the passage of a gorge the enemy routed them, slaying Smicres himself and those with him to a man. The fate of another company under command of Hegesander, another of the ten, was nearly as bad; only eight men escaped, Hegesander being one of them. The remaining captains eventually met, some with somewhat to show for their pains, others empty-handed.
gasias the Stymphalian, a captain, and Hieronymus, an Eleian, also a captain, f the Arcadian seer, Arexion; Arexion the Parrhasian
suddenly they caught sight of the enemy cresting certain hillocks in front of them, duly marshalled in line—a large body of cavalry and infantry. It was Spithridates and Rhathines, sent by Pharnabazus with their force at their backs. As soon as the enemy caught sight of the Hellenes,
under the command of Pyrrhias the Arcadian,
Phrasias, an Athenian, in command.
Dracontius the Spartan
At this point Pharnabazus, who was afraid that the army might undertake a campaign against his satrapy, sent to Anaxibius, the Spartan high admiral, who chanced to be in Byzantium, and begged him to convey the army out of Asia,
Now Seuthes the Thracian sent Medosades and begged Xenophon to use his influence to get the army across.
Thereupon the soldiers accepted Coeratadas as their general, eon the Asinaean, Phryniscus the Achaean, Philesius the Achaean, Xanthicles the Achaean, Timasion the Dardanian—at the head of the army
One man rejoiced. This was Anaxibius, to whom the break-up of the army was a blessing.
But Anaxibius, while prosecuting his voyage from Byzantium, was met at Cyzicus by Aristarchus, the new governor, who was to succeed Cleander at Byzantium; and report said that a new admiral, Polus, if he had not actually arrived, would presently reach the Hellespont and relieve Anaxibius. Polycrates, the Athenian captain Seuthes stated in explanation that in old days an ancestor of his, named Teres, Maesades was my father; Medocus, the king of the Odrysians here was further present at the elbow of Seuthes, Medosades, who on all occasions acted as his ambassador-in-chief. enophon, "and in spite of it all, at the present moment, here I am myself, and Phryniscus, one of my colleagues, and Polycrates
Here Xenophon was hospitably entertained at the house of Hellas, the wife of Gongylus the Eretrian (5), the mother of Gorgion and Gongylus. From her he learnt that Asidates, a Persian notable, was in the plain. "If you take thirty men and go by night, you will take him prisoner," she said, "wife, children, money, and all; of money he has a store;" and to show them the way to these treasures, she sent her own cousin and Daphnagoras,
a relief party at length arrived, consisting of Itabelius at the head of his force, and a body of Assyrian heavy infantry from Comania, and some Hyrcanian cavalry (6), the latter also being mercenaries of the king. There were eighty of them, and another detachment of light troops, about eight hundred, and more from Parthenium, and more again from Apollonia and the neighbouring places, also cavalry.
Another too joined in the rescue—Procles, from Halisarna and Teuthrania, a descendant of Damaratus.
Ultimately, in spring 399, some five thousand surviving Cyreans, presumably still accompanied by their women, joined a Spa..-tan army assembling in Ionia under the general Thibron