Xenophon Flashcards
What sources of Xenophon are prescribed?
‘Hellenica’ and ‘Constitution of the Spartans’
What works discovery caused a re-appraisal of Xenophon’s credibility?
The Oxyrhynchus historian.
What event of 407BC, does Xenophon write of, involving the Persians?
The return of a Spartan embassy from the court of King Darius II, to announce that the king had decided to act in the Spartans interests (Hellenica 1.4.1-3). He continues, mentioning that an Athenian embassy seeking to negotiate with Persia was detained by Pharnabazus under the orders of Prince Cyrus (1.4.4-7).
What does Xenophon write of the meeting between Lysander and Cyrus?
That the pay was immediately increased for the ships’ crews in an attempt to entice rowers away from the Athenian fleet (Hellenica 1.5.1-7). ‘Cyrus drank his health and asked him by what act he could gratify him most, Lysander replied: “By adding an obol to the pay of each sailor.” ‘
What does Xenophon write of Callicratidas and Cyrus?
That Callicratidas was not well received by the Persian Prince. That Cyrus immediately delayed the pay of the sailors by two days and that this infuriated Callicratidas who vowed to attempt to reconcile the Athenians and Lacedaemonians if he reached home safely (Hellenica 1.6.6-11).
What does Xenophon write of happening in the spring of 405BC?
A conference between the Asiatic Greeks was held at Ephesus, where they, and Cyrus, demanded that Lysander be re-established as naval commander. The Spartans made him him vice-admiral to another, but made it clear the decision making was to rest with him (Hellenica 2.1.6-7).
What does Xenophon write of happening to Cyrus around 405BC?
He writes that he had been recalled by Darius II for the murder of the sons of Darius’ sister. That he sent as much tribute to Lysander as he could before he departed (2.1.8-14).
What does Xenophon write of the battle of Aegospotami?
After four days of posturing, Lysander attacked the Athenian fleet positioned at Aegospotami. This fleet was complacent and mostly beached, with crews absent gathering supplies. One hundred and seventy ships were taken and the Athenian sailors were executed (Hellenica 2.1.20-32).
Why does Xenophon have particular validity when it comes to talking of the Spartan constitution and system?
Xenophon, although Athenian born, fought as a mercenary in a Spartan army. He fought against Athens in 394BC with the Spartan king, Agesilaus. The Spartans gave him land near Olympia and some sources suggest that his sons went through the Spartan agoge.
What does Xenophon write of how young Spartan men were expected to behave?
They were, when out on the streets, to keep their hands firmly under their cloaks, to walk in silence, not to look around them but to keep their eyes firmly fixed to the ground. (Constitution of the Spartans (3.4))
What does Xenophon write of who could punish the Spartan boys?
He writes that when the warden (paidonomos) was away, any citzen had the authority to punish them for any misconduct (CotS 2.10)
What system does Xenophon write of that encouraged the boys to maintain their fitness and encourage them to compete with each other?
He writes that the ephors selected three outstanding members of the current training pool to be commanders of the guard (Hippagretai). Each of these three would enrol a hundred others, stating their reasons for selecting one and rejecting another. That those who fail to be selected would now becomes the enemies of those who sent them away (the Hippagretai) and those who were selected. That now they would keep an eye on each other to see if any of them offended the code of honour (CotS 4.3-4).
What would the paidonomos do, according to Xenophon, to those that refuse to stop fighting?
Xenophon writes that the boys would break out in fights whenever they met (Hippagretai system) and that anyone present had the right to seperate them. If they refused to stop, the paidonomos would march them in front of the ephors, who would impose a heavy fine in order to make it clear that one must never allow a fit of hot temper to override the duty of obediance to the laws (CotS 4.6).
What does xenophon state that the agoge instilled in the Spartan boys?
‘Another admirable feature of Lykourgan policy was to create a culture in the state where a noble death was seen as preferable by far to a disgraceful life.’ (CotS 9.1)
What other values does Xenophon claim Lycurgus wanted to instil in the Spartans?
Xenophon writes that Lykourgan policy meant that all Spartans were equal, had the same land allotment, turned their backs on luxury and extravagance, and always tried to develop virtue in all areas (CotS Chapter 10)
What does Xenophon write as the chief areas of virtue for Spartans?
Obedience to authority (political, military, and social), respect, and self-restraint (CotS 2.14).
What does Xenophon write of the work of Spartans?
That Lycurgus forbid them to have anything to do with business affairs. (CotS 7)
What did the Spartiates have to continue, according to Xenophon?
Their physical and military training (5.8)
What does Xenophon write Lycurgus of doing in order to curb wealth and greed in Sparta?
- Spartans were banned from the pursuit of wealth,
- Making money was not necessary as provisions were all contributed on an equal basis,
- Someone who helped his fellows by physical labour was more well-thought of than one who spent money,
- the currency Lycurgus introduced was very bulky, needing a wagon to move a very small amount,
- Searches were conducted for gold and silver, anyone found with any were fined.
What is the only direct reference made to the Perioikoi by Xenophon?
‘…specified tracts of high quality land in many of the territories of the perioikoi shall belong to him, sufficient to sustain the royal household adequately but without excessive wealth.’ What is said of the perioikoi in the ancient sources is limited; what we know of them is based on assumptions.
What mention other possible mention of perioikoi does Xenophon make?
Xenophon refers to some kaloi kagathoi (a term typically used by Greek authors to refer to the leisured upper-class in Greek society) from amongst the perioikoi volunteering to join an expedition in 381BC.
What do we learn from Xenophon regarding the roles of women in Spartan society?
- They did not work wool,
- They exercised,
- They competed with each other,
What do learn from Xenophon of Spartan marriage?
- A man should not be seen entering or leaving his wife’s room,
- A man could not marry when he wanted, ‘he [lycurgus] withdrew from men the right to take a wife whenever they chose…’,
- An elderly husband of a young wife was required to allow a younger man to have sex with his wife for the purpose of producing children,
- An unmarried man could ask another man’s permission to have sex with his wife to father children,
- The women would take control of both men’s households.
What contradiction does there seem to be in Xenophon’s account of Spartan marriage?
He maintains that Lycurgus obliged men to marry at a certain age, but that men who did not wish to marry could have sex with another man’s wife.
What duty does Xenophon assign as the Gerousia’s?
He maintains that they were judges (CotS 10.2)
What event does Xenophon record regarding the ephors?
Records an occasion in 405BC when the ephors prevented Athenian envoys from entering Sparta (Hellenica, 2.2.13)
What does Xenophon write of the mora?
First mentions this Spartan military re-organisation (Hellenica 2.4.31) for 403BC,
- Six regiments (morai) of cavalry and infantry,
- Each infantry regiment of hoplites had a polemarchus (war leader), four lochagoi (unit commanders), eight pentekonterai (commander of fifty men), and sixteen enomotarchai (section leaders),
- All these units would form up into sections, two, three, or six abreast,
What does Xenophon number the Spartan hoplite army at the Battle of Leuktra?
Xenophon adds that each enomotia consisted of thirty-six men (Hellenica, 6.4.12).
So, 16 (enomotia) * 36 = 576 men in each mora,
6 (morai) * 576 = 3,456 total hoplites.
As this is greater than the number in 418/417, it must have now included perioikoi. In addition each mora had 100 cavalry attached to it.
