Hellenika (Xenophon)

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Helleniká ( Greek  Ἑλληνικά "Greek history") is the title of a historical work written by the ancient Greek author Xenophon .

The work deals with the history of Greece from 411 to 362 BC. In seven books. Obviously Xenophon saw himself as a continuation of Thucydides , because the Helleniká follow directly on to his historical work, which breaks off abruptly in the eighth book. Following on from a previous work, Xenophon was one of the founders of an ancient historiographical tradition (historia perpetua) , a continuous contemporary history; this tradition remained alive until late antiquity . The final point of Xenophon's presentation is the battle of Mantineia , in which the hegemonic position of Thebes , the 371 BC. When Sparta's hegemony in Greece had ended, it was broken in turn.

Xenophon primarily wrote contemporary history and was therefore able to rely on first-hand information. He not only looked at the history of the Greek motherland, but also events, for example in Persia . He reports the text of the so-called King's Peace and also offers other important information. Nevertheless, he does not come close to Thucydides in terms of quality, and his descriptions are often rather short. While Xenophon was initially strongly based on Thucydides, several inaccuracies can be found in later parts of the work, which were also written later. Events are no longer presented in strict chronological order, and the action is increasingly grouped around individual personalities. The work is also quite tendentiously written in favor of Sparta, although he sometimes criticizes its politics.

Xenophon, however, should not be measured primarily against the work of Thucydides, although he continued its presentation. Because Xenophon wanted above all to describe the history of his time, so that the work sometimes has the character of a memoir. Apparently he did not do any intensive "source research" either. However, Xenophon not only relied on his own memories or statements of others, but apparently also used written sources, especially since he was often not present at the events described. Xenophon was well instructed in military matters from his own experience and his portrayal is particularly valuable here. He was also able to describe events vividly and offers partly revealing character sketches of the people involved (such as Alcibiades ). In general, Xenophon endeavors to prove human size using selected examples than to analyze the historical causes more precisely. Xenophon, as a pupil of Socrates, also wanted to convey morality in his work of history, in which he assigned the divine an important role. Despite some justified criticism, it can be said that the Helleniká are a very important source for the period dealt with there.

The editio princeps was published by Aldus Manutius in Venice in 1503.

expenditure

  • Xenophon. Hellenika. Greek-German. Edited and translated by Gisela Strasburger. 4th edition. Artemis & Winkler, Düsseldorf 2005; Akademie Verlag, Berlin 2011, ISBN 978-3-05-005408-7 .

literature

Web links

Wikisource: Hellenica (Xenophon)  - Sources and full texts (English)

Remarks

  1. ^ Contents overview, for example, in Hans Rudolf Breitenbach: Xenophon von Athen II A 2 (Hellenika). In: Paulys Realencyclopadie der classischen Antiquity Science (RE). Volume IX A, 2, Stuttgart 1967, Sp. 1656-1670.
  2. ↑ This aspect should not be overemphasized either, cf. John Dillery: Xenophon and the History of his Times. London / New York 1995, pp. 9-11.
  3. ↑ Xenophon, Hellenika , 5,1,31.
  4. ↑ See John Dillery: Xenophon and the History of his Times. London / New York 1995, pp. 12-15.
  5. ↑ See on his working method Hans Rudolf Breitenbach: Xenophon von Athen II A 2 (Hellenika). In: Paulys Realencyclopadie der classischen Antiquity Science (RE). Volume IX A, 2, Stuttgart 1967, Sp. 1696-1701.
  6. ↑ See generally John Dillery ( Xenophon and the History of his Times. London / New York 1995), who endeavors to give a balanced assessment of the work.
  7. ↑ On the source question see for example Hans Rudolf Breitenbach: Xenophon von Athen II A 2 (Hellenika). In: Paulys Realencyclopadie der classischen Antiquity Science (RE). Volume IX A, 2, Stuttgart 1967, Sp. 1673-1676.
  8. ↑ John Dillery: Xenophon and the History of his Times. London / New York 1995, p. 179ff.