Xenophon And His Hellenica

Xenophon is a very important historian of ancient Greek history, according to western scholars, one of "Three Great Ancient Greek Historians", along with Herodotus and Thucydides. But compared with them, Xenophon seems to lack ability of innovation like Herodotus, and run short of preciseness and principle like Thucydides. Accordingly, his reputation is worse than theirs.The Hellenica is one of Xenophon's important historical writings. It begins with where Thucydides broke off, in 411 B.C., and end with the battle of Mantinea in 362 B.C. The fifth and fourth century B. C. is an epoch in which huge changes took place in Greece, as shows in many aspects of the Greek world, such as society, politics and thought. As a witness, Xenophon records the persons and events of that period with simple narrative methods, yet wide horizon. Features shall be the focus of this thesis. Many historical writings that recorded the Greek history of the fourth century are lost or fragmented, which makes Xenophon's Hellenica the more important for the study of that period. Therefore, its historical value is obviously high.The Hellenica is a historical writing with its heritage of previous works and influence on later works. The works of Herodotus and Thucydides became Xenophon's examples in terms of narrative and storytelling, and the Hellenica undoubtedly shows the influence of their predecessors. Xenophon admires Spartan virtues, and the moral teaching in the Hellenica is gradually recognized by later authors. Another feature of the Hellenica is the divine view, perspective with sacrifices and explaining oracles. Xenophon's Spartan vision is mistaken as Spartan bias, which is why he is criticized. Colorful experience and wide historical horizon make Xenophon a representative of Panhellenism in the fourth century B.C. All these works have an impact on the later historians and their works.Xenophon's Hellenica is a masterpiece that deserves Xenophon the title of "Three Great Greek Historian". His words and sentences are simple and fresh, his contents full and accurate, and his views are bright. But his method, purpose, standpoint and style in writing are different from his predecessors, especially from Thucydides. Hence, he is criticized by modern scholars, and the research for him is in dilemma. In the recent twenty years, numerous editions, commentaries and articles of western scholars of Xenophon's Hellenica have been published and much progress has been made. My paper is based on the original texts and the research of those recent twenty years, in order to reevaluate Xenophon and his Hellenica again.