Xenophon and Epaminondas
1975; Duke University; Volume: 16; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Inglês
ISSN
0017-3916
Autores Tópico(s)Organic Chemistry Synthesis Methods
ResumoT PRESENTATION ofEpaminondas by Xenophon is very remarkable, even in a work so unmethodically and capriciously written as the Hellenica. Epaminondas is mentioned for the first time as leader of a Theban expedition to Achaea in 366 B.c. (7.1.41)1 when his achievements already included his celebrated defiance of Agesilaus at the Peace Congress of 371, his defeat of the Spartans at Leuctra, and his first two invasions of the Peloponnese, which resulted in the devastation of Laconia, the liberation of Messenia and the foundation of Messene and Megalopolis. 2 The suppression of his name up to that point has rightly been attributed to the notorious antipathy of Xenophon towards the The bans, which causes him to deny to their principal leader the credit due for all these achievements.3 It is, therefore, astonishing to find that when Xenophon deals with the fourth The ban invasion of the Peloponnese culminating in the battle of Mantinea (7.5.4-27), Epaminondas dominates the narrative: the course of events is recorded almost exclusively from his point of view; his plans and motives are carefully analysed; he is credited with having shown foresight and boldness throughout the campaign; some of his actions are explicitly praised. It is tempting to interpret the presentation of Epaminondas in the last pages of the Hellenica as a palinode; to conclude that Xenophon, conscious of having done him less than justice hitherto, now wishes to
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