The Hellenica is Xenophon’s continuation of Thucydides’ history of the Peloponnesian War, literally resuming from where the previous author’s history was abruptly left unfinished and narrating the events of the final seven years of the conflict and the war’s aftermath. Some historians consider the Hellenica to be a personal work, written by Xenophon in retirement on his Spartan estate, and intended primarily for circulation among his friends, who would have known the main protagonists and events, having most likely participated in them.
Xenophon’s account starts in 411 BC, the year where Thucydides breaks off, and ends in 362 BC, the year of the Battle of Mantineia. The work is of vital importance as a primary historical source and is celebrated for its clarity of style, as found in most of Xenophon’s extant works. Listeners are advised to familiarize themselves with the events of the Peloponnesian War before beginning this work, especially the work of Thucydides.
This production uses the English translation of Carleton L. Brownson.
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