About
Cyropaedia (The Education of Cyrus) remains one of the most influential works of classical Greek literature, combining history, philosophy, political theory and biography into a compelling account of the life and rule of Cyrus the Great (c 600-530 BCE), founder of the Persian Empire. Semi-fictional in character, it was written in the early fourth century BCE. The work is not simply an historical narrative but a reflection on the nature of leadership, education, governance, and the qualities required to establish and maintain a successful state. Xenophon, an Athenian soldier, historian and student of Socrates, uses Cyrus as an idealized model through which he explores the relationship between personal virtue and political authority. One of the earliest Greek biographies, Xenophon places idealism above precise historical accuracy in his search for a useful story/portrait. It is interesting to note that Julius Caesar, Machiavelli and Thomas Jefferson are among leading figures in history who regarded Xenophon's Cyropaedia as a blueprint for statecraft and leadership.