Hellenica

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

Overview

The work deals with the history of Greece 411-362 BC in seven books. Apparently Xenophon understood as carrying on of Thucydides, because the Hellenika directly connect to its historical work, which abruptly broke off. By linking to a previous work of Xenophon was among the founders of an ancient historiographical tradition ( historia perpetua ), a continuous time history; this tradition was kept alive until late antiquity. Final point of Xenophon's view is the battle of Mantinea, was in the hegemony of Sparta broken and replaced by Thebes.

Xenophon wrote primarily contemporary history and therefore could rely on information first hand. He looked at not only the history of the Greek mainland, but also events, for example, in Persia. He referenced the text of the so-called King's Peace and otherwise provides important information. Nevertheless, he does not reach high Thucydides, often his descriptions rather scarce. While Xenophon first strongly oriented to Thucydides, can be used in later parts of the plant, which have also written later find several inaccuracies. Events are not shown here in strict chronological order, as the plot increasingly grouped by individual personalities. The work is also written quite biased in favor of Sparta, although he sometimes quite criticizes its policies.

One should Xenophon but not measured primarily on the work of Thucydides, although he continued his presentation. For Xenophon wanted to describe especially the history of his time, so that the work places has memoirs character. He apparently also ran no intensive " research source ." In military matters Xenophon, however, was well informed and here his performance is particularly valuable. Likewise, he could vividly describe events and offers some insightful character sketches of the characters ( as Alcibiades ). In general Xenophon is more anxious to demonstrate the detection of human greatness based on selected examples than to analyze in more detail about the historical causes. Xenophon as a pupil of Socrates wanted to convey in his historical work, a morality, which he allocated to the Divine an important role. Despite some justified criticism it must be noted that the Hellenica are a very important source for the period dealt with there.

Expenditure

• Hellenika. Greek - German. 2nd edition. Edited and translated by Gisela Strasburger. Munich 1988, ISBN 3-7608-1639-8.