XENOPHON

, a celebrated Greek general, philosopher, and historian, was born at Athens, and became early a disciple of Socrates, who, says Strabo, saved his life in battle. About the 50th year of his age he engaged in the expedition of Cyrus, and accomplished his immortal retreat in the space of 15 months. The jealousy of the Athenians banished him from his native city, for engaging in the service of Sparta and Cyrus. On his return therefore he retired to Scillus, a town of Elis, where he built a temple to Diana, which he mentions in his epistles, and devoted his leisure to philosophy and rural sports. But commotions arising in that country, he removed to Corinth, where it seems he wrote his Grecian History, and died at the age of 90, in the year 360 before Christ.

By his wife Philesia he had two sons, Diodorus and Gryllus. The latter rendered himself immortal by killing Epaminondas in the famous battle of Mantinea, but perished in that exploit, which his father lived to record.

The best editions of his works are those of Franckfort in 1674, and of Oxford, in Greek and Latin, in 1703, 5 vols. 8vo. Separately have been pubhshed his Cyropœdia, Oxon. 1727, 4to, and 1736, 8vo. Cyri Anabasis, Oxon. 1735, 4to, and 1747, 8vo. Memorabilia Socratis, Oxon. 1741, 8vo.—His Cyropœdia has been admirably translated into English by Spelman.