Debating Cyrus

David M. Johnson

ISBN 10: 3119146056 / ISBN 13: 9783119146050

Published by Walter De Gruyter Feb 2026, 2026

About this Item

Neuware -Is Xenophon's Cyrus the Great the model leader he seems to be, or does his apparent success actually demonstrate the dangers of imperialism and one-man rule Debating Cyrus gathers contributions from many of the world's leading scholars in Xenophontic Studies, and features scholars with a wide range of approaches to reading classical texts. Our essays discuss the surprisingly subtle techniques Xenophon employs, and study topics including ambition, the rule of law, hunting, tragedy, romance, and the use Cyrus makes of love and fear. A cluster of essays considers Cyrus' one apparent failure - the failure to ensure his kingdom will prosper after him. Other essays show what we can learn about the Cyropaedia by comparing it to other works by Xenophon and his contemporaries. Our aim is not to resolve the debate about Cyrus, a debate that will live on as long as readers care about Xenophon's magisterial account of the founder of the greatest empire of his day and disagree about what sort of leadership to expect from a leader like Cyrus. Our goal is to prepare readers to engage in the debate themselves. 302 pp. Englisch.

Seller Inventory # 9783119146050

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Debating Cyrus
• Publisher: Walter De Gruyter Feb 2026
• Publication Date: 2026
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 3119146056
• ISBN 13: 9783119146050
• Binding: Buch
• Condition: Neu
• Dimensions: 232W x 160H x 22D millimeters 232 millimeters width by 160 millimeters height by 22 millimeters depth
• Weight: 558 grams

About this title

Synopsis

Is Xenophon’s Cyrus the Great the model leader he seems to be, or does his apparent success actually demonstrate the dangers of imperialism and one-man rule?

Debating Cyrus gathers contributions from many of the world’s leading scholars in Xenophontic Studies, and features scholars with a wide range of approaches to reading classical texts. Our essays discuss the surprisingly subtle techniques Xenophon employs, and study topics including ambition, the rule of law, hunting, tragedy, romance, and the use Cyrus makes of love and fear. A cluster of essays considers Cyrus’ one apparent failure ― the failure to ensure his kingdom will prosper after him. Other essays show what we can learn about the Cyropaedia by comparing it to other works by Xenophon and his contemporaries. 

Our aim is not to resolve the debate about Cyrus, a debate that will live on as long as readers care about Xenophon’s magisterial account of the founder of the greatest empire of his day and disagree about what sort of leadership to expect from a leader like Cyrus. Our goal is to prepare readers to engage in the debate themselves.

About the Author

D. M. Johnson, Southern Illinois Univ., USA; G. Danzig, Bar Ilan Univ., Ramat Gan, Israel; R. Illarraga, Univ. San Sebastián, Chile.