The Education of Cyrus

by Xenophon, Wayne Ambler (Translator)

Overview

"The Education of Cyrus is a major work of classical political philosophy that provides a portrait of extraordinary political ambition.... Ambler's precise translation makes it possible to engage in a close textual reading that establishes Xenophon as an important political thinker."―Translation Review

Xenophon's masterpiece, The Education of Cyrus, is a work that was admired by Machiavelli for its lessons on leadership. Also known as the Cyropaedia, this philosophical novel is loosely based on the accomplishments of Cyrus the Great, founder of the vast Persian Empire that later became the archrival of the Greeks in the classical age. It offers an extraordinary portrait of political ambition, talent, and their ultimate limits. The writings of Xenophon are increasingly recognized as important works of political philosophy.

In The Education of Cyrus, Xenophon confronts the vexing problem of political instability by exploring the character and behavior of the ruler. Impressive though his successes are, however, Cyrus is also examined in the larger human context, in which love, honor, greed, revenge, folly, piety, and the search for wisdom all have important parts to play. Wayne Ambler's translation captures the charm and drama of the work while also achieving great accuracy. His introduction, annotations, and glossary help the reader to appreciate both the engaging story itself and the volume's contributions to philosophy.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780801487507
Publisher:	Cornell University Press
Publication date:	07/12/2001
Series:	Agora Editions
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	320
Sales rank:	714,408
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.90(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Wayne Ambler is Associate Professor and Director of the Herbst Program of Humanities at the University of Colorado at Boulder.

What People are Saying About This

Robert Faulkner

I'm delighted, even profoundly moved, by Wayne Ambler's new translation of The Education of Cyrus. For the first time this entrancing book will be available in trustworthy English; we get fresh and reliable access to Xenophon's timeless portrait, perhaps the best ever, of extraordinary political ambition.

David O'Connor

Xenophon's The Education of Cyrus is a political masterpiece on the order of Machiavelli's The Prince. Xenophon makes Cyrus, his exemplary king, a worthy rival to Socrates, his ideal philosopher. This precise new translation is most welcome.

Robert Bartlett

At long last, Xenophon's masterpiece is available in an absolutely reliable translation that conveys even the charms of the original: clarity and grace, profundity and levity. An exemplary rendering of a marvelous book.

David O'Connor David O'Connor

Xenophon's The Education of Cyrus is a political masterpiece on the order of Machiavelli's The Prince. Xenophon makes Cyrus, his exemplary king, a worthy rival to Socrates, his ideal philosopher. This precise new translation is most welcome.

Christopher Nadon

At a time of renewed interest in Xenophon, and The Education of Cyrus in particular, Wayne Ambler has produced the most accurate and useful English translation to date. Only with this definitive translation can students profitably engage in the kind of close textual reading necessary to make sense of Xenophon as an important political thinker.

Editorial Reviews

The Education of Cyrus is a major work of classical political philosophy that provides a portrait of extraordinary political ambition.... Ambler's precise translation makes it possible to engage in a close textual reading that establishes Xenophon as an important political thinker.

Translation Review

The Education of Cyrus is a major work of classical political philosophy that provides a portrait of extraordinary political ambition.... Ambler's precise translation makes it possible to engage in a close textual reading that establishes Xenophon as an important political thinker.

-- "Translation Review"

There are many reasons to welcome this fresh, precise, and graceful English rendering of the Cyropaedia, the first since 1914. It is, of course, a central text for the study of Greek military technique in the age of professional warfare that leads up to Alexander. But it is much, much more.... Ambler's superb translation, accompanied by a glossary that matches key terms in the Greek with their semantic fields in English, and excellent notes, is an unfailing guide to the nuances of the Greek text and is bound to become the standard English reference edition.

-- "Journal of Military History"

Wayne Ambler's elegant translation deserves to become the standard English version of this work.

-- "The Weekly Standard"

From the Publisher

There are many reasons to welcome this fresh, precise, and graceful English rendering of the Cyropaedia, the first since 1914. It is, of course, a central text for the study of Greek military technique in the age of professional warfare that leads up to Alexander. But it is much, much more.... Ambler's superb translation, accompanied by a glossary that matches key terms in the Greek with their semantic fields in English, and excellent notes, is an unfailing guide to the nuances of the Greek text and is bound to become the standard English reference edition.

Journal of Military History

Wayne Ambler's elegant translation deserves to become the standard English version of this work.

The Weekly Standard