Xenophon, Cyropaedia [The Education of Cyrus]

N Parnian (Macquarie University)

Ed. by Martine Diepenbroek, University of Johannesburg
The Literary Encyclopedia. Volume 1.1.1: Greek Writing and Culture: Archaic, Classical, Hellenistic and Imperial, -800--100.
Vol. editors: Eleni Bozia (University of Florida), Jonathan Burgess (University of Toronto), Anca Dan (École Practique de Hautes Études PSL), Martine Diepenbroek (University of Johannesburg), Giacomo Fedeli (University of Exeter), Victoria Fendel (University of Oxford), Emily Kneebone (University of Nottingham), Vaios Liapis (Open University of Cyprus), Elodie Paillard (University of Sydney), Mali Skotheim (Ashoka University), Laura Swift (The Open University), Guendalina Daniela Maria Taietti (University of Liverpool)

Dates

First circulation or publication c. -380

Places

Ancient Greece (Country of Origin)

Genres and Modes

Non-Fiction
- Biography (literary)
Novel

Resources

Introduction

Xenophon Cyropaedia (The Education of Cyrus) is one of the most influential works of classical Greek prose and a key text in shaping classical ideas about leadership, governance, and moral education. Written in the early fourth century BCE, it takes the form of a partly historical, partly fictionalized account of the life and reign of Cyrus the Great, the founder of the Persian Empire (c. 600–530 BCE). Xenophon presents Cyrus as an ideal ruler—a model of a just monarch, intelligence, charisma, moderation, and political skill—whose leadership serves as a paradigm for the exercise of monarchy. Through its blend of narrative, didactic reflection, and political philosophy, the Cyropaedia laid the foundations for the medieval and early modern mirrors for princes (specula principum), a genre designed to educate rulers in virtuous and effective government.

Xenophon’s writings...

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3842 words

Citation: Parnian, N. "Cyropaedia". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 04 November 2025 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=5782, accessed 09 June 2026.]

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