So I’m halfway through this book. The title of course caught your attention and drew you in: Anabasis by Xenophon. And my assumption is that most people won’t bother to read this book so I’m going to be free with spoilers.
Anabasis sounds like fiction, but is historical, and the author is an eyewitness who was involved in the events. After the successful defence of Greece from the Persian Empire (Marathon, 300, Salamis etc), and before Alexander the great, a Persian prince (Cyrus) hires a bunch of Greek hoplites to come and fight for the throne of the Persian Empire. They march across to the area near Babylon. On the day of the battle, the Greeks are on the wing and win a crushing victory. Unfortunately, Cyrus in the middle has a successful attack but gets surrounded and killed. The Greeks now need to make their way home.
The stories are dramatic, with diplomacy, gifts, betrayals, and characters who seem to be set up to be lead characters suddenly being killed. The marches and stopping places connect to Biblical and other historic records. For example, I learned more about Tarsus where the biblical Paul grew up. Xenophon describes Cilicia (of which Tarsus was the local capital) as a beautiful fertile plain surrounded by steep mountains except for the Mediterranean coast. It is therefore a very strategic point to hold as it is defensible.
There were also points where the praise of the character seemed to provide helpful cultural background to biblical stories. Here’s one example: “Or if [Cyrus, who has died trying to become king]saw any skilful and just steward who furnished well the country over which he ruled, and created revenues, so far from robbing him at any time, to him who had, he delighted to give more.” (See Matthew 24:45-47, 25:14-30).
Or to give another example, we see how even polytheists view the gods power and holiness: “The first and weightiest reason is that the oaths, which we took in the sight of heaven, are a barrier to mutual hostility. I envy not the man whose conscience tells him that he has disregarded these! For in a war with heaven, by what swiftness of foot can a man escape?-in what quarter find refuge?- in what darkness slink away and be hid?- to what strong fortress scale and be out of reach? Are not all things subject to the gods? is not their lordship over all alike spread out?” The sentiments are similar to Psalm 33:16-17
No king is saved by the size of his army;
no warrior escapes by his great strength.
17 A horse is a vain hope for deliverance;
despite all its great strength it cannot save.
It would be nice to be able to say that modern writers of fantasy and historical fiction get it wrong when they treat religion as mere flavour rather than deep motivation, so that oaths should be treated as binding. But sadly for the noble Greek Clearchus who speaks so movingly of the gods and so the power of oaths, the man he is speaking to betrays and executes him. Another brutal turn in the story.
No one can read all the books that exist. Though it has its exciting moments, I don’t think I would be putting Anabasis on any recommended reading list. But it is helpful to read some books that are not in the standard reading list (whether long established or the currently fashionable list). If we all read the same books, we may miss some background, some insights, that would help us. So rather than recommending Anabasis to you, perhaps I should ask: what book have you read recently that is not on a “recommended reading list” and what was something helpful or interesting from it?
Jots and Scribbles 
Good article
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