Xenophon Ephesius was born in Roman Cyrene, Libya, in the 3rd century BCE. He is best known as Xenophon of Ephesus, the author of the famous book of that name. After his father, Callias, died when he was still very young, Xenophon's mother, Pharetra, married Apollodorus of Cyrene. When Xenophon was thirteen years old, Apollodorus died. Xenophon was sent to Athens as a slave to be trained as a soldier
In his teens he enlisted as a volunteer in the army of Cyrus the Younger and fought for Cyrus against King Artaxerxes II. The following year he fought for another Persian prince at Cunaxa and later served as secretary to Agesilaus II, king of Sparta. In this year he also married a girl named Lais and fathered a daughter named Telesippa. In 401 BCE he fought against Pausanias at Oenophyta and was again besieged by Pausanias at Mallos.
That same year he invaded Thessaly with Agesilaus and his Theban army and defeated the Thebans at Coronea. In 402 the Spartans invited him to become their commander-in-chief during their war against Thebes but he declined on account of poor health. He never again commanded an army in battle, though he participated in many military actions as a general or otherwise.
During his term as general overseer of Sparta's war effort there were four great battles: Eurymedon River (395 BCE), Lyrnessus(394 BCE), Mantinea(394 BCE), and Leuctra(371 BCE). He also kept track of Spartan military matters while serving as superintendent of public works but no longer as general overseer after 371 BCE. He died in 370 BCE during a plague outbreak and was buried in Sparta with honors reserved for those who had died "in battle." Xenophon's writings include: 1) Memorabilia (c.
400 BCE), which covers various aspects of his life; 2) On Horsemanship (c. 350 BCE); 3) The Cavalry General (c. 350 BCE); 4) Anabasis (c.
350-340 BCE), an account of letters written by himself and other Greek soldiers from 401-380 BCE; 5) Hellenica (c. 340-311 BCE); 6) On Behalf of the
One enjoys the good things more to the extent that one goes to them after having labored in advance, for labors are a sauce for good thingsXenphon Ephesius
For that men have been good does not suffice for them to continue being good, unless one cares about it to the end.Xenphon Ephesius
