Xenophon's March: Into The Lair Of The Persian Lion [Hardcover]

John Prevas (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 8, 2002

The year is 403 B.C. The Athenian philosopher Xenophon finds himself with an army of Greeks marching to what is now Turkey. Their mission: to aid the Persian pretender Cyrus in a war against his brother Artaxerxes. At a great battle, Cyrus is killed and his army destroyed—except for the Greeks holding his right flank. Xenophon and the Greeks are now stranded in the heart of the Persian Empire, outnumbered a hundred to one. The story of Xenophon's march to escape the Persian noose is an intensely personal and human tale, replete with clashes of arms and desperate hardships. It is also the tale of two civilizations at mortal odds with each other. With their turbulent mix of anarchy and democracy, Xenophon's men resembled a mobile Greek city, cutting both a military and a cultural slash through the Persian Empire. Though Xenophon's journey would end badly, his experience in the East would prove invaluable for those who followed, for sixty years later, the Greeks would return to Persia under Alexander. John Prevas brings this epoch-shaping story to life with a compelling narrative vivified by his personal retracing of much of the route trod by Xenophon and his men in one of history's great adventures.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

John Prevas, writer and adventurer, holds degrees in history, political science, psychology, and forensics and has taught the classics for the last fifteen years. He is the author of Hannibal Crosses the Alps and Xenophon's March. He lives in Florida.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: Da Capo Press (January 8, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0306811170
• ISBN-13: 978-0306811173
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,376,592 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable Read, March 2, 2003

By 

Fred M. Blum - See all my reviews

This review is from: Xenophon's March: Into The Lair Of The Persian Lion (Hardcover)

Xenophon's March: Into the Lair of the Persian Lion by John Prevas was a very enjoyable read about a splendid corner of history. At the end of the fifth century B.C. an army of fourteen thousand Greek mercenaries joined an army of a usurper to the Persian Throne. When the usurper was killed and his army almost destroyed, the Greeks were trapped more than a thousand miles from their homeland and outnumbered almost a hundred to one. To make matters worse, their leader, and most of their captains, had been murdered and they were without significant cavalry.

If any were able to return to Greece that would have been remarkable. The fact that more than half returned is beyond description. However, the way in which it occurred is even more amazing. The Army that marched through the heart of Persia was not one led by a strong, experienced leader who had a firm control of a Army. The Greeks were led by an inexperienced commander, and the major decisions were made by the army as a whole, and only after a thorough public discourse. After the decisions were made, the soldiers would take issue with the leaders and punish those leaders, who in the view of the soldiers, had not acted properly. One can hardly imagine the American Army voting on tactics or the future of its leasers.

The book is a very cursory overview of the "March of the Ten Thousand." At times Prevas seems to move between a travel log and a history. With these limitations, the book is well worth reading. It is well written, and tells a remarkable story. However, if one wants a more thorough history I would suggest Xenophon own writings.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Fine Piece of Work, August 9, 2002

By 

E. Dolnack (Atlanta, GA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Xenophon's March: Into The Lair Of The Persian Lion (Hardcover)

Back in the day, one had to learn Latin and or Greek to be considered an "educated man" and Xenophon's "Anabasis" was one of the 'industry-standard' books of the Greek curriculum. Most, if not all, higher educated men had to read this classic work and probably knew it by heart - making the story common knowledge.

Well times have changed, and with it Xenophon's work has entered the realm of obscurity for most people today, even those with college educations.

Xenophon's story thus, not only should, but actually demands a new introduction for modern audiences who are completely unaware of it. This overview by John Prevas is that work! Not only does the author give a fabulous birds-eye summary to the situation of this extraordinary tale, but he does so in an easy-to-read and entertaining fashion which modern readers have come to expect and demand.

I recommend this work to fellow amateur history buffs everywhere. After you read this work, then you should go on and read the Penguin Classics translation by Xenophon himself, (which thankfully has survived to this day).

If you don't know of this fascinating story from the Ancient world, then read this book - there's one heck of a killer adventure story waiting for you my friend!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The "Ten Thousand", August 18, 2003

By 

Frank J. Konopka (Shamokin, PA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Xenophon's March: Into The Lair Of The Persian Lion (Hardcover)

I must confess that my knowledge of classical Greek history is rather weak, so I was very pleased to purchase this book. The author takes Xenophon's "Anabasis" and tells the interested reader about the famed "March of the Ten Thousand" through the Persian Empire and the Anatolian area. It's quite an interesting work, and although at times the author puts out facts that don't really appear to be accurate, he is merely letting us know what Xenophon wrote those many centuries ago. As with all ancient Greek histories, there are extended speeches that were probably never made, but the author does explain that in his afterward, to my satisfaction. Brush up on your Greek history, and read this work.