War and Religion in Xenophon’s Anabasis

Abstract

The paper analyzes the relations which undergo between war and religion in Xenophon’s Anabasis. An attempt has been made at a reconstruction of the peculiar ideological context of war on the basis of the speeches contained in the text. It results from this reconstruction that Xenophon takes up the battle between Greeks and Persians after the category of agon in which gods are judges at the athletic contests. The religious sense of Greek soldiers is based on a conviction that nothing can be done without the aid of gods, since they govern everything and support the pious. Cyrus’ hired troops fulfil traditional customs linked with the conducting of war. Detailed considerations lead one to verify R. Lonis’ and K. W. Pritchett’s opinions concerning this problem.