UPDATE: A New Year and new priorities

So it's 2024. When did that happen? I hope the year has treated you all well. And the New Year has sparked me to rethink this project.

In short, I'm done.

Not with the reading list but with this blog. I love the reading but the writing has become a huge drag for me and I don't have so much time now that we have a wee son. So thank you for coming along for this part of the journey. I have two more posts written that will both post this month  (Today and Monday the 8th) then that is it. 

I wish you all well in your own self-education.

How to prepare Cavalry; On the Cavalry Commander, Xenophon

Why you might read On the Cavalry Commander?

This piece shows us how Athens structured her standing army. It allows us to see their preparations for war. It rounds out our view of cavalry in Athens. In my education project, this fills in gaps in my understanding of ancient warfare.

Synopsis of On the Cavalry Commander

This short treatise gives us a look into what went into training, maintaining and commanding Athenian cavalry. 

It starts with how to recruit cavalry, and raise the funds necessary. It continues with how to train the cavalry. Both as a unit and what you should instruct them to do on their own.

It sidetracks into how cavalry should be displayed during processions and feasts. The suggestions given would make the Cavalry look as good as possible. 

Finally, it finishes with how to March and command a force at war. It covers both with and without infantry support.

Reflections on On the Cavalry Commander

Xenophon gives his ideas on how the cavalry should be trained and maintained. This holds quite a bit of weight as he commanded the army in the retreat from Persia. And while it holds a lot of insight into how the army,  was run, we must hold it as one man's opinion, however, qualified he may be. We do not know if he ever had a chance to implement this regime and how successful it was in use.

His coverage of displaying the horsemanship of the men at festivals is a little hard for me to imagine. But I'm willing to trust Xenophon that it would be impressive. It is interesting that these displays are part of the festivals. I guess it is as good of a time as any to show the populace the prowess of the armed forces.

What others have to say about On the Cavalry Commander

"Xenophon is not shy about repeatedly mentioning the service the commander owes to the gods" From Ashoakkara

Comparisons with other texts

The easy comparison to make is between On the Cavalry Commander and On Horsemanship. The big difference is that On Horsemanship focuses on the individual.  By contrast On the Cavalry Commander is focused on the formation of horsemen. 

An interesting comparison is between the use of the Cavalry in Athens and the supposed use of horses in, the much earlier, Illiad. In the Illiad, chariots are used only to get to the battle. By contrast, the Cavalry of Xenophon are expected to fight, scout and generally be part of the order of battle.

Conclusion

This text completes Xenophon's discussion of the horse and its use in war. It covers recruiting men, training men and leading them in battle. It also sidetracks to give detail on how to display the cavalry in the festivals.

Have you read On the Cavalry Commander? If so what did you think of it? 

 

Want to read On the Cavalry Commander but haven't? Please leave me a comment and let me know why you want to read it.

Hopefully, this post inspires you to take the time to look into it on your own journey of Self Education.

Get a copy of On the Cavalry Commander. 

The running of Sparta; The Constitution of the Lacedemonians, Xenophon

Why you might read The Constitution of the Lacedaemonians?

The Constitution of the Lacedaemonians gives a non-Spartan view of the city-state of Sparta. It is written by an Athenian and gives many ways in which the Spartans differ from their neighbours. In self-education project, it gives context to all other texts that deal with what Sparta did.

Synopsis of The Constitution of the  Lacedaemonians

Xenophon covers the training of boys and young men first. He covers both how they are trained and fed. It is a vigorous and comprehensive system that trains and teaches. The system places them with their peers rather than in their households. 

He explains how cooking and eating were moved to the public sphere. As well as how the mixing of ages helped temper young men. As well as the need to walk home in the dark deterring the overconsumption of wine.

He finishes by commenting that the Spartans seem to have eased up on these laws and regulations. It seems to him that they are becoming more like the rest of the Greeks. He points to this as why they have fallen away from being the preeminent state.

Reflections on The Constitution of the  Lacedaemonians

This is a fascinating insight into the setup of Sparta. Xenophon attributes it all to one man. The insight he must have had if it was truly all his doing. I wonder though if it would have stuck for even as long as it did if it had not been instituted by a Spartan patriarch.

The training of the boys I definitely more brutal than if they had been left to their fathers to teach. But I think the biggest thing that comes from it is the sense of unity. This unity will serve them well on the battlefield as well as in public life.

I do think Xenophon has a utopian view of the spartan regime. But this is likely to happen when you see the results it granted Sparta.

What others have to say about The Constitution of the Lacedaemonians

"...is the most comprehensive extant account of Spartan institutions. As an oligarchically-inclined exile from Athens, who had fought alongside Spartan generals in the Persian Expedition, and later against Athens at the battle of Coronea, Xenophon was a well-placed and highly sympathetic observer of Spartan customs." From Tom Griffin

Comparisons with other texts

The Constitution of the Athenians is a critique. It gives little to no detail about the constitution itself. By contrast, the constitution of the Lacedaemonians focuses entirely on the running of Sparta. As well as how it differed from the rest of Greece. They provide very different insights. Ready the most they have in common are their names.

The History of the Peloponnesian War details how Sparta wages war with Athens. It gives us insight into the political life and warrior life of Sparta. By contrast, The Constitution of the Lacedaemonians gives us insight into life within their own borders. It is hard to tell whether the war is before or after the decline that Xenophon notes. But possibly it is what he is alluding to when he says other powers have vied for control. 

Conclusion

The Constitution of the Lacedaemonians covers the training of young men. It covers the instruction for public life. It finished off with the structuring of the army and the place of the king. It lets us see what built the power of Sparta and how different it ready was from the rest of Greece. Though they fell away from it and it lead to their demise.

Have you read The Constitution of the Lacedaemonians? If so what did you think of it? 

 

Want to read The Constitution of the Lacedaemonians but haven't? Please leave me a comment and let me know why you want to read it.

Hopefully, this post inspires you to take the time to look into it on your own journey of Self Education.

Get a copy of The Constitution of the Lacedaemonians. 

A Critique of Democracy; The Constitution of the Athenians, Xenophon

 Why you might read The Constitution of the Athenians?

In a lot of works, we see the Athenian Constitution in action. It is a nice change of pace to actually discuss whether it works or is the best option. It is also the first critique that is not a satire we have seen. It makes a good balance to the prodemocracy parts of my reading project.

Synopsis of The Constitution of the Athenians

Giving the plebs a voice is a bad idea. It gives rise to the wealthy only looking after themselves and the plebs being less well off. He gives Oligarchy as an alternative. Saying that the wealthy are better educated and able to do what is best rather than popular. Xenophon spends a little time at the end giving issues with the courts. Especially how they could never get through everything. He does not propose a solution but rather leaves that to the reader.

Reflections on The Constitution of the Athenians

Like I said in the intro it is nice to see a critique of democracy as the Greeks practised it. Today we are so in love with democracy that we see all other forms as inferior. This piece reminds us that there are other options. And that they have their own positives and negatives.

This could have been done with a more in-depth discussion. At its current depth, it is unlikely to convince anyone who is not already persuaded. Persuaded that democracy is not the best option. 

I'm unsure what the author is hoping to achieve in this piece. Maybe it's a piece of pro-oligarchy propaganda. 

What others have to say about The Constitution of the Athenians

"This work represents both a philological and a historiographical problem, because, even if it was transmitted in the corpus of Xenophon’s work, it is considered to have been written by another author, known as Speudo-Xenophon or “Old Oligarch”" From Archai

"The pamphlet aims to show that the demos (common people) at Athens run affairs in their own interests, and it takes the curious form of a salute from an anti‐democratic viewpoint." From Oxford Reference 

Comparisons with other texts

In Agesilaus we see Xenophon praising a competent King. This seems in keeping with what we see here with Xenophon taking a stand against Democracy. Both are short Pithy texts with little fluff. That being said Agesilaus has a bit more depth of argument. As well as a bit more evidence for its claims.

The Acharnians is not directly about the democracy of Athens. It does however deal with Athens during the war. Here we see the courts in action, or inaction as the case may be. We see through this how ineffective the collective process can be in its need to consult all. This is exactly one of Xenophon's points about The Constitution of the Athenians.

Conclusion

The Consitution of the Athenians is possibly not written by Xenophon. But it is traditionally part of Xenophon's corpus. It covers the downsides of Democracy while lauding Oligarchy as a better alternative. 

Have you read The Constitution of the Athenians? If so what did you think of it? 

 

Want to read The Constitution of the Athenians but haven't? Please leave me a comment and let me know why you want to read it.

Hopefully, this post inspires you to take the time to look into it on your own journey of Self Education.

Get a copy of The Constitution of the Athenians. 

The Doctor's through the Parson's Tales; The Canterbury Tales, Chaucer

Why you might read The Canterbury Tales?

The Canterbury Tales is the most well-known work of Chaucer. And Chaucer is the father of English literature. So if you are going to read any of his work here is the place to start. No Self-Education project is complete without this classic. Be warned though it is rather long, and if you don't want to read middle English find a good modern translation.

Synopsis of The Canterbury Tales(Part 2)

The Doctor's Tale:

A corrupt judge lusts after a virgin daughter and puts together a plot to get her in his power. He puts together a case with the story that she is a slave that her father has abducted. The father sees through this plot and kills the daughter to save her. The judge then conspires to put the father to death but the people rebel and through the judge in jail. In jail he kills himself. 

The Pardoner's Tale:

Three friends go to kill death after another friend dies. They find him under an oak tree beside him is a pile of gold. They quickly forget about death and plan to take the money in the morning. They draw straws for someone to go to town for food and drink. The two left then plan to stab the one fetching food and drink. But the one who went to town poisons the wine. So the two kill the third and then die from the poison in the wine.

The Shipman's Tale:

A Shipman's wife spends too much money and ends up in debt. She asks a monk, a close friend for money. He borrows it off the shipman and gives it to her. He tells the shipman he has repaid the money to the wife. The shipman confronts his wife and she returns the money and says she will pay the debts with her body.

The Prioress' Tale:

Jews abduct a Christian boy. When he doesn't stop singing to the virgin Mary they kill him by slitting his throat. They throw him in the sewer, but he keeps singing. His family find him and he explains the virgin Mary helped him keep singing.

Chaucer’s Tale of Sir Thopas:

A parody of romantic poems. This start with Sir Thopas searching for the Elf Queen. He is distracted by fighting with the giant Sir Olifaunt. Here the tale ends as the Innkeeper interrupts Chaucer and begs him to stop.

Chaucer's Tale of Meliboeus:

Unlike every other tale, this one is told in prose. This tale is a conversation between a husband and wife. The wife is trying to convince the husband to forgive a wrong and not seek revenge. They go back and forth with both appealing to historical and biblical figures. Eventually, the husband concedes but still chastises the wrongdoers before forgiving them.

The Monk's Tale:

The monk tells 17 short tales. These come from the bible and historical tales. They range from Adam to Lucifer, and Nero to Julius Caesar.

The Nun's Priest's Tale:

A cock and his hens are looked after by a simple family. The cock is showy and proud. The cock has a dream about being killed but the hens convince him it was nothing. He exits the henhouse that morning and meets a fox and is alarmed. But the fox convinces him that he is a friend and asks him to sing. While he is singing the fox grabs him by the neck and runs off into the forest with him. The cock escapes into the forest and the fox tries to trick him again but he is too smart for that.

The Nun's Second Tale:

A Christian maid is married to a pagan man. She on their wedding night tells him of her guardian angel. He doesn't believe her so she sends him on a pilgrimage to see a saint. He converts upon meeting with the saint. He returns to her and see's her angel who gives him one wish. He wishes his brother to have faith in God. The brother converts and travels to the saint to be baptised. The brothers are then martyred.

The Canon's Yeoman's Tale:

An Alchemist swindles a priest with a powder to turn mercury into silver. The con is rather elaborate and the priest is convinced and pays a large sum. The Alchemist gets away before the deception is uncovered.

The Manciple's Tale:

A jealous husband keeps his wife at home but she stays and takes a lover anyway. This husband owns a snow-white crow that can mimic human speech and voice. The crow tells the husband of his wife's infidelity and in a rage, the husband kills his wife. He then feels remorse for this and blames the crow. He then plucks the bird and turns it black.

The Parson's Tale:

This is not a tale but rather a treatise on the deadly sins and repentance in Christ. The translation I was working from does not give it in full. Instead mixes summary with full text in what is otherwise a very long text.

Reflections on The Canterbury Tales(Part 2)

The treatise that is the Parson's Tale really drives home the position of the Parson as a teacher of the faith. We have seen other religious men tell tales. By contrast, the parson chooses to preach rather than do something as frivolous as telling a tale or jape. He even says as much in his introduction.

Chaucer's prayer at the end of the text is interesting. He seems to ask forgiveness for his works. It starts out as a meaty prayer, which is to be expected of his time when the church was so much more dominant.

The self-insert of Chaucer feels a little out of place. Yet at the same time, it gives the author a first-hand look at the tales he is telling. It becomes a retelling of something that could have happened rather than a story made up of whole cloth.

What others have to say about The Canterbury Tales

"One character specifically used to reflect Chaucer's views on  Scottish culture, the lower class, and corrupt businessmen is the Miler" From Bartleby

"He along with other pilgrimages gathered on a spring evening at the Tabard Inn in Southwark, the place of departure and arrival for the pilgrimages to the shrine of St. Thomas Becket at Canterbury." From Poem Analysis

Comparisons with other texts

The Legend of Good Women is also a collection by Chaucer. It is much more compact and tells Chaucer's versions of stories of well-known women. By contrast, the Canterbury Tales is focused more on men. The Canterbury tales are a mix of well-known tales as well as more original ones. It is also held together by a meta-narrative rather than a theme. 

Like the Everyman and Miracle Plays we see a set of tales that tell us as much about the author and his times as they do about the stories themselves. The Everyman and Miracle Plays however have a biblical theme and a multitude of authors. By contrast, while priests and monks may be characters in the Tales the themes are not religious.

Conclusion

This second half of the Canterbury tales covered a variety of stories. These often invoke another pilgrim to tell a story in response. They are not linked by theme but rather by a meta-narrative told between each story. These tales come from a diverse group of pilgrims heading for Canterbury. It ends with Chaucer praying.

Have you read The Canterbury Tales? If so what did you think of it? 
 
Want to read The Canterbury Tales but haven't? Please leave me a comment and let me know why you want to read it.

Hopefully, this post inspires you to take the time to look into it on your own journey of Self Education.

Get a copy of The Canterbury Tales. 

What to look for in a horse; On horsemanship; Xenophon

Why you might read On Horsemanship?

On Horsemanship is one of the earliest works on horsemanship. It gives us insight into the choosing and training of horses in ancient Greece. Its author was an avid horseman often commanding troops from horseback. But Xenophon has another book on the cavalry commander. It is easy enough to follow even for someone who knows nothing about horses.

Synopsis of On Horsemanship

This book gives a detailed analysis of how to choose an unbroken horse. What to look for both in temperament and physically. He then also gives advice on buying a horse that has already been broken and ridden. Finally, he explains how to train a horse for war and for the parade.

Reflections on On Horsemanship

Like I said it is easy enough to read even for a person who knows nothing about horses. It is not overly technical but in places, it is a bit vague and I would not know how to implement what he suggests.

The differences between what to look for between the unbroken to the broken horse. Of course, a lot of it is the difference based on being able to test the broken horse. In the broken case there is less about the physicality of the horse.

What others have to say about On Horsemanship

"Xenophon intended the concise On Horsemanship, above all, to be practical — a work of applied theory. Neither geography nor overall military strategy, that is, predisposed ancient Greece to practising mounted warfare or to developing advanced cavalry tactics, so despite the status of Athenian cavalry as “a corps d’élite,”" From Horse Talk

"It is the first work known to emphasise training techniques that take account of the horse's psyche as well as his physical condition." From Local Riding

Comparisons with other texts

Being the first book on horsemanship leaves little to compare with content-wise. This leaves me with only the craftsmanship to comment on.

Like Apology, this is an easy read. In both Xenophon is concise while still explaining his point in enough detail for the reader to get his point. Both works do not assume that the reader has much in the way of prior knowledge.

Conclusion

 A simple read. It gives insight into the ancient Greek way of horsemanship and the training of horses for war. Written in such a way as to be understandable to the layman as well as the one who knows horses. 

Have you read On Horsemanship? If so what did you think of it? 

 

Want to read On Horsemanship but haven't? Please leave me a comment and let me know why you want to read it.

Hopefully, this post inspires you to take the time to look into it on your own journey of Self Education.

Get a copy of On Horsemanship. 

An account of Socrates' trial; Apology, Xenophon

Why you might read Apology?

Apology is a short telling of the trial of Socrates and gives us a quick insight into the man. We have no writings by Socrates himself. Instead, we have the writings of two of his disciples, Xenophon and Plato. As part of your self-education, it gives an introduction to Socrates. 

Synopsis of Apology

Apology is a short telling of the trial and defence of Socrates. Xenophon was not in Athens at the time. He instead tells the story based on what he is told by Hermogenes. He is taken to trial by Anytus and condemned. His disciples see the trial as unfair and unjust. But Socrates sees it as his time today and is positive about dying before reaching old age.

Reflections on Apology

This is a second-hand account that reports to tell the words of Socrates in his trial. As such it needs to be taken with a grain of salt. It is well known that eyewitness accounts vary and this is then told by a third party. That being said Xenophon did know Socrates well. While not 100%, will still be a fair representation of what he might have said.

Xenophon in some places specifically says that he heard this bit from Hermogenes. This makes me wonder if he had other unknown sources as well.

Socrates faces death with a philosophical, pun not intended, outlook. His view that it is better to die while still in his prime is interesting. It shows a different outlook on old age as something to be avoided. Compared with today's twilight years and retirement.

What others have to say about Apology

"Xenophon's Apology was written about 15 years after Socrates died, which would be about 386 B.C." From Roangelo

"is an account of Socrates' defence at his trial in 399 BC. There are some differences of emphasis with Plato's dialogue of the same name, the only other extant account of the trial." From Tom Griffin

"What might be thought a trivial point about style hearkens to a much larger problem, as Socrates deliberated both on his defence (apologias) and the end of his life." From Ashokkarra

Comparisons to other texts

The Clouds takes aim at Socrates' work. It basically calls those who follow it fools. By contrast, Apology shows Socrates in a positive light. Though little of it is about his teaching perse, we do see his defence to the charges. From this, we gain some knowledge of his outlook.

Agesilaus speaks also of the dead after they are gone. But by contrast, it tells of his deeds, whereas Apology tells of his trial. This focus on the last moments of life gives a different kind of insight. Although both are prey to giving a positive spin on the deaths.

Conclusion

Apology gives a secondhand view of the trial of Socrates. It is far from impartial but does give us a feel for the man. How he approached death, even an unjust one, with an eye to the loss of suffering rather than loss of opportunity.

Have you read Apology? If so what did you think of it? 

 

Want to read Apology but haven't? Please leave me a comment and let me know why you want to read it.

Hopefully, this post inspires you to take the time to look into it on your own journey of Self Education.

Get a copy of Apology.