The Chaldean Magi

Xenophon

Xenophon of Athens (c. 430 – probably 355 or 354 BC) was a Greek military leader, philosopher, and historian, born in Athens. A student and a friend of Socrates, Xenophon recounted several Socratic dialogues—Symposium, Oeconomicus, Hiero, a tribute to Socrates—Memorabilia, and a chronicle of the philosopher's trial in 399 BC—Apology of Socrates to the Jury. Reading Xenophon's Memorabilia inspired Zeno of Citium to change his life and start the Stoic school of philosophy.

At the age of 30, Xenophon was elected as one of the leaders of the retreating Greek mercenaries, the Ten Thousand, who between 401 and 399 BC had been part of Cyrus's attempt to seize control of the Achaemenid Empire. Xenophon's Anabasis recounts his adventures with the Ten Thousand while in the service of Cyrus the Younger, Cyrus's failed campaign to claim the Persian throne from Artaxerxes II of Persia, and the return of Greek mercenaries after Cyrus's death in the Battle of Cunaxa. On the topic of campaigns in Asia Minor and in Babylon, Xenophon wrote Cyropaedia outlining both military and political methods used by Cyrus the Great to conquer the Neo-Babylonian Empire in 539 BC. Anabasis and Cyropaedia inspired Alexander the Great and other Greeks to conquer Babylon and the Achaemenid Empire in 331 BC.

Oeconomicus

IV. 24.

(Cyrus the Younger to Lysander)

Do you wonder at this, Lysander? I swear to you by Mithra that whenever I am in health I never break my fast without perspiring.

Cyropaedia

VII. 5.

(Artabazus to Cyrus the Elder):

By Mithra I could not come to you yesterday without fighting my way through many foes.