Beyond Xenophon: other speakers in Xenophon’s Anabasis

A substantial part, about a quarter, of Xenophon’s Anabasis is made up of direct speeches. Starting from Book 3, the most talkative character is Xenophon, who proposes himself as an ideal commander. The figure of Xenophon as an ideal leader is also built through comparison with other commanders, whose portraits are outlined and/or whose actions are narrated and speeches reported. The analysis of the speeches by other characters in the Anabasis can lead to a better definition of the types of speech used, but also, through comparison with the speeches of Xenophon the character, to a more precise understanding of the mechanisms through which Xenophon builds the narrative, outlines the characters and develops his self-eulogy (and his apology). In particular, we will try to understand whether Xenophon has tried to build the ethos of his characters through speeches, especially through stylistic and rhetorical choices.