But one must be prepared for the fact that Xenophon does not reveal Cyrus’ wisdom all at
once, but only gradually and somewhat quietly as the narrative progresses. In fact,
Xenophon would seem to be as interested in revealing how Cyrus attained or came by his
wisdom almost as much as he is with disclosing the contents of that wisdom. The shape
of Xenophon’s narrative suggests that for Xenophon a true understanding of Cyrus’
wisdom cannot be separated from an account of how Cyrus came by his wisdom. To
understand Cyrus’ wisdom, we apparently have to understand how he acquired it.
Though Cyrus learns bits and pieces of his knowledge from various conversations
he has throughout the book,
Xenophon’s account of Cyrus’ education comes in three
main stages: In Persia, in Media, and in an extended conversation Cyrus has with his
father as Cyrus heads off to assist his uncle Cyaxares in Media in battle (1.5.4). This
paper focuses on Xenophon’s account of the Persian regime. For the Greeks, the regime
(politeia) designates the class of citizens who rule and the way in which they direct the
city toward a certain end through its laws. The politeia is more fundamental than any
laws and is the source of all laws.
The classical political philosophers thought that the
function of good laws was to help orient human beings to the good. Thus, the classics
thought that there was an intimate connection between the laws of a politeia and the souls
of its citizens.
As I shall try to show in this paper, Xenophon thought that the Persian regime was
important if not altogether decisive for understanding Cyrus. Cyrus’ earliest education
took place in Persia and he learned lessons there that he applies throughout his life. In
order to begin to piece together Cyrus’ wisdom, we must as it were begin with Cyrus’
4
For example, Cyrus learns the value of fear from a conversation with Tigranes the Armenian (3.1.23).
After hearing Tigranes argue that “nothing enslaves human beings more than intense fear,” Cyrus carefully
repeats Tigranes’ point, as if to ensure that he has understood it properly (3.1.23).
5
Leo Strauss, Natural Right and History (Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, 1953) 136.
3
Convention