Exegetical Commentary on Personal Failings: Xenophon's Critique in The Education of Cyrus Grace Lawrence College

Xenophon’s account of the life of Cyrus the Great tells the story of one of the world’s most successful leaders. Cyrus, king of Persia, established one of the largest empires in the world. He was also a leader in establishing human rights when he granted individual rights and religious freedom to his people. Cyrus’s leadership on the outside seems benevolent and even somewhat selfless, putting the wellbeing of his people on the forefront. However, at its core, Cyrus’s rule is manipulative and narcissistic.

Cyrus’s tactic for a strong army was to keep them on strict diet and exercise regimens that would keep them in top shape: "Cyrus also took care that they would never come to lunch or dinner without sweating . . . for he held this to be good for pleasant eating, being healthy, and for being able to labor; and he held that these labors were good for their being more gentle to each other, because horses too, when they labor together, stand [in their stalls] more gently with each other." Certainly with regard to facing the enemy, those who are conscious of themselves as having exercised well become more high-minded. Cyrus designed these routines of diet and exercise to keep the troops healthy and performing well. If the men kept...