Xenophon of Athens was a Greek military leader, philosopher, and historian. Born around 430 BC, he became a prominent figure in Greek history. At the age of 30, he was elected as one of the leaders of the retreating Greek mercenaries, known as the Ten Thousand, part of Cyrus the Younger's attempt to seize control of the Achaemenid Empire.

Throughout history, there has been debate about whether Xenophon was primarily a general, historian, or philosopher. For much of the past two millennia, he was recognized as a philosopher, often compared to Plato. Today, he is celebrated as one of the greatest writers of antiquity. Xenophon's works, known for their plain Attic Greek, are often used in translation exercises for students of Ancient Greek.

Despite being an Athenian citizen, Xenophon had strong associations with Sparta. Much of what is known about Spartan society comes from his royal biography of King Agesilaus and the Constitution of the Lacedaemonians. His work Anabasis recounts his adventures with the Ten Thousand and Cyrus the Younger's failed campaign to claim the Persian throne.

Xenophon's other notable works include Cyropaedia, which outlined Cyrus the Great's military and political methods. His writings inspired future conquerors like Alexander the Great. The Hellenica, another significant work, continues from Thucydides' History of the Peloponnesian War, covering the last years of the war and the subsequent decades.