Cyropaedia
“Cyropaedia, the Education of Cyrus the Great, the first systematic book on leadership is still the best. “
_ Peter Drucker
The Cyropaedia is among the most remarkable books ever written in human history due to its multifaceted roles throughout time. It can be characterized in several ways. Firstly, it is a biography of Cyrus the Great, the founder of Persia’s Achaemenid Empire. Secondly, it serves as a historical account, narrating the establishment of the Persian Empire and its expansion into the largest empire ever, presented in the form of a novel. Lastly, and most importantly for this edition, it functions as an educational manual on LEADERSHIP, strategy, and the art of war.
Origins and Titles
Written around 370 BC by Xenophon—an Athenian soldier, historian, and disciple of Socrates—the work’s Latinized title, Cyropaedia, is derived from the Greek Kúrou paideía (Κύρου παιδεία), meaning “The Education of Cyrus.” The Cyropaedia influenced medieval writers in the “mirrors for princes” genre and significantly impacted Machiavelli’s The Prince, which contributed to the transition from medieval to modern political thought. It was later embraced by America’s Founding Fathers, keen readers of the Cyropaedia. Leaders of any era can draw inspiration from this work, which sows seeds for future realization and manifestation. The Founding Fathers found resonance in Cyrus’s ideas and aspirations, aligning with their deepest beliefs, values, and convictions.
The Character and Leadership of Cyrus
The Cyropaedia portrays Cyrus’s character, showcasing the qualities that made him an exemplary ruler. It elucidates timeless principles of leadership. As a result, it has served as the world’s leadership manual, inspiring figures such as Alexander, Scipio, Cicero, Caesar, and Machiavelli, extending to contemporary times. Peter Drucker, recognized as the father of modern management science, regarded this first book on leadership as the best. His biographer and student, William Cohen, noted: “Despite the plethora of books published on leadership by renowned academic researchers and successful CEOs, Drucker never wavered in his view. Xenophon remained the best.”
Xenophon’s Perspective and Historical Context
Although Xenophon (c. 431 – 355 BC) was not a contemporary of Cyrus (c. 580 – 530 BC), and some of his knowledge about Persia likely derived from later Achaemenid court events, he had visited Persia as one of the “Ten Thousand” Greek soldiers involved in a Persian civil war, an experience he recounted in his Anabasis.
Twenty-four Centuries of Influence
The Cyropaedia continued to be widely read in the early modern period and during the Enlightenment. Machiavelli’s The Prince, which marked a shift towards modern political thought, was particularly influenced by the Cyropaedia and represents a different reading of Xenophon. Many early modern writers after Machiavelli, including Montaigne, Montesquieu, Rousseau, Bacon, Jonathan Swift, Bolingbroke, Shaftesbury, Edward Gibbon, and Benjamin Franklin, also esteemed Xenophon as a philosopher and historian. The Cyropaedia was often used to model correct prose in classical Attic Greek, mastery of which was part of the education of European and American gentlemen in the eighteenth century. Thomas Jefferson owned two copies of the book, likely for this reason.
Decline and Resurgence in Popularity
In the nineteenth century, Xenophon and the Cyropaedia declined in popularity compared to other classical authors and works, partly due to its endorsement of monarchy becoming less favorable. Yet, in the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries, Xenophon’s work experienced a resurgence in study and esteem. Some contemporary scholars argue that the basic historical events in the Cyropaedia are more credible than those described in Herodotus’s Histories, and debate continues over the work’s relevance and historical accuracy, which is not the focus of this edition.
Why A New Edition?
The Original Cyropaedia is hard to read
Moreover, Readers don’t Easily See the Leadership Lessons
Leadership By Cyrus the Great, Darius Lahoutifard’s edition of Cyropaedia offers a refreshed and engaging approach to Xenophon’s classic work. This edition simplifies and modernizes the original English translation by Henry Graham Dakyns, published in 1884, making it accessible to contemporary readers without sacrificing the depth and wisdom of the original text. By adding clear subtitles, the flow of the narrative is enhanced, making the reading experience more enjoyable and coherent.
The inclusion of summaries allows readers to skip sections without losing the essence of the story, while the photorealistic paintings bring Cyrus’s ancient world to life, adding a vivid visual dimension to the historical account. Most importantly, this edition extracts and highlights the most prominent leadership lessons from Cyrus’s actions and speeches, providing readers with valuable insights applicable to modern leadership contexts. This combination of elements makes Leadership By Cyrus the Great: Xenophon’s Cyropaedia Unlocked a valuable resource for both historical enthusiasts and aspiring leaders.
Author
Darius Lahoutifard – Author of “Leadership by Cyrus the Great”
Darius Lahoutifard – author of “Leadership by Cyrus the Great,” is an accomplished entrepreneur and technology leader. By age 28, he had become CEO of a $10M business. Over his career, he has founded five companies, launched over a dozen innovative software and services, experienced failure twice, and successfully exited twice. Now dedicated to education, Darius founded MEDDIC Academy, a platform pioneering modern blended learning for leaders and business professionals in technology. His clients include all the top 10 global software companies, such as Google Cloud and Amazon Web Services.
Born in Iran, Darius moved to France as a teenager after the political changes following the end of the Shah’s reign, profoundly shaping his global perspective and professional path. After a successful career in France, he migrated again, at age 47, this time to the US. He was admitted under the exceptional ability program.
Darius’s previous book, “Always Be Qualifying,” is a best-seller and cornerstone for business professionals. It highlights his commitment to excellence in leadership and business development.
His latest book, “Leadership by Cyrus the Great,” based on Xenophon’s Cyropaedia, combines historical narrative with deep leadership insights. Reviewing Cyrus’s life to explore timeless leadership principles, this book offers readers a compelling and educational experience. This new book is in synergy with his new sales leadership training programs under the Infinite Sales™ Leadership brand.
Darius holds a Master of Science in Robotics Engineering from École Centrale de Paris (CentraleSupelec) and a Certificate from Stanford University. He is a patent holder and a published author. He has lectured at renowned universities such as the UW in Seattle and the NDU in Washington D.C. A polyglot and resident of California, Darius brings a rich, global perspective to his work.
Excerpts
The Love Story of Panthea & Abradatas
This text is a summary of the excerpt. To see how the story appears in the book and the Leadership lesson, view/download the PDF file below.
In the time of great battles and conquests, there was a woman named Panthea, renowned for her extraordinary beauty, which made her the most captivating woman in all of Asia. Captured by the soldiers of Cyrus, she became a prisoner, weakened and resigned to her fate. The soldiers, awestruck by her beauty, intended to present her to Cyrus as a prize. However, upon learning she had a husband, Cyrus chose to respect her honor. He forbade himself from even looking at her, keeping her safely from his presence.
Panthea’s protector, a nobleman named Araspas, initially struggled to resist her charm. Over time, he desired to possess her. Yet, he witnessed Cyrus’s unwavering respect for Panthea and his dedication to his mission. This deeply moved Araspas, teaching him the importance of honor and duty. Upon discovering Araspas’s internal conflict, Panthea approached Cyrus personally, revealing her identity and her husband’s potential value to Cyrus.
“My lord,” she said, “I am Panthea, the wife of Abradatas, a noble Susian. When the Assyrian army was captured, my husband was away on a mission to Bactria. He is a valiant and loyal warrior, and if you allow me to send for him, I am certain he will become a faithful ally to you.”
Cyrus, always strategic and noble, instructed Araspas to guard Panthea until her husband could return. Araspas described Panthea’s ethereal beauty, saying that though she sat veiled and sorrowful among her maids, her grace and elegance shone through, captivating all who beheld her. Yet, Cyrus resisted seeing her, fearing her beauty might distract him from his duties. He warned Araspas about the dangers of such beauty, but Araspas believed he could resist.
As time passed, Araspas was overcome by Panthea’s beauty and grace. Seeing her daily and feeling that she appreciated his care, his heart surrendered to love. But he respected Cyrus’s example and learned to honor Panthea like her husband.
Thanks to Cyrus and Panthea’s plans, Abradatas eventually returned and, seeing the nobility and honor with which Cyrus treated his wife, decided to drop his support for the Lydian King and joined the ranks of Cyrus’s army. This alliance was a significant boon to Cyrus, as Abradatas brought his own valor with him and a contingent of loyal warriors.
Sometime later, when the time for the battle against the Lydians came, Panthea, in her devotion, secretly crafted a magnificent set of armor for her husband. She used her personal jewels to adorn the armor with gold and precious gems, creating a testament to her love and care.
As Abradatas prepared for battle, Panthea approached with the armor. He was astonished and asked if she had sacrificed her own jewels to make it.
She replied tenderly, “No, my lord, for you shall be my most precious jewel when others see you as I see you now.”
She adorned him with the armor, tears silently falling as she tried to conceal her sorrow.
Dressed in his splendid armor, Abradatas looked like a noble warrior of legend. Before mounting his chariot, Panthea asked the bystanders to leave and spoke to him with profound love. She professed her undying love and loyalty, expressing her willingness to die with him rather than live in shame. She reminded him of the honor they owed to Cyrus, who had treated her with the utmost respect during her captivity.
Abradatas, moved by her words, prayed to God to make him worthy of such a wife and a friend to Cyrus. As he mounted his chariot, Panthea could only kiss the chariot box, unable to embrace him again. Abradatas rode off, urging Panthea to be strong and to hurry home.
In the battle, Abradatas fought valiantly. His chariot, driven by eight magnificent horses, symbolized bravery and glory. He charged at the enemy with his comrades, demonstrating that the strongest force was a band of friends fighting together. Amidst the chaos, Abradatas was thrown from his chariot, fighting bravely until the end.
After the end of this fierce battle, which took place near the banks of the Pactolus River, Cyrus’s army conquered the wealthy city of Sardis. When Cyrus asked about Abradatas, he discovered his brave ally had died fighting against the Egyptians. Panthea discovered her husband’s body and, heartbroken, prepared him for burial.
Cyrus, deeply moved, rushed to the site with jewels and rich clothes to honor Abradatas. Seeing Panthea on the ground with her husband’s body, Cyrus, with tears in his eyes, said, “Such a noble and loyal spirit, gone from us.” Panthea, also crying, explained, “All this he suffered for my sake and yours, Cyrus. He never thought of his own safety, only of what he could do to show his gratitude and love. Now he has fallen without a stain upon his valor, and I live on to sit beside his grave.”
Cyrus promised to honor Abradatas properly and assured Panthea she wouldn’t be left alone. He offered to provide her with a guardian to take her wherever she wished. Panthea, grateful for Cyrus’s kindness, replied, “Don’t worry, Cyrus, I will not hide where I wish to go.”
After Cyrus left, Panthea, unable to bear the loss, took her own life beside her husband’s body, after asking her nurse to cover them both with the same cloak. Her chamberlains, overwhelmed with grief, also took their own lives.
When Cyrus heard about this tragedy, he hurried to the scene, hoping to save Panthea. He looked with sorrow and respect at the couple and ensured they received the highest honors. Cyrus had a grand tomb built for them, a monument to their eternal love and unwavering loyalty.
As the news of Panthea and Abradatas’s tragic end spread, it touched everyone who heard it. Their story became a powerful example of true love and unwavering loyalty, inspiring others to honor their commitments and cherish their loved ones.
Cyrus reflected on the events and the impact of their sacrifice. He realized that honoring those who show such dedication and bravery was essential for maintaining the morale and loyalty of his own troops. The tomb of Panthea and Abradatas stood as a reminder of the high value Cyrus placed on loyalty and the deep connections that bind people together, even in times of war.
Their love story, marked by sacrifice and honor, continued to be told for generations, becoming a legend that exemplified the noblest qualities of humanity. Cyrus’s actions in ensuring their memory lived on demonstrated his wisdom as a leader and his deep understanding of the human spirit.
Panthea and Abradatas’s love for each other shone through in their actions and words, making their story one of the most beautiful and tragic love tales of their time. Even in the face of war and death, their devotion to each other became a legend, remembered for its pure and noble love.
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