Anabasis

Darius and Parysatis had two sons born to them, of whom the elder was Artaxerxes and the younger Cyrus.[*](In regard to the persons mentioned and the events sketched in sections 1-4, see Introduction, pp. 231 sqq.) Now when Darius lay sick and suspected that the end of his life was near, he wished to have both his sons with him.

The elder, as it chanced, was with him already; but Cyrus he summoned from the province over which he had made him satrap, and he had also appointed him commander of all the forces that muster in the plain of Castolus.[*](Castolus was the mustering place for all the Persian forces of western Asia Minor. See Introd. p. 232.) Cyrus accordingly went up[*](See Introd. p. vii, note 1.) to his father, taking with him Tissaphernes as a friend and accompanied by three hundred Greek hoplites,[*](i.e. heavy-armed infantrymen, the regular troops of the line in Greek warfare. In this instance, of course, they are serving Cyrus as a bodyguard.) under the command of Xenias of Parrhasia.

When Darius had died and Artaxerxes had become established as king, Tissaphernes falsely accused Cyrus to his brother of plotting against him. And Artaxerxes, believing the accusation, arrested Cyrus, with the intention of putting him to death; his mother, however, made intercession for him, and sent him back again to his province.