Project Gutenberg
1998-01-01
Public domain in the USA.
188
Xenophon
-431
-355
Ξενοφών
Jenofonte
Xénophon
Dakyns, Henry Graham
1838
1911
Dakyns, H. G. (Henry Graham)
Dakyns, Henry G. (Henry Graham)
Hiero
Produced by John Bickers, and David Widger
"Hiero by Xenophon" is an imagined dialogue that falls under the category of philosophical discourse, specifically concerning political theory and ethics. Written in the late 5th century BC, the book features a conversation between Simonides, a notable poet, and Hieron, the tyrant of Syracuse. The primary topic of the text is an exploration of the nature of tyranny and the contrasting experiences of a despot versus an ordinary citizen, particularly in terms of happiness, pleasure, and societal relationships. In this dialogue, Hieron expresses his belief that the life of a tyrant is filled with more pain and fewer pleasures compared to that of ordinary people, a surprising assertion given the common misconceptions about the life of a ruler. The conversation elaborates on various sources of joy and sorrow, including friendship, trust, the burdens of political power, and the constant threat of betrayal. Simonides challenges Hieron's perspective by asserting that a ruler’s status should bring greater gratitude and affection from subjects, to which Hieron counters that his tyranny breeds fear rather than genuine respect. Ultimately, the text reflects on the complexities and contradictions of despotic rule, leading to a deeper understanding of what it truly means to lead and how personal connections are fundamentally altered by the nature of power. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
en
Classical literature
Hieron I, Tyrant of Syracuse, -467 B.C. or 466 B.C.
Simonides, approximately 556 B.C.-467 B.C.
Dialogues, Greek -- Translations into English
Despotism -- Early works to 1800
Syracuse (Italy) -- Politics and government -- Early works to 1800
PA
Text
Browsing: Culture/Civilization/Society
Browsing: History - Ancient
Browsing: Literature
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