1780 - The Expedition and Retreat of Ten Thousand Greeks under Cyrus. - Antique Map

c. 1780

Maker: J. Lodge engraver.

 

Antique map of Ancient Turkey and Armenia. The Ten Thousand were a force of mercenary units, mainly Greeks, employed by Cyrus the Younger to attempt to wrest the throne of the Persian Empire from his brother, Artaxerxes II. Their march to the Battle of Cunaxa and back to Greece (401 €“399 BC) was recorded by Xenophon, one of their leaders, in his work Anabasis.   This map was inserted into a volume of the Atlas Encyclopedique by Bonne and Desmarest, 1787 but was not originally part of that atlas. It was likely published in a book specifically about the expedition, such as "The expedition of Cyrus into Persia; and the retreat of the ten thousand Greeks. Translated from Xenophon, with critical and historical notes, by Edward Spelman" which was published in 1749 and again in 1811 and 1813. Fair to good condition with strong image transfer, folds, tight left margin. Measures approx. 9.25 x 15.75 inches to the neatline.

 

Item Number: ASI495