Proleptic Moves in Xenophonâs Narrative of Mantinea (Hellenica 7.5): The Fog of War

Luuk Huitink

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ChapterÂ 4 Proleptic Moves in Xenophonâs Narrative of Mantinea (Hellenica 7.5)

The Fog of War

In: Prolepsis in Ancient Greek Narrative

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Luuk Huitink

Luuk Huitink
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Type:: Chapter

Pages:: 68â90

DOI:: https://doi.org/10.1163/9789004715530_005

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Abstract

The final campaign described in Xenophonâs Hellenica is the Theban general Epaminondasâ incursion into the Peloponnese and the ensuing Battle of Mantinea. Epaminondas faces a coalition of Spartans, other Peloponnesians, and Athenians, ultimately suffering a defeat and losing his life. Xenophon ends the Hellenica by suggesting that the gods arranged for each side to claim victory, resulting in greater disorder and chaos in Greece (7.5.26â27). Divine logic is apparently not necessarily the same as human logic: divine âorderâ will often manifest itself on the human plane as disorder. This chapter argues that Xenophon continuously prompts readers to question the how and why of the Mantinea campaign, but ultimately suggests that these questions have no definitive answers. He uses proleptic moves to create âvirtual narrativesâ (as defined by Ryan). These include strategically mentioning âMantineaâ to raise expectations and questions about Epaminondasâ delays, and intermittently revealing the Atheniansâ plans to provoke curiosity about their role. He also includes narratorial comments on leadership, making readers ponder its impact, and focalized passages on Epaminondasâ plans regarding numerical superiority, discipline, and novel tactics. Ultimately, Xenophon reflects on the causes of victory and defeat in Greek military discourse, showing that none of the anticipated outcomes from these âvirtual narrativesâ come to pass. In the end, he turns to the divine as the ultimate source of order amidst human chaos.

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Prolepsis in Ancient Greek Narrative

Definitions, Forms and Effects

Series:Â The Language of Classical Literature, Volume: 40

Cover Prolepsis in Ancient Greek Narrative

E-Book ISBN:: 9789004715530

Publisher:: Brill

Print Publication Date:: 17 Dec 2024

Subjects
- Classical Studies
  - Greek & Latin Literature

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ChapterÂ 4 Proleptic Moves in Xenophonâs Narrative of Mantinea (Hellenica 7.5)

The Fog of War

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Prolepsis in Ancient Greek Narrative

Definitions, Forms and Effects

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ChapterÂ 4 Proleptic Moves in Xenophonâs Narrative of Mantinea (Hellenica 7.5)