History
Specialists believe that Xenophon's interpretation of the trial was written in response to a widespread literary reaction following the trial, where Athenian public figures and authors used the theme of Socrates's trial to state their views on his guilt. Xenophon presents his account as being the only one of them that made Socrates' "boastful manner of speaking" (megalēgoria) at the trial understandable. Xenophon was away at the time of the events, involved in the events of the march of the Ten Thousand. He cites Hermogenes as his source for the factual elements of Socrates' speech. It is probable that Hermogenes had indeed witnessed the trial: although Plato's Apology does not mention his presence, his Phaedo lists Hermogenes among those who were present at Socrates' death.
The main part of the text is a direct blow for blow rejection of a particular attack on Socrates' character by an opponent of Socrates. The text gives clear indication on the charges brought against Socrates by Anytus, and is often used on this point in comparison with Plato's version of the trial.
The final "chapter" of Xenophon's Memorabilia contains some of the same material – some of it almost word for word – as the beginning sections of his Apology. This has led some scholars to suspect that Xenophon's Apology was the original conclusion to the Memorabilia; given our limited evidence, however, this cannot be known with certainty.
Read more about this topic: Apology (Xenophon)
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