Xenophon

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Greek soldier and writer who was a disciple of Socrates (described in Xenophon's Symposium). He joined the Persian prince Cyrus the Younger against his brother Artaxerxes II in 401 BC, and after the Battle of Cunaxa the same year took command. His book Anabasis describes how he led 10,000 Greek mercenaries on a 1,600-km/1,000-mile march home across enemy territory.

He then served various commanders until he returned to Greece with Agesilaus II in 394. Exiled from Athens, he lived on an estate near Olympia granted him by the Spartans until he was expelled after Leuctra in 371 BC. He died in Corinth.

The stars represent the five regions of Turkmenistan. The crescent symbolizes Islam. Effective date: 19 February 1997. >>