À propos du parallélisme entre deux discours d’ambassade à Sparte (Xén. Hell. V, 2, 12-19 et VI, 1, 4-16)

Abstract–. In Xenophon’s Hellenica, the embassies of Cligenes of Acanthus and of Polydamas of Pharsalus to Sparta, sent to get help respectively against Olynthus and against Jason of Pherae, show a parallel structure and a series of very similar arguments. The substantial authenticity of the pieces of information provided by the two speeches cannot be denied; nevertheless, the strong analogies, the presence of themes such as federalism and the qualities of the good leader and, finally, the echoes from Thucydides, reveal the intervention of Xenophon. He seems to employ speeches as his predecessor: respect for the general sense of what was really said and free intervention of their own doxa.