Elon Musk says he is studying Iran’s ancient history
Elon Musk, who leads the Department of Government Efficiency in Donald Trump’s administration, has shared on X that he is reading about Iran's ancient history.
Elon Musk, who leads the Department of Government Efficiency in Donald Trump’s administration, has shared on X that he is reading about Iran's ancient history.
Anabasis, a book by the ancient Greek historian and philosopher Xenophon, recounts the story of Cyrus the Younger, a Persian prince who attempted to overthrow his brother, Artaxerxes II, to seize the throne of Iran’s Achaemenid Empire in 401 BCE.
Cyrus assembled an army, including 10,000 Greek mercenaries, but was killed at the Battle of Cunaxa before achieving his goal. The book, written by Xenophon, primarily describes the Greeks’ perilous journey back home after his death.
Musk did not elaborate on why he chose the book, but his post has drawn attention to one of the most well-documented military expeditions involving ancient Iran.
Iran is a key focus in the US administration's foreign policy, with Trump saying that the Islamic Republic cannot be allowed to gain nuclear weapons.
However, Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has banned talks with Washington.
