CUNAXA Meaning and
Definition
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Cunaxa is primarily known as the name of an ancient city in Mesopotamia, but it also carries historical significance as the site of a decisive battle that took place in 401 BC. In terms of historical context, Cunaxa refers to a battle where the Persian king Artaxerxes II faced off against his younger brother Cyrus the Younger.
In this context, Cunaxa can be defined as the ancient city located in Babylonia, near the current site of Baghdad, Iraq. Although relatively little is known about the city itself, it gained prominence as the location where the climactic battle of the Persian civil war occurred. The conflict ensued when Cyrus the Younger, a Persian prince and governor of Asia Minor, attempted to seize the throne from his brother Artaxerxes II.
The battle of Cunaxa is particularly notable due to the involvement of an army of Greek mercenaries, known as the Ten Thousand. Led by the renowned military commander Xenophon, these Greek soldiers played a crucial role in the battle. Despite initial success, Cyrus the Younger was ultimately defeated and killed, resulting in the failure of his rebellion.
Thus, Cunaxa is historically significant in marking the end of Cyrus the Younger's rebellion and solidifying Artaxerxes II's reign over Persia. This event also holds importance in the realm of military history due to the strategies employed and the following retreat and treacherous journey of the Ten Thousand Greeks, which was chronicled by Xenophon in his famous work, "Anabasis".
Common Misspellings for CUNAXA
- xunaxa
- vunaxa
- funaxa
- dunaxa
- cynaxa
- chnaxa
- cjnaxa
- cinaxa
- c8naxa
- c7naxa
- cubaxa
- cumaxa
- cujaxa
- cuhaxa
- cunzxa
- cunsxa
- cunwxa
- cunqxa
- unaxa
- sunaxa
Etymology of CUNAXA
The term "cunaxa" is derived from the Ancient Greek word "κύων" (pronounced "kyon"), meaning "dog", and the Persian word "شاه" (pronounced "shah"), meaning "king" or "ruler". Together, these words formed the phrase "κύων αὐχένα" (pronounced "kyon aὐkhena"), which translates to "the dog's neck" in English. The term "cunaxa" is essentially a Latinized version of this Greek phrase.
The origin of this phrase dates back to the Battle of Cunaxa, fought in 401 BCE during the Persian Empire. In this battle, Cyrus the Younger, brother of the Persian king Artaxerxes II, tried to dethrone his brother and take the throne for himself.
Similar spelling word for CUNAXA
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