On Hunting

Books

• 1
  Book 1

  The divine origins of hunting. Chiron taught Achilles, Nestor, and Peleus to hunt. Hunting trains the body for war and the mind for virtue.

  18 lines
• 2
  Book 2

  Equipment for hunting hares: nets, snares, and the types of hounds. Detailed specifications that reveal Xenophon's personal expertise.

  9 lines
• 3
  Book 3

  Hound breeds and their qualities. The Laconian and Castorian dogs are best. How to assess a puppy's potential.

  11 lines
• 4
  Book 4

  Training hounds. The importance of naming, obedience training, and early exposure to quarry. Names should be short and sharp.

  11 lines
• 5
  Book 5

  Hunting the hare in detail. Setting nets, casting hounds, and following the scent. The hare's tricks and how to counter them.

  34 lines
• 6
  Book 6

  Seasonal hunting. The best conditions in winter and summer. How terrain and weather affect the quarry.

  26 lines
• 7
  Book 7

  Tracking in different conditions. Fresh tracks, stale tracks, rain-washed tracks. Reading the ground like a text.

  12 lines
• 8
  Book 8

  The hunt in progress. Following hounds at full cry, managing the pack, and the moment of the kill.

  8 lines
• 9
  Book 9

  Hunting deer. Deer are taken with snares and ambush rather than pursuit. Their habits and territories.

  20 lines
• 10
  Book 10

  Hunting boar. The most dangerous quarry. How to set nets for boar, how to use spears, and what to do when the boar charges.

  25 lines
• 11
  Book 11

  Boar hunting continued. The courage required, the risk of injury, and the rewards of success. Xenophon is at his most vivid.

  4 lines
• 12
  Book 12

  Lion, leopard, and bear hunting. The methods used in Thrace and Asia Minor. Pit traps, poisoned arrows, and mounted pursuit.

  21 lines
• 13
  Book 13

  The moral value of hunting. It produces courage, endurance, and quick thinking. Xenophon attacks the Sophists who despise physical training and prefer clever words.

  18 lines