Socrates' Trial and Execution in Xenophon's Hellenica

Xenophon provides the historical background to Socrates' trial and execution in the Hellenica, but notoriously does not mention these events anywhere in it. Nevertheless, a re-examination of specific episodes from the early part of the Hellenica reveals that he does offer very pointed political commentary on the trial and execution of Socrates, even without mentioning them explicitly. In addition, deliberate parallels with and verbal echoes of Xenophon's apologetic Socratic works suggest that the Hellenica is intended to be read as a defence of Socrates and a condemnation of the Athenian democracy.