The Xenophon Scholia are a collection of ancient and medieval explanatory notes written in the margins and between the lines of manuscripts containing the works of the historian Xenophon. While Xenophon himself lived in the 5th and 4th centuries BCE, the scholia were composed much later, from the Hellenistic period through the Byzantine era, by grammarians and scholars. These anonymous commentators worked to make classical texts more accessible for students and readers.

The scholia cover Xenophon’s major works, such as Anabasis, Cyropaedia, and Memorabilia. They typically provide definitions for difficult words, explain historical references, analyze grammar, and sometimes note different readings of the text. The scholia have been transmitted through medieval manuscripts alongside Xenophon’s own writings.

According to modern scholars, this body of commentary is significant because it offers a window into how later generations studied and interpreted classical Greek literature. The notes highlight which passages were considered challenging or important. For philologists today, the scholia are invaluable tools for textual criticism, helping to trace the history of Xenophon’s manuscript tradition and sometimes preserving alternative readings or fragments of lost works. As a whole, they represent a key part of the ancient scholarly tradition dedicated to preserving and explaining classical texts.