Moderator: Aldus Marius
Al. Dionysius Hellenos wrote:Chaírete Bárbaroi,
Herodotus was a historian like Polybius and Tacitus. Well that is all what i know of him and that he had something to do with the march of the ten thousand
Helena Eleutheria wrote:Alright everyone... You've discussed Herodotos and Xenophon but what about the greatest of the great in terms of "eye-witness" reportage? My particulat hero, since I am a historian, has always been Thucydides.
Reason being, that he did not throw in long myth- like stories as Herodotus often did. Can anyone forgive him or at least forget his gigantic ants digging for gold, or his multiple theories on how the Nile "got that way" ? Thucydides wanted to present a document for the future in the hope that lessons could be learned about politics, power and morality. He strived for the truth about a war, a different goal from Herodotos.
Thucidides did something far more original, even given the fact that I grant Herodotus is the father of western history. He was in the position as an insider (an Athenian general) and then as an exiled outsider, (tempermental Athens threw him out after failing to take back a rebelious colony) to report the Peloponnesian War. The last hurrah for Greek city-states before they all weakened, ripe for Philip of Macedonia to conquor.
I digress, but one must read and appreciate Thucydides to understand his tremendous accomplishment for history. He records as best he was able without myth or tall tales, the strategy, the personalities, and the extreme hardships suffered by all sides. Sparta was egged on by commercially successful and competitive Corinth to engage in a war they really half-heartedly wanted. Athens was becoming an emipe through the Delian League. It's colonies also begged Sparta to get involved. Quite a war and integral to the study of Classical Greece and its denoument.
Anyone want to share views on Mr. T? I'd be happy to talk.
Helena Eleutheria wrote:Thanks Draco, for responding to my note. It is true that students of ancient history and the classical languages often don't encounter T. until they reach university. That is where I made my first encounter with him to any great degree myself. American secondary education is lacking in alot of areas and is generally way behind European standards.
Helena Eleutheria wrote:I just wanted to encourage people to read him, certainly for the most part in their own native language translations. I have only read passages in Greek and do find him daunting.
Helena Eleutheria wrote:Re Suetonius and Tacitus, perhaps I need a good review of thier approaches. No wonder we remain interested and enthusiastic about ancient hx. It's subject matter is amazingly vast!
Gnæus Dionysius Draco wrote:Herodotos, close to your hometown? What do you mean by that? Your profile says you live in NY?
Still, you appear to be in good company .
Drakon
Return to Collegium Historicum
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 16 guests