Ancient Greek Historiography and Oratory: Herodotus to Demosthenes
Ancient Greek Historiography and Oratory
Item 9
There are two periods in historiography: the first from Homer to Herodotus, and the second from Herodotus to Polybius and Latin historiography.
Herodotus
Herodotus lived during the Second Persian War and the start of the Peloponnesian War. He authored a historical work, divided by the Alexandrians. The work focuses on the wars that confronted the Greeks and Persians.
Main Features of Herodotus’ Work:
- The theme is the Persian Wars.
- It is a universal story.
- It incorporates geographic data.
- He consulted written and oral sources, quoting Hecataeus.
- He aimed for objectivity, despite criticisms of bias in favor of Athens.
- He critiqued myth and divinity, with the gods appearing indirectly in history.
- He used a vernacular-based language, influenced by Homeric and Attic styles.
Thucydides
Thucydides, an Athenian, lived through the events surrounding the Peloponnesian War. His history of this war spans eight books and remains unfinished. The first book serves as a prologue, outlining how Greece was divided into two camps.
Main Features of Thucydides’ Work:
- He aimed to create a different work from Herodotus, neglecting the epic model of history.
- He adopted a rational and critical approach to history.
- He avoided unnecessary digressions.
- He used a chronological organization.
- He strived for objectivity, using speeches to make history a form of grammar.
- He believed the main use of history was to enable individuals to anticipate future events based on past knowledge.
- He incorporated numerous speeches.
- His source was Herodotus.
- He used the Attic language, but with an older, elevated style.
Xenophon
Xenophon, an Athenian, lived after the defeat in the Peloponnesian War. He was a follower of the Sophists’ teachings. He contributed to history, oratory, and philosophy. Among his works are Hellenica and Cyropaedia.
Features of Xenophon’s Work:
- He is a smaller figure compared to Herodotus or Thucydides.
- He is a practical writer.
- He is interested in pedagogy and education.
- He frequently uses discourses and dialogues.
- His work is full of stories, digressions, and novelistic elements.
- His style is clear and simple.
Item 10
There were three kinds of oratory: the courts, the exhibition, and the deliberative. The major Greek orators are Lysias, Isocrates, and Demosthenes.
Lysias
Lysias was the son of a metic (resident alien). His father had emigrated to Lysias. After his father’s death, he and his brother moved to the city of Turia, remaining there for 15 years before returning to Athens. When democracy fell under the Thirty Tyrants, he and his brother attempted to flee, but his brother was captured and killed. Back in Athens, he earned his living as a logographer (speechwriter). His effective style, characterized by clarity and simplicity, was admired in his speeches for the crippled. The predominant feature of his work is his ability to portray his clients.
Isocrates
Isocrates, an Athenian, belonged to a family that owned a workshop devoted to manufacturing flutes. Aristotle mocked his family’s situation. In politics, he advocated for all of Greece to be united under a single command, believing Philip was the right person for this role. He had delicate health, a low voice, and became very nervous when speaking in public, so he wrote. Among his highlights are keynote speeches and eulogies. His work appears elaborate and full of important political, philosophical, and moral content.
Demosthenes
Demosthenes was an Athenian orator. He lost his father when he was seven years old, and his finances were put in the hands of administrators, who left his client in misery, forcing him to speak in court to recover his inheritance. He began his career as a logographer at the age of 20. His efforts succeeded in several cities fighting against Philip. Alexander the Great took an important part of the territory. The Macedonians won. Alexander died. Demosthenes is all passion. Among his speeches, the Philippics stand out, portraying Philip as a being with incredible ambition and pride, while also criticizing Athenian behavior. His works were studied regularly in schools, and comments were composed about them, establishing him as a speaker.