Herodotus

To assess the validility and value of Herodotus' Historys there are multiple factors one must consider. Why did he write his works?; who did he write them for and how did he gather his information? Though these questions are still the subject of debate among many scholars, it is fairly well accepted that more than two centuries passed before the past had been bound to any kind of chronology that was to be compiled in the writings of Herodotus(Finley 1986, 17). For his sources Herodotus gathered most of his information from oral traditions. Although some may have infact been writen he still tried to represent them as oral. He maintained the fiction that his work was an oral account even though its known to be also based on written soucres (Murry …show more content…
It's unknown what Hellanicus thought of Herodotus but he did have a different style of research, Thucydides also had a different and more scientific approach then Herodotus. Although never actually mentioning Herodotus it is evident by his contradiction of Herodotus on a number of points that he didn't think much of Herodotus methods; stating that history was not a prize essay but a 'possession of lasting value' as stated by Evans (1968, 12). It's worthwhile to compare how Herodotus and other Ancient sources recalled the same events. Take for example Herodotus and Plutarchs accounts of Themistocles when Xerxes navy had been defeated and the Greeks held a council to decide what to do about the bridges at Hellespont. Herodotus' account is worded in a way that would give the impression that Themistocles was more devious then Plutarchs account. Herodotus describes Themistocles by saying "with the intent to deceive" (Hdt 8. 110) when he spoke to the Athenians, continuing on to say that Themistocles then in secret sent his servant Siccinnus to Xerxes to make it sound as if it was Themistocles' idea to leave the Hellespont intact, not affecting the retreat, Giving the impression that his motives were for as much personal gain as they were Greece interests. Plutarch however, Has no mention of Themistocles talking to the Athenians after the council meeting, Instead he says Themistocles sent a royal eunuch named Arncaces to Xerxes with the message that the Greeks would be attacking Hellespont, and that Themistocles out of regard for the king urged him to hasten home, thus out of fear, the king sped his retreat (Plut, Themistocles. 16). This plan as told by Plutarch creates the effect that Themistocles' plan sounds less self motivated. Making him not come across as a lair, but a clever tactician. Such accounts have an obvious effect of how we can perceive events that we have little other evidence for, that using Herodotus as