In Their Own Words

In Their Own Words 1.1

The two earliest Greek historians whose work has survived, Herodotus and Thucydides, who are introduced in more detail on p. 45 and p. 53 respectively, were both writing in the late 5th century, some three centuries after the colonisation movement had begun. Both refer to the early process of colonisation: read Thucydides’ account of the colonisation of Sicily (6.3–5 here) and Herodotus’ account of the foundation of Cyrene (4.150–8 here). What do these passages tell us about how later Greeks understood the colonisation movement of the 8th and 7th centuries?

In Their Own Words 1.2

By the middle of the 5th century, Greeks were engaging in discussion of political theory, focusing on what was the best form of government of the three with which they were familiar – one-man rule, oligarchy and democracy. A famous ex- ample of such a discussion comes in Herodotus’ Histories, 3.80–2, where the historian imagines three Persian nobles in 522 discussing which of the three systems would work best for their society. Read the passage here – what are the arguments for and against each system?

In Their Own Words 1.3

In book 8 of Homer’s Odyssey, Odysseus is received by a friendly and hospitable people, the Phaeacians. During a feast given in Odysseus’ honour, a blind bard, Demodocus, is summoned to entertain the gathering with stories of the gods and of the Trojan War. Read Odyssey 8 here – what might we learn about oral storytelling in the Greek world from the narrative?

In Their Own Words 1.4

The historian Herodotus gives his own account of the customs of the Persians in his Histories. Read Histories, 1.131–40 here; what do we learn about his understanding of Persian culture from this passage?

In Their Own Words 1.5

Read Thucydides’ account of the plague at 2.47–55 here, then research on the internet information relating to a mass grave of about 150 plague victims first discovered by archaeologists in 1994. What is the most common modern medical theory about the disease which Thucydides describes?

In Their Own Words 1.6

One story which illustrates the intelligence and courage of the young Alexander is his taming of his horse Bucephalus. Read Plutarch’s account of this episode here (Life of Alexander 6) – what qualities of Alexander are emphasised in this passage?

In Their Own Words 1.7

Read about Archimedes’ ‘eureka moment’ in Vitruvius’ work On Architecture 9.9–12 here. What problem had he been given to solve by Hiero, the tyrant of Syracuse, which led him to discover the principle of displacement?