Problems in Greek history Part 23

This quotation is from a scholiast to Aristides, who is not the only grammarian who refers to the [Greek: Peploi]: there seems no reason to question the authenticity of the reference to this book as the work of Aristotle. It seems to be on the strength of these _Peploi_, with its only extract now cited, that modern historians have claimed the authority of the great critic for the Olympian Register! Was there ever so strange an inference? Is this indeed the _wissenschaftliche Bearbeitung_ which was begun by Hippias of Elis? Any calm critic free of prejudice will rather conclude from it that on questions of early chronology and mythical history Aristotle was a firm believer in legend, and that he understood his duty to be that of a cla.s.sifier and arranger of these stories rather than that of a destructive critic. It is but another case of acquiescence in a sceptic, such as I have described in the text above. This being Aristotle's att.i.tude as regards the foundation of the feast, his authority as to the beginning of the Register would be probably worthless. But as a matter of fact we know nothing about it.

These considerations are, however, of great importance in dealing with an objection or reservation made to my argument by Mr. Bury, who, while he accepts my conclusions as regards the Olympiads, thinks that the early dates for the Sicilian settlements rest on better evidence, seeing that they are sanctioned by the much older and greater authority of Thucydides, who was certainly critical about many of his dates, and cautious in expressing a positive opinion.

I think the case of Thucydides to be closely a.n.a.logous to that of Aristotle. On all historical matters within the reach of proper inquiry, I hold him to have been thoroughly critical. But when we go back to the legends such as the Siege of Troy, or the story of Tereus and Procne, I think he laid aside all this caution, and contented himself with a very modest rationalism in interpreting the myths. He is most particular about the _Pentekontaetia_, and h.e.l.lanicus' mistakes, but tells us calmly of events sixty years after the Trojan War, or 300 years before the Greeks went to Sicily. These matters stood with him on a different footing from that of his researches, just as our Bible history is honestly accepted by many scientific men of very sceptical turn in their special studies. They acquiesce in Scriptural evidence as a matter of general consent.

Neither critic ever seems to suspect fabrication of legends and lists; and yet fabrication there certainly was. In discussing the lists of the Argive priestesses, the kings of Sparta, and others, Max Duncker comes to the deliberate conclusion (vol. i. pp. 130-1 Eng. ed.) that the early part of these lists is fabricated. He cla.s.ses all the names before 800 B.C. as imaginary; applying critical principles more consistently, and accepting nothing upon the evidence of one unconfirmed witness, I have now shown reasons why we may suspect many of them down to 650 B.C.

FOOTNOTES:

[217:1] I gladly acknowledge some valuable hints and corrections from Dr. Hirschfeld of Konigsberg, and Dr. Th. k.o.c.k of Weimar; both of whom expressed agreement with my main results.

[218:1] Cf. below, p. 238, for the remaining fragment.

[219:1] [Greek: anege], as if they were no longer extant; but see below, p. 229.

[220:1] I can find no evidence that these discuses were identical, as is universally a.s.sumed. Pausanias would surely have mentioned Lycurgus'

name, had he seen it.

[222:1] Cf. Plutarch, _Lycurgus_, -- 1, to whom we owe the information.

In the extant works of Aristotle there is no allusion whatever to the Register as a chronological standard. Cf. below, p. 238.

[227:1] By the Eleians the 8th, the 34th, and the 104th were called by this name, probably used in Hippias' work, because these feasts were celebrated by invaders, who had no legal right to do so.

[230:1] The recent excavations have refuted this very early date for the treasure-house.

[232:1] Cf. the case of botas, supposed to have won the 6th Ol., but also a.s.serted to have fought in Plataea in Ol. 75. His statue and epigram, be it observed, dated from about Ol. 80.--Paus. vi. 3, 8; vii.

17, 13.

[234:1] Hippias' false epigram on the Sicilian Messenians (above mentioned) implies that the Messenians exiled from Messene were eligible.