Classical Wisdom Litterae - Nov 2018

Dear Reader, This month’s edition is dedicated to Ancient Historians, to the great minds who, through their dedication and attention to detail, have left precious contents of the past from which we can learn. Given that their names are referenced in every issue - it is from them that we have so much, after all - it seems only fitting to turn the light on the authors themselves. The very concept of a ‘historian’ is, in many ways, a new one. The word itself comes from the Greek ἱστορία, historia , meaning "inquiry, knowledge acquired by investigation". Numerous times in the past, ‘historians’ were men who were ‘chroniclers’, simply reporting what was happening (Thucydides and Xenophon’s records of the Peloponnesian war, for instance). At other times, they gathered stories from afar, adding insight or morals along the way (Herodotus and Livy perhaps exemplify this best). The striking feature of all these ‘historians’ is the sheer breadth of accomplishment each was able to achieve in their lives. Their resumes are filled with roles like soldiers, senators, mercenaries, emperors...and even slaves. Indeed, these men rarely set out to be ‘historians’. Instead, they had the ability to acknowledge that their time or place was so important that it should be written down. They take the pen after war, exile, slavery, or travels. Another important element is asking how history should be presented...whether embellishment is allowed... or whether it only abuses the truth. Can history be entertaining? Is Truth boring? Our famous historians represented here fall on the full spectrum of this range, resulting in differing statuses in our modern age. We feel, however, we should present them all and let you, dear reader, decide for yourself. So, please enjoy this month’s edition of Classical Wisdom Litterae as we delve into the historians of the ancient world and the ideas of history itself. Enjoy! Anya Leonard Co-Founder and Project Director Classical Wisdom II A History of History