Ergänzt sind: der Architrav (nach dem knidischen); ionisches Kyma, Friesumrahmung, Sphinxakrotere (nach den betr. siphnischen); Hängeplatten (nach den klazomenischen); der Torus der Säulenbasen; endlich von der Tür die Füllung und obere Umrahmung. 249 Ηρώδου περὶ πολιτείας. By F. E. Adcock und A. D. Knox. I. Within the last two decades a belief has been growing that in the speech Ηρώδου περὶ πολιτείας we have a work written towards the end of the 5th Century B. C. If this theory is accepted the historical authority of the speech is greatly increased, and it becomes the most important contemporary document for the history of Thessaly at this period. Those who believe in the antiquity of the work may regard it as written for the Thessalians in general, or for the inhabitants of one of the more important towns of that region. Indeed some have gone so far as to assert with boldness that the town in question is Larissa1). But it is possible to refine upon this view and to declare as Professor Drerup 2) has done, that this work is an oligarchical party-pamphlet expressing the views of the party of Theramenes and dating from 404 B. C. If either of these views are accepted, the historical value of the book is much greater than that which we would naturally assign to a declamation by Herodes Atticus or a late sophist. Wherefore, while it may seem beneath the dignity of literary criticism to seek to assign accurately the credit for a very unimpressive piece of writing, the question of authorship is nevertheless important both for the study of Greek Prose and the study of Greek History. In a case of this kind the burden of proof must fall upon those who argue for a time and a writer other than those afforded by the manuscript tradition. The view of those who ascribe to the speech an early origin is best summed up by Beloch in his Greek History 3). The author of the speech shows an excellent knowledge of Thessalian affairs in this period. . . . . Moreover the ideas, vocabulary and style of the speech seem to me entirely to fit the period about 400 B. C. It would be indeed. a marvellous achievement if a rhetorician of the second Century of the Empire proved capable of accomplishing all this; and I believe that if the speech had been handed down to us as the work, let us suppose, of Thrasymachus, no one would dream of doubting its genuineness.“ 1) E. g. E. Meyer, Gesch. des Alt. V p. 56f.; Theopomps Hellenika p. 259. II. Bd. 1. Hft. Paderborn 1908. 3) Griech. Gesch. II (1897) p. 132 n. 2. Klio, Beiträge zur alten Geschichte XIII 2. 17 |