Herodotus and Samos: Personal or Political?

Herodotus AND
HERODOTUS and SAMOS:

Samos: PERSONAL
Personal OR
or
Political?
POLITICAL?
ABSTRACT:This
ABSTRACT: Thisarticle
articleaddresses
addressesthethereasons
reasonsbehind Herodotus'' interest
behindHerodotus interest in
in
theisland
the islandof Samos. Taking
of Samos. Takingas as its
its starting
starting the
point famouspassage
point the famous passage about
about
Samianerga
Samian (3.60), II examine
erga(3.60), examineHerodotus' statedand
Herodotus ' stated and implicit
implicit reasonsfor
reasons his
for his
extended
extended Samian
Sam Scholarstend
logoi.Scholars
ian logoi. tendtoto explain his interest
explainhis interest in Samos
in Samosas as lying
lying
in details
in detailsof his biography.
of his biography. II argue thatany
arguethat such biographical
anysuch biographical connection
connection to
to
theisland
the islandmerely
merely reinforces
reinforces stronger
stronger unstated
unstated reasonsfor
reasons goingon
for going on long about
longabout
Samos:these
Samos: thesehave
havetoto do
do with
withPericlean
PericleanAthens'
Athens'competition
competition withPolycratean
with Polycratean
Samos as
Samos as aa historical
historicalantecedent
antecedent for thalassocracy,
for thalassocracy, and- not unrelated-the
and-not unrelated-the
Samian
Sam revolt.
ian revolt.
Samos was
Samos was apparently
apparently nearand
near and dear
dear to
to Herodotus,
Herodotus,owing
owingtoto his
his
stayon
stay on the
theisland,
island,soso much
muchsoso that
thaton
on one
one occasion
occasionhehe forgets
forgetshimself,
himself,
dwellingfar
dwelling fartoo
too long on the
long on the early
early history of the
history of the island,
island,so long in
so long in
factthat
fact thathe
he is
is compelled
compelledtoto supply
supplyanan apologetic,
apologetic, and uncharacteristic,
and uncharacteristic,
justification forhis
justification for his excess:
excess:
II have gone on
have gone on about
about the Samians at
the Samians at some
some length
length
because
because threethree of of their
their achievements
achievements are unsurpassed
are unsurpassed in
in
the Greekworld.
the Greek world. The The first
firstisis a tunnelwhich
a tunnel which waswas dugdug
right through the
right through the bottom
bottom of of aa hill 150 fathoms
hill 150 fathoms high,high,
so that
so that there
there is is an opening at
an opening at either end; the
either end; the tunnel
tunnel
is sevenstades
is seven stadeslonglong andand eight feet in
eight feet in both height and
both height and
width.
width . .. .. .. The secondof
The second of the
the three
three achievements
achievements is is aa
mole
mole in in the sea, over
the sea, over two stadeslong,
two stades enclosing the
long, enclosing the
harbor in
harbor in water
water which
which is is as
as much
much as twenty fathoms
as twenty fathoms
deep. The
deep. The third
third thing they built
thing they built is is the
the largest
largest temple
temple
ever seen; its
ever seen; its original design was
original design was drawn
drawn up by Rhoecus
up by Rhoecus
the
the son son of Phileas, who
of Phileas, who was
was aa native
native of of Samos.
Samos. These
These
achievements
achievements of of theirs
theirs are
are my justification for
my justification for going
going
on
on about
about them
them at at some
some length (3.60).1'
length (3.60).
So
So the story of
the story of Herodotus
Herodotus and and Samos goes. 2 There
Samos goes.2 There are,
are, however,
however, prob-prob-
lems
lems with
with this story: Herodotus
this story: Herodotus herehere in in fact
fact makes
makes no explicit recourse
no explicit recourse
to
to his
his own experience of
own experience of the
the island
island as as thethe basis
basis for
for his
his knowledge,
knowledge,
plausible as
plausible as the
the inference
inference may be, and
may be, and as as an apology for
an apology for the
the appar-
appar-
ent
ent excesses
excesses of of his logos, the
his logos, passage is
the passage is otherwise problematic. Not
otherwise problematic. Not
only
only is
is it
it the
the case
case that,
that, by
by Herodotean
Herodotean standards,
standards, the
the excursus
excursus on
on
early Samian
early history is
Sam ian history is far
far from
from unusual
unusual in in its
its length; indeed, without
length; indeed, without
Herodotus'
Herodotus' choice choice to go on
to go long about
on long about goinggoing on long (so
on long long it
(so long it is
is
1I Trans.,
Trans., R. Waterfield, Herodotus:
R. Waterfield, Herodotus: The The Histories
Histories (Oxford 1998). All
(Oxford 1998). All extended
extended
translations
translations of of Hdt.
Hdt. come
come from
from this
this source
source unless
unless otherwise
otherwise stated.
stated .
22 For example, F.
For example, F. Jacoby, "Herodotos," RE
Jacoby, "Herodotos," Supp. II
RE Supp. II (Berlin 1913) coll.
(Berlin 1913) coil. 222,
222,
428-29; W.
428-29; w. W.
w. How
How and
and J. Wells, A
J. Wells, Commentary on
A Commentary on Herodotus
Herodotus (Oxford 1912) 1.3;
(Oxford 1912) 1.3;
and, among later
and, among later scholars, e.g ., B.
scholars, e.g., Mitchell, "Herodotus
B. Mitchell, "Herodotus and Samos," JHS
and Samos," JHS 9595 (1975)
(1975)
75-91 (who calls
75- 91 (who calls his justification for
his justification for its
its length "unconvincing"); D.
length "unconvincing"); Asheri, "Book
D. Asheri, "Book
III," in
III," in O. Murray and
O. Murray and A. Moreno, A
A. Moreno, Commentary on
A Commentary on Herodotus
Herodotus Books
Books I-IV
I- IV (Oxford
(Oxford
2007) 437.
2007) Ultimately the
437. Ultimately the view
view stems
stems from
from the biographical tradition
the biographical tradition recorded
recorded byby the
the
Suda
Suda s.v.
s. v. "Herodotus."
"Herodotus ."
395
395
This content downloaded from 128.59.222.12 on Thu, 02 Jul 2015 15:14:46 UTC
All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions
396
396 Elizabeth Irwin
ELIZABETH IRWIN
quotedhere
quoted herein abridgedform),
in abridged form), thisthisfeature
feature ofof the
thenarrative
narrative mighteven
might even
have
have gonegone unnoticed.
unnoticed. But But it it is also the
is also case that
the case that the
the justification
justification is is
rather premature: Herodotus
rather premature: Herodotus will will in in fact
factgo go onon even longerwith
even longer with twotwo
subsequent
subsequent logoi appearingat
logoi appearing intervals in
at intervals thesecond
in the secondhalf of book
half of book 3. 3.33
Outside
Outside of of the function
the function of analeptic
of analeptic defense
defense for
for these
these future
future logoi,
logoi,
the apologetic passage
the apologetic passage mightmight be be considered appropriate
considered appropriate here insofar
here insofar
as this
as this first
first extended
extended SamianSamian logos logos waswas rather
ratherunwarranted
unwarranted by by itsits
content.
content. Moved
Moved (finally)
(finally) by by the
the petitions
petitions of of Samian
Samianexiles exiles to aid them
to aid them
in their
in their return
return to to Samos,
Samos, Sparta, togetherwith
Sparta,together Corinth, makes
with Corinth, makes this this
momentous
momentous crossing crossing to Samos only
to Samos onlyto leave without
to leave accomplishing
without accomplishing
anything, aa point
anything, point Herodotus
Herodotus underscores through his
underscores through his mode
mode of of narration.
narration.
Repeated allusions
Repeated allusions to to the anticipatedarrival
Spartans'anticipated
the Spartans' arrival punctuate
punctuate the the
various episodes of
various episodes theCorinthian
of the Corinthian digression (3.39.1,44.1,
digression (3.39.1, 44.1, 47.1), only
47.1), only
to
to be frustrated
be frustrated by the anticlimactic
by the anticlimactic outcome of
outcome the much
of the muchheralded
heralded
event.Over
event. Overin in three shortparagraphs,
three short paragraphs, after after aa suspiciously
suspiciously short
short siege
siege
(unflatteringly
(unflatteringly explainedby
explained by some,
some, 56.2),
56.2), Spartanerga
Spartan erga at
at Samos
Samos garner
garner
questionable
questionable praise praise onlyonly by meansof
by means of logos, manufactured
logos, manufactured through
through
aa contra-factual rendering
contra-factual rendering of
of thethe past (55.1): had
past (55.1): had all the Spartans
all the Spartans
thenbeen
then been the the equals
equals of of the
the twotwo menmen who stormedthe
who stormed city,things
the city, things
forSamos
for Samos wouldwould have have been
been different.
different. TheyThey weren't, however, and
weren't, however, and soso
Polycratean
Polycratean Samos Samos carries
carries on totally unaffected
on totally unaffected by by what
what Herodotus
Herodotus
momentously calls
momentously calls the "firstmilitary
the "first expedition the
military expedition DorianSpartans
the Dorian Spartans
made into
made into Asia" (3.56.2), the
Asia" (3.56.2), pronouncement underscoring
the pronouncement underscoring the the irony
irony
of his
of his own account, to
own account, to be sure,
be sure, but
but also
also self-consciously
self-consciously creatingaa
creating
tension
tension between
between History
History as as Event
Event and History
and History as
as Text.
Text.
Herodotusclaims
Herodotus claimsthat Samianerga
that Samian ("works"),some
erga ("works"), someof of the
the great-
great-
est of all
est of all those
thoseof of the
the Greeks,
Greeks, justify his lengthy
justify his lengthy digression
digression on the
on the
island. In
island. In this articleII propose
this article propose to look more
to look closely
more closely at
at this
this first-
first-
person utterance,
person utterance, not not only
only at at why Herodotusshould
why Herodotus shouldinvoke
invokeSamianSamian
erga here
erga here as explanation, but
as explanation, but also
also at why Herodotus
at why Herodotus should shouldchoose
choose so so
explicitly
explicitly to to make
make readers awareof
readers aware of his logos' length,
his logos' shouldchoose
length,should choose
to guarantee
to guaranteethat audience be
the audience
that the be aware
aware of somethingexceptional
of something exceptional
aboutthis
about -
logos ostensibly
this logos-ostensibly its
its size - despitethis
size-despite this being objectively
being objectively
not thecase.
not the case.4 4 II do because Herodotus'
so because
do so interest
Herodotus' interest in Samos
in Samos is is all so
all so
oftenconfigured
often configured in personal terms,
in personal terms, aa fact thatrenders
factthat rendersthe subject
the subject
particularly appropriate
particularly appropriate foraa volume
for volumeconcerning "HerodotusNow:
concerning"Herodotus Now:
The Personal
The Personal and and Political."
Political." Since Samos is
Since Samos said to
is said have harbored
to have harbored
himwhile
him whilein in exile
exile from
fromhis his native
native Halicarnassus, guest-friendship
Halicarnassus, guest-friendship is
is
widelyheld
widely held to accountfor
to account forhishis logoi and their
logoi and positive bias
their positive bias towards
towards
the island.
the island. And
And yet, plausible as
yet, plausible as itit may
may be - certainlyauthors
be-certainly authorshave have
3 The three and the
3 The Samian
three Sam logoi of
ian logoi of book
book 3: 1) 3.39-60, the
3: 1) ring of
the ring Polycrates and
of Polycrates the
Spartan Campaign
Spartan Samos; 2)
against Samos;
Campaign against 3.120-125, the
2) 3.120-125, the death
death of
of Polycrates
Polycrates at the hands
at the hands
of Oroetes and
of Oroetes and an epilogue on
an epilogue on his
his life; 3) 3.139-149, the
life; 3) cloak of
the cloak Syloson, Maean-
of Syloson, Maean-
drius,
drius, andand the capture of
the capture Samos.
of Samos.
4 See Asheri
Asheri (above, 455, on
n.2) 455, need to
the need supply an otherthan
4 See (above, n.2) on the to supply an explanation
explanation other than
that
that given
given byby Herodotus;
Herodotus; my explanation will
my explanation will differ
differ considerably from those
considerably from on of-
those on of-
fer.
fer. II will
will not discuss thematic
not discuss grounds for
thematic grounds for the
the lengthy
lengthy Samian logos, its
Samian logos, its engagement
engagement
with
with the Persian logos
the Persian it interrupts,
logos it interrupts, since
since this lies outside
this lies outside the immediateconcerns
the immediate concerns ofof
this and has
study and
this study has been expertlyhandled
been expertly handled by by H.
H. Immerwahr, "The Samian
Immerwahr, "The Stories of
Samian Stories of
Herodotus,"
Herodotus," CJ CJ 52 (1957) 312-22.
52 (1957) 312-22.
and SAMOS:
Herodotus AND
HERODOTUS Samos: personal or Political?
PERSONAL OR POLITICAL? 397
397
biographies
biographies-the- the biographical explanation is
biographical explanation is more problematic than
more problematic than
scholarshave
scholars acknowledged: it
have acknowledged: afterall,
is, after
it is, all, nothing
nothing more
more than
than an
an
argument
argument from likelihoodsince
from likelihood Herodotus
sinceHerodotus in
in fact nevercites
factnever cites aa Samian
Samian
sourcefor
source foranyany of of hishis logoi;5 and, moreover,
logoi;5 and, moreover, althoughalthough the Samians
the Samians
have been
have considered the
been considered the Greeks
Greeks most referred
mostreferred to in
to in the
the Histories
Histories
afterAthenians
after Athenians and Spartans,it
and Spartans, it is
is hard
hard to to see qualitative difference
see aa qualitative difference
in
in his treatment
his treatment of them
of them when comparedto
when compared some other
to some Greeksfor
other Greeks for
whom
whom there
there is is nono testimony
testimony of of any especial attachment.6
any especial attachment. 6
At the same
At the same time,time, if if Herodotus'
Herodotus' own own experiences
experiences should shouldbe al-
be al-
lowed to
lowed have had
to have had an an influence
influenceon on thethe extent
extentof of his
his treatment
treatment of
of
Samos, then
Samos, thenaa second
second reason arises why
reason arises Samos is
why Samos is relevant
relevantto to this
this
volume.If
volume. If personal interestis
personal interest grantedas
is granted as motivating
motivating his his coverage
coverage
of
of the eventswhich
the events which had had befallen Samos in
befallen Samos thedistant
in the distant past - causing
past-causing
his logos
his logos to "digress"at
to "digress" length
at length-then- thenaa fortiori
fortiori must mustwe we suppose
supposeaa
personal
personal interest
interest in
in the
the events
events which
which befell
befell Samos
Samos in
in the
the more
more recent
recent
past,namely
past, namely the
the brutal
brutal crushing
crushing of
of the
the Samian
Samian revolt
revolt by
by Pericles
Pericles in
in
439 B.C.
439 While Samos
B.C. While Samos is markedas
is marked the "first"
as the "first"city city conquered
conquered by by
Darius 3.139.1), an
(Hdt. 3.139.1),
Darius (Hdt. an event
eventthat makes it
thatmakes the first
it the firstGreek
Greekcity city ofof
the Histories
the Histories to demonstrate
to demonstrate one
one of of its
its central
centralthemes, the
themes, change-
the change-
abilityof
ability human eudaimoniê
of human eudaimonie (Hdt. (Hdt. 1.5), Samos had
1.5), Samos had been rendered
been rendered
significantly
significantly smallerin
smaller in recent
recent times, brought into
times,brought submissionby
into submission by
Athens, deprived of
Athens, deprived of itsits walls
walls andand fleet,
fleet,andand still
still picking
picking up up the tab
the tab
for 1200-1400talents
the 1200-1400
for the talents thatthat it costAthens
it cost Athens to subdueit.7
to subdue it.7 But rather
But rather
thanleave
than Herodotus'concern
leave Herodotus' concern for forthis eventas
this event as anan argument
argument from from
likelihood,II will
likelihood, will in in fact
fact be arguing that
be arguing that Herodotus'
Herodotus' first firstSamian
Samian
logos has
logos has been designedto
been designed to activate
activatesuch associations.That
such associations. That it it does
does
however, II will
so, however,
so, will argue
argue to to be
be less
less the
the result
result of of any
any personal
personal con- con-
nection,
nection, but
but rather
rather arises
arises from
from the
the kind
kind of
of text
text he
he will
will be
be seen
seen to
to be
be
writing,
writing, and
and is
is a
a function
function of
of the
the contemporary
contemporary audiences
audiences for
for whom
whom
his Histories
his Histories havehave been produced. Those
been produced. audiences,II maintain,
Those audiences, maintain, could could
have suppliedreasons
have supplied reasons beyond engineering
beyond engineering featsto
feats to have
have gonegone on on atat
length aboutSamos.
length about Samos.8 8
5 He in
5 He in fact
fact mentions only aa Spartan
mentions only Spartan source
source (Archias,
(Archias, 3.55.2), "a very
3.55.2), "a very rare
rare reference
reference
to an
to oral informer"
an oral informer" in in his
his work
work (Asheri
(Asheri [above, 387-88), on
n.2] 387-88),
[above,n.2] on whom
whom see see below.
below.
6 Comparethe
6 Compare theAeginetans,
Aeginetans, for example, who
for example, who areare in
in fact just as
fact just as prominent
prominent as as the
the
Samians,if
Samians, if not
notmore
moreso: the extended
so: the extended narratives
narratives of books 5
of books 5 and
and 66 (5.80-90,
(5.80-90, 6.49-50,
6.49-50,
61, 64-65, 73,
61, 64-65, theirprominence
85-94), their
73, 85-94), prominence in in the events of
the events of books
books 7-9 (e.g. 7.144-145,
7-9 (e.g. 7.144-145,
181, 8.83-84,
147, 181,
147, 8.83-84, 8.90-93, 9.78-80), and
8.90-93, 9.78-80), and scattered allusions in
scattered allusions in books
books 1-41-4 (2.178,
(2.178,
3.59, 3.122,
3.59, 3.122, 4.152); on which
4.152); on whichsee see E.E. Irwin, "'Lest things
Irwin, '''Lest thingsdonedone by by men
men become
become ex- ex-
itêla': writing
itela': writing Aegina in
up Aegina
up in a latefifth-century
a late fifth-century context"
context" and"Herodotus
and "Herodotus and Aeginetan
and Aeginetan
identity,"
identity," inin D. Fearn, Aegina:
D. Fearn, Contextsfor
Aegina: Contexts Choral Lyric
for Choral Lyric Poetry:
Poetry: Myth,
Myth, History, and
History, and
Identity in
Identity in the
the Fifth Century
Fifth Century B.C. (Oxford
B.C. (Oxford 2010). This is
2010). This notto
is not to deny that Herodotus
denythat Herodotus
demonstrates
demonstrates aa great deal of
greatdeal knowledgeabout
of knowledge aboutSamos
Samos (temples, craftsmen,
(temples, craftsmen, see
etc.; see
etc.;
Mitchell [above,n.2]
Mitchell [above, 75), but
n.2] 75), detailsare
the details
but the are no less aa function
no less function of aa taste
of forthis
tastefor this
knowledge
knowledge in in his audiencesthan
his audiences thanof of his
his biography
biography (for(forhe mustchoose
he must choose from his biog-
from his biog-
raphy since itit of
raphy since comprises more
necessitycomprises
of necessity more than
than what
what is is revealed
revealed of it in
of it his work).
in his work).
7 On the
7 On the outcome
outcome ofof the
the revolt,
revolt, seesee Thuc.
Thuc. 1.117.3,
1.117.3,Diod. 12.28.3-4,and
Diod. 12.28.3-4, Plut.
and Plu!.
Per.
Per. 28.1.
28.1. The
The exact cost of
exact cost of the
thecampaign
campaignis is contested;
contested;see see R.
R. Meiggs,
Meiggs, The TheAthenian
Athenian
Empire (Oxford1972)
Empire (Oxford 192-93, and
1972) 192-93, and C. Fornara,"On
C. Fornara, "On thethe chronology
chronology of
of the Samian
the Samian
War,"JHS
War," JHS 9999 (1979) 9-12.
(1979) 9-12.
8
8 As
As noted
noted by Immerwahr
by Immerwahr (above, n.4) 312.
(above, n.4) 312.
398 ELIZABETH IRWIN
ELIZABETH IRWIN
This
This contribution
contribution engages also with
engages also with the "Now" in
the "Now" in "Herodotus
"Herodotus
Now."
Now." Not did the
only did
Not only conference which
the conference which gavegave rise
rise to this vol-
to this vol-
ume
ume seem
seem an appropriate venue
an appropriate venue to probe how
to probe how well
well the
the frameworks
frameworks
which we
through which
through interpret the
we interpret Histories now
the Histories now as as modern
modern readers
readers of
of
Herodotus correspond to
Herodotus correspond those which
to those which would
would havehave been
been employed
employed by by
his audiences, but
contemporary audiences,
his contemporary but Samos itself seemed
Samos itself seemed an an appropriate
appropriate
topic for
topic an occasion
for an presided over
occasion presided over by by NYU's
NYU's Global
Global Distinguished
Distinguished
Professor who
Professor who wrote
wrote the
the seminal article in
seminal article in 1982, "Sparta and
1982, "Sparta and Samos
Samos
in
in the Archaic Period:
the Archaic Period: aa 'Special
'Special Relationship'?"9
Relationship'?"9
This article will
This article will bebe divided
divided into
into two parts. The
two parts. The first
first considers
considers
what recalling Samian
what recalling Samian erga meant in
erga meant in aa later fifth-century context,
later fifth-century context,
while
while the second examines
the second examines the degree to
the degree to which
which the Samian revolt
the Samian revolt
has Herodotus' narrative
shapedHerodotus'
has shaped narrative of early times.
of early times. Both parts will
Both parts will of
of
necessity involve
necessity reading Herodotus'
involve reading Samianlogos
Herodotus' Samian against Thucydides'
logos against Thucydides'
treatment
treatment of island in
of island in order
order to understand what
to understand going on
what going on atat length
length
about Samos meant
about Samos meant for Herodotus' audience.
for Herodotus' audience.
I
Three
Three architectural feats, the
architectural feats, the "greatest (megista)accomplished
"greatest(megista) accomplished
amongall
among all the
the Greeks," constitute Herodotus'
Greeks,"constitute explanation for
explicitexplanation
Herodotus' explicit for
the
the lengthiness
lengthiness of of his
his account. Since making
account. Since makingsure suregreat
greatergaerga dodo not
not
become exitêla("faded")
become exitela ("faded") is certainly in
is certainly keeping with
in keeping theaims
with the aimsexpressed
expressed
in
in the
the preface,10 scholarshave
preface,lo scholars have felt theneed
felt the need toto explain
explain onlyonly aa single
single
aspectof
aspect of this
thispassage
passage-or - or rather silence- namelythat
ratheraa silence-namely nowhere in
thatnowhere in
coda does
thiscoda
this does Herodotus
Herodotusmake makean an explicit reference to
explicitreference Polycrates'
to Polycrates'
responsibility
responsibility for these
for This silence
erga.u This
these erga." silence isis frequently
frequently explained
explained
by attributing
by attributing to
to Herodotus
Herodotus a
a distaste
distaste for
for tyranny
tyranny that
that resulted
resulted in his
in his
reluctanceto
reluctance creditaa tyrant
to credit tyrant withany
with achievement.12
anyachievement. This interpreta-
12 This
interpreta-
tion might
tion mightmake Herodotusaa good
make Herodotus good guyguy in some books,
in some books, but but asas an
an
explanationitit is
explanation is problematic
problematic given thatin
giventhat in the
the second
secondSam Samian logos
ian logos
of book
of book 3, 3, Polycrates
Polycratesis is acknowledged
acknowledgedto to be
be nearly unmatched
nearlyunmatched for
for
his megaloprepeie
his megaloprepeiê ("magnificence"),
("magnificence"), vying
vying with
with the
the Sicilian
Sicilian tyrants,13
tyrants, 13
and 3.60
and 3.60 contains
containsprecisely
precisely the thePolycrateia
Polycrateiathat thatbecame
becameaa byword
bywordof of
monumental
monumental works(Arist.
works Pol. 1313b24).
(Arist.Pol. 1313b24).
Granted,
Granted, the
the failure
failure to
to mentionPolycrates'
mention association with
Polycrates'association with
these erga
these erga does
does require
require explanation,
explanation, but
but before
before providing
providing one,
one, aa
moreremarkable
more remarkable silenceof
silence thepassage
of the passage must firstbe
mustfirst be noted,
noted,namely
namely
Herodotus'failure
Herodotus' failureto to justify
justifyhis his lengthy
lengthy digressionwith
digression withthe theterms
termshe he
uses in
uses in the
thesecond
secondSamian
Samianlogos logos where
where Polycratean
Polycratean Samos
Samos is
is made
made
thehome
the homeof of the
thefirst
firstthalassocracy:
thalassocracy:
9 P.
9 P. Cartledge,
Cartledge, 32:: 243-65
CQ 32
CQ 243-65..
10Immerwahr
10 Immerwahr (above,nA)
(above, 312.
n.4) 312.
11On the
II On theremarkableness
remarkableness ofthis
of thissilence,
silence,e.g. K. Waters,
e.g. K. Waters, Herodotus
Herodotus on Tyrants
on Tyrants and
and
Despots:AA Study
Despots: in Objectivity
Studyin Objectivity (Wiesbaden1971)
(Wiesbaden withaa tentative
27-28,with
1971)27-28, tentative explanation
explanation
28 n.76;
28 mostrecently,
n.76; most recently, Asheri(above,
Asheri n.2) 455
(above,n.2) and458
455 and 458..
12E.g. Mitchell
12 E.g. Mitchell(above,
(above, n.2)
n.2) 84 and D.
84 and D. Lateiner,
Lateiner,The HistoricalMethod
The Historical Methodof of
Herodotus(Toronto
Herodotus (Toronto1989) 170-71.
1989) 170-71.
13Hdt.3.
13 Hdt. 3.125.2.
125.2.
HERODOTUS and
Herodotus AND Samos: PERSONAL or
SAMOS : Personal OR Political?
POLITICAL? 399
399
YclQ écci
7tOAUKQIX,:T)C yáo
7ioAuKQáxr|c 7tQ(~JTOC xõ)v
fcn tcqcjtoc ~flEic lò|a£v
1:WV r)(aelc ' EM~vwv
ibflEv 'EAArjvcov
oc
OC 9aAaccoKQaT££iv f7tEVO~8T), náçet,
8aAaccoKQa1:EElV £7i£vor|9r), Mlvw t£
7tclQEi; Mlvco 1:E tou
1:OU
K vwcdou Kai
Kvcocclou Kal £i
d òrjb~ tic
HC àÀÀoc 7tQ01:EQoc toútou
uAAoc tcqóteqoc ~Qi;E
1:OlJ1:0U t]q£,£
nlc GaÀaccrjc*
Tfjc 1:fiC òk
8aAclccT)C' Tf|c AEyoflEVT)C y£V£f|c
clv8Qw7tT)lT)C À£yo|U£vr)c
bt àv6QCu7ir)Lr)c YEVEfic
TIOAUKQcl1:T)C IIqcõtoc,
noAuKQaTrjc fA7tlbac TioÀÀàc
TIQW1:OC, èÀniòac 7toAAac exwv Icovírjc
EXWV 'IwvlT)c
T£
1:E Kai v~cwv ao£,£iv.
Kal vfjccüv uQi;Elv. (Hdt. 3.122.2)
(Hdt. 3.122.2)
Polycrates was
Polycrates the first
was the Greek of
first Greek those we
of those know to
we know to
have conceived of
have conceived ruling the
of ruling discount Minos
sea. II discount
the sea. Minos of of
Cnossus and
Cnossus anyone earlier
and anyone than Minos
earlier than Minos whowho gained
gained
control
control of of the sea; it
the sea; remains the
it remains case that
the case that Polycrates
Polycrates
was the
was first member
the first member of what we
of what recognize as
we recognize as the
the
human race
human race to to do so, and
do so, and hehe fully expected to
fully expected to gain
gain
control of
control Ionia and
of Ionia and thethe islands.
islands.
Given contemporary obsession
Given contemporary obsession with with the history of
the history thalassocracy evi-
of thalassocracy evi-
denced
denced by Archaeology and
Thucydides' Archaeology
by Thucydides' and the the thalassocratic lists that
thalassocratic lists that
must lie
must lie behind it,14 one
behind it,14 might have
one might have expected Herodotus to
expected Herodotus have cited
to have cited
Polycrates' naval
Polycrates' ambitionsas
naval ambitions as aa basis
basis forfor his digression on
lengthy digression
his lengthy on
Samos. And
Samos. And yet
yet such justification is
such aa justification is absent.
absent. Why?
Why?
As
As aa contemporary representation of
contemporary representation earlynaval
of early powers, Thucydides,
naval powers, Thucydides,
II would suggest,
would suggest, can
can help
help us
us to
to understand
understand Herodotus'
Herodotus' choices.15
choices. If
IS If
Herodotus
Herodotus goes goes on long about
on long Samoshere
about Samos here (21(21 chapters), Thucydides by
chapters), Thucydides by
contrast
contrast is ridiculously
is ridiculously brief in
brief in his history of
his history of naval
naval power:
power: one sentence
one sentence
is dedicatedto
is dedicated Polycrates(Thuc
to Polycrates (Thuc. 1.13.6),while
. 1.13.6), whopping tenth
while aa whopping tenth ofof
his
his proem
proem is is spent
spent on
on the
the mythic
mythic Minos
Minos and
and his
his achievement
achievement (Thuc.
(Thuc.
1.4 and
1.4 8), aa figure
and 8), figure whom whomHerodotus dismissesin
Herodotus dismisses in aa mere
meretwo two words
words
and aa generalizing
and generalizing clause (Hdt.
clause 3.122.1,quoted
(Hdt. 3.122.1, above),and
quotedabove), and one who
one who
belongs to
belongs to aa period
period for forwhich
whichThucydides
Thucydides himself admitsthe
himself admits theevidence
evidence
is rather
is rather shaky 1.1.2,20.1).
(Thuc. 1.1.2,
shaky(Thuc. Once this
20.1). Once thisbrevity
brevity is is recognized,
recognized, the
the
reasonfor
reason it becomes
for it becomes rather ratherobvious:
obvious:Thucydides'
Thucydides' treatment
treatment of
of Poly-
Poly-
crates facilitates
cratesfacilitates his demonstration
his demonstration of the
of relativeinsignificance
therelative insignificance of of the
the
achievements
achievements of Greeks
of GreekslivinglivingafterafterTroy,
Troy,but but before Atheniannaval
before Athenian naval
supremacy.16
supremacy.16 His is
His is among
amongthose thosenavies
naviesthat thatwere
weremostmostpowerful,
powerful, but but
stillprimitive,
still primitive, by by which "nevertheless
which"nevertheless (õjacoç)"earlyfigures"acquired
(oflwC;)" early figures "acquired
notthe
not the least
least strength
strength (lqxuv ...
(iaxuv . . . OUK
ouk fAaXlU1:T)v)"
¿Aaxio-Trjv)" 1.15.1)
(Thuc. 1.15.1
(Thuc. - a
)-a
concession,
concession, yetone
yet one quickly
quicklyqualified
qualified: "thesenavies,
: "these navies,belonging
belonging as they
as they
did to
did to tyrants,
tyrants, onlyacted
only actedto to increase
increasetheirtheirown ownhouseholds
households(fC; tò 1:0V
(éç n) tòv
14J.L.
14 J. L. Myres, "The List
Myres,"The Listof Thalassocracies
ofThalassocracies in Eusebius,"
in JHS26
Eusebius,"JHS 26 (1906) 86. For
(1906) 86. For
thelikely
the coinageof
likelycoinage of the wordin
theword in Athens
Athenssee W. Aly,
see W. "Kastorals
Aly,"Kastor als Quelle Diodorsim
Quelle Diodors im
7. Buch,"
7. Buch,"RhMRhM 66 66 (1911)
(1911) 597. 597. For fulldiscussion
For aa full discussionofof this
thispassage
passageand and its relation-
its relation-
shipto
ship to Thucydides
Thucydides Archaeology
Archaeology (proem),see
(proem), E. Irwin,
see E. "The Politics
Irwin,"The Politicsof of Precedence
Precedence: :
'Historians'on
First'Historians'
First on First
First'Thalassocrats'
'Thalassocrats'," in R.
," in R. Osborne, ed., Debating
Osborne,ed., Debatingthe Athenian
theAthenian
Cultural Revolution
CulturalRevolution (Cambridge
(Cambridge 2007) 188-223.
2007) 188-223 .
15The
15 The following
following is aa development
is development of Irwin(above,
of Irwin (above,n.14) 216-19.
n.14) 216- 19.
16It should
16 It shouldbe be noted
notedthat thatThucydides'
Thucydides'casual dismissalof
casual dismissal of the
the significance
significance of
of
historical thalassocracies
historicalthalassocracies priorto
prior to introducing
introducing Athens(Kat
Athens eï "(Iv
(kcù€I xiveç áÀÀoi,14.3)
re; aAAoI, is
14.3) is
intertextual
highlyintertextual
highly with Herodotus'dismissal
withHerodotus' dismissalof of any thalassocracy
anythalassocracy priorto
prior Minos((el
to Minos rl
tic aAAoe;):
of]ne;
b~ àAAoç):ironically,
ironically, itit is
is Thucydides
Thucydides whodismisses
who consideration
dismissesconsideration of the
of histori-
thehistori-
cal, Herodotus
cal, Herodotus themythical.
the mythical.
400
400 ELIZABETH IRWIN
ELIZABETH IRWIN
lòlovoIKov
tbLOV aüxeiv)"- notthe
oîkovaUX€lv)"-not the polis - and "no
polis-and "no achievement
achievement worthy of
worthy of
mention(á£ióÀoyov)
mention (ai;loAoyov) was was accomplished
accomplishedby them, unless
by them, unless perhaps
perhaps by by
individualsagainst
individuals againsttheir their ownown neighbors"
neighbors"(Thuc. (Thuc. 1.17).
1.17). TheThe heavily
heavily
qualifiedaccount
qualified expertly finds
account expertly finds the grounds to
the grounds to dismiss early rivals
dismiss early rivals of of
Athens'
Athens' naval achievement:
naval achievement: even if,
even comparable
if, comparable to
to Athens,
Athens, Polycrates
Polycrates
was responsible for
was responsible great deeds
for great deeds and and gained
gainedmastery
mastery overothers,
over since
others, since
he
he was
was aa tyrant,
tyrant, these
these acts couldnot
acts could not be considered
be considered to have
to havebeenbeen done
done
for his city's
for his city'sbenefit
benefit nor nor as such the
as such the achievements
achievements of of the
the city,
city,andand
therefore
therefore notnotvalid
valid as as comparanda;
comparanda; and, evenif
and, even if in
in some
somecases
cases hehe ruled
ruled
the same islands
the same islandsas as those
those thatthatwere going to
were going to bebe ruled
ruled by Athens, the
by Athens, the
feat
feat was less impressive
was less impressive given given they they were
were inin the
the neighborhood
neighborhood (l.15 (1.15.2).
.2).
Indeed,what
Indeed, what Thucydides'
Thucydides' proem obscuresis
generallyobscures
proem generally is precisely
precisely
what
what Herodotus' treatment
Herodotus' treatment of
of Polycrates foregrounds: that
Polycrates foregrounds: Samoscould
that Samos could
be considered
be considered theAthens
the Athensof of the sixthcentury.
the sixth century. Herodotus' epilogue to
Herodotus' epilogue to
his death
his deathis magnificent
is magnificent in
in itself:
itself: a
a death
death "worthy
"worthy neither
neither of
of him
him nor
nor
of
of his aims; for
his aims; apartfrom
for apart fromthe the tyrants
tyrants of Syracuseno
of Syracuse no other
otherone one ofof
the
the Greek tyrants
Greek tyrants is worthyto
is worthy to be comparedwith
be compared Polycrateswhen
with Polycrates whenit it
comesto
comes magnificence
to magnificence (|a£yaAo7iQ£7i£ir)v au|ußÄr]6iivai)"
(/-l£yaAo71Q£mLf)v aU/-l~Af)8fJval)" (Hdt.3.125).
(Hdt. 3.125).
And indeed,
And indeed,Herodotus' treatment is
Herodotus' treatment is more
more in in line
line with
with other ancient
other ancient
sourceswhich
sources whichreflect
reflect the strength
the strength and splendor
and splendorof of archaic Samos,the
archaic Samos, the
worksof
works of aa figure deemedby
figuredeemed ancientsas
by ancients "notking
as "not kingof of Samos
Samos alone,
alone,
but
but even
even of of the entireHellenic
the entire Hellenicsea."I? sea."17
But whether
But whethersome some judged
judged Samos Samos the Athensof
the Athens of the sixthcen-
the sixth cen-
tury,
tury, or
or Athens
Athens the
the Samos
Samos of
of the
the fifth,
fifth, by focussing
by focussing on
on the
the erga still
erga still
superlative
superlative in his
in day,Herodotus'
his day, Herodotus' chapter chapter 60 60 addresses
addressesthe the question
question
thatThucydides
that Thucydides deftlydeftlysidesteps:
sidesteps:stripped
stripped of qualifications how
of qualifications would
how would
Polycratean
Polycratean SamosSamos and and Periclean
Periclean Athens compare? If
Athenscompare? measuredsolely
If measured solely
by the
by narrowThucydidean
the narrow Thucydidean criteria established
criteria established in
in his
his proem, nçóooboç
proem, 71Qoaoboc;
TcõvxQ^àzcov
'twv ("revenue")and
XQf)f,HX'tWV ("revenue") and aQxfJ ("rule")over
àQ%r'("rule") overothers, thatis,
others, that is, the
the
attributes
attributes of the present-day
of the present-day thalassocrats,
thalassocrats, fifth-century
fifth-century AthensAthensmay may
well
well have superseded
have superseded sixth-century
sixth-century Samos,and
Samos, and yet yetby theHerodotean
by the Herodotean
criteria
criteria of greaterga, Polycratean
of great erga, Polycratean Samos
Samos still
still prevails:
prevails: three
three of its
of its
erga are
erga stillmegista
are still megista of of all
all those
those of theGreeks,
of the including its
Greeks, including temple.
its temple.
WhileThucydides
While Thucydides largely deniesthe
largely denies the status of axiologon("worthy
statusofaxiologon ("worthyof of
recounting,"
recounting," 1.1.1, 1.14.2,
e.g. l.l.I,
e.g. l.14.2, 1.17)
l.17) to to anything
anything before
before thethe Persian
Persian
wars,18
wars,18 theword
the wordis is used
used only
only aa single
single time
time by Herodotus in
by Herodotus in the whole
the whole
of the
of Histories in
the Histories in aa passage
passage denyingdenying Greeks
Greeks anythingaxiologon
anything axiologon
exceptthis
except thisvery temple of
very temple of thethe Samians
Samiansand and that
that of of the
the Ephesians.19
Ephesians. 19
17Anacr. 491 PMG =

491 PMG = Himer.
Himer. or. 29.22. See
See also the phrase
phrase Polycrateia
17 Anacr. or. 29.22. also the erga
Polycrateia erga
(Arist. Pol.
(Arist. 1313Ò24) and
Pol. 1313b24) and Athen.
Athen. 540c-541a
540c-541a for for the the wealth
wealth andand luxurious living of
luxurious living of
PolycrateanSamos
Polycratean which may
Samos which may be compared with
be compared similar descriptions
with similar descriptionsof of Athens:
Athens: e.g.
e.g.
[Xen.] Ath.
[Xen.) Ath. Pol. 2.7-8, Hermipp.
Pol. 2.7-8, Hermipp. fr. 63 (Athen.
fr. 63 (Athen. 27e-28a). Herodotusalso
27e-28a). Herodotus also makes
makes itit clear
clear
how Athens' tyrants
how Athens' measure up
tyrants measure to Polycrates
up to Polycratesthrough
throughthe the salary paid to
salary paid Democedes,
to Democedes,
the
the physician,
physician, who who leaves
leaves the 100 minas
the 100 minas ofof the Peisistratidsfor
the Peisistratids the 2T
for the 2T ofof Polycrates
Polycrates
(Hdt.
(Hdt. 3.131), which in
3.131), which in the
the tradition recorded in
traditionrecorded Suda (s.v.
in Suda L'.TJf.loKtjbTJ~) were
(s.v. ArmoKiior)c) were of elec-
of e\ec-
trum,not
trum, not silver; Irwin "'Lest
see Irwin"
silver; see the things
'Lest the . .. .. .."" (above,
things. (above, n.7).
n.7).
18 see also 5.74 (2x),
4.48, 5.74 6.60, 4.23,4.23, 3.109, 2.10.
18 axiologon:
axiologon: see also 4.48, (2x), 6.60, 3.109, 2.10.
19Herodotus 2.148.2: "If someone
19 Herodotus 2.148.2: "If someone put togetherall
put together the strongholds
all the strongholds and and public
public
monumentsof
monuments the Greeks,
of the Greeks, itit would
would be obvious that
be obvious that less
less labour
labour and money had
and money had been
been
HERODOTUS and
Herodotus Samos: Personal
AND SAMOS: PERSONAL or
OR Political?
POLITICAL? 401
401
Even Polycrates'
Even Polycrates' furniture, dedicatedin
furniture, dedicated in the Heraion,is
the Heraion, "well worth
is "well worth
seeing,"
seeing," as
as Herodotus
Herodotus advises
advises his
his audience
audience (Hdt.
(Hdt. 3. 123.
3.123.1)!1)!2020
Here II would
Here wouldargueargue that
that going
going on on long aboutSamos
longabout Samosis is provocative:
provocative:
howwould
how wouldAthenian
Athenian audiences enticedby
audiences enticed by Thucydidean
Thucydidean (Periclean)vi-
(Periclean) vi-
sionsof
sions of what
what their archaeological
their archaeological remainswill
remains will tell
tell later
later people (Thuc.
people (Thuc.
1.10.2) hear
1.10.2) hear the implications for
the implications the future
for the future in Herodotus'claim
in Herodotus' claimthatthat
Samos' archaic
Samos' archaictemple
temple is is still superlative
still superlative even
even in
in their
their own
own time?21
time?21
We might
We mightnow now return
return to theabsence
to the absence of of Polycrates'
Polycrates' name namein in 3.60, rec-
3.60, rec-
ognizingit
ognizing it to
to bebe aa function
function not
not of
of Herodotus'
Herodotus' unwillingness
unwillingness to to credit
credit
tyrantwith
aa tyrant achievement,
with achievement, but rather
but ratherof of the unwillingness of
the unwillingness some
of some
within
within his audiences,those
his audiences, thosewho who areare implied
implied by by Thucydides'
Thucydides' proem, proem,
all too
all too keen
keento discredit
to discredit theachievements
the achievements of of historical
historical competitors
competitors by
by
whatever qualification
whatever qualification theycan
they findin
can find in order
orderto claim aa superlative
to claim superlative
status.When
status. WhenThucydides'
Thucydides'PericlesPericlesposits
posits future
future wonder
wonder at at the
the works
works
of Athens,22
of Herodotussets
Athens,22 Herodotus sets this supposedfuture
this supposed future wonder
wonder againstthe
against the
statusthat
status Samianworks
that Samian workshave alreadyattained
have already attained and and still
still possess
possess in in
his
his present
present day, challenging those
day, challenging those whowho wishwish to manage the
to manage memory
the memory
of thepast,
of the past, to persuade themselves
to persuade themselves and and others
othersof of aa linear trajectory
linear trajectory
of progress
of progress in in which
which they figure as
they figure as greatest
greatest and and last.23
last. 23 When
When Herodo-
Herodo-
tus explains the
tus explains the time
time he he spends
spends on
on archaic
archaic Samos,
Samos, it
it is
is not
not because
because
its feats
its provide aa precedent
feats provide precedent for forthe present, that
the present, is, past
that is, "firsts"in
past "firsts" in
aa sequence recalledonly
sequencerecalled only as as aa foil
foil toto the "lasts" of
the "lasts" the present,
of the present, but but
rather, because
rather, Samianworks
because Samian still remain
works still remainthe greatest.
the greatest.
The
The anxiety of
anxiety comparison
of comparison with
with Samos
Samos that
that emergesthrough
emerges through read-
read-
ing Herodotus'
ing lengthy
Herodotus' lengthy digression againstThucydides'
digression against Archaeology can
Thucydides' Archaeology can
be
be seen elsewhere in
seen elsewhere Thucydides
in Thucydides and other
and othersources,
sources,particularly
particularly thosethose
in relationto
in relation to the Samianrevolt
the Samian revolt of 440/439B.C.
of 440/439 B.C. TheThe fact
factthat only
that only
in book 88 (ch.
in book (ch. 76.4), not
76.4), not in in the
the Pentecontaetia
Pentecontaetia (Thuc. (Thuc. 1.105-107),
1.105-107),
does Thucydides
does Thucydidesrefer referto how close
to how close Athens
Athens was was to to losing
losing her herempire
empire
during
during the the Samian
Samian revolt suggeststhat
revolt suggests thateven
even the the competition
competition posed posed
by
by fifth-century
fifth-century SamosSamos was sufficiently
was sufficiently damagingto
damaging Thucydides'
to Thucydides'
narrativeof
narrative of Athenian smoothgrowth
Athenian smooth growthand progress of
and progress Athens.As
of Athens. As
Plutarch highlights:
Plutarch highlights:
Ion says that
Ion says [Pericles]had
that [Pericles] the most
had the most astonishingly
astonishingly
thoughtsof
greatthoughts
great of himself for having
himself for the
subjectedthe
having subjected
Samians; whereasAgamemnon
Samians;whereas Agamemnonwas was all of ten
all of years
ten years
expended on
expended on them than on
them than on this labyrinth - and II say
this labyrinth-and say this despite the
this despite fact that
the fact that the
the
temples
temples inin Ephesus
Ephesus and Samos are
and Samos remarkable(axiologos)
are remarkable (axiologos) structures."
structures."
20 One should
20 One should also note just the degree of name-dropping
also note just the degree of name-droppingin in the Samian logoi
the Samian logoi
which
which draw attentionto
draw attention Samos as
to Samos as aa center
center ofof the
the excellence:
excellence: Theodorus
Theodorus (3.41.1),
(3.41.1),
Eupalinus (3.60.3), Rhoecus
Eupalinus (3.60.3), (3.60.4), Democedes
Rhoecus (3.60.4), (3.131), Anacreon
Democedes (3.131), Anacreon (3.121.1).
(3.121.1).
21 when Herodotus
Herodotususesuses the
Particularlywhen
21 Particularly the superlative sparingly:see
superlativesparingly: see A. Furtwängler,
A. Furtwangler,
"Wer entwarf
"Wer entwarfden Tempel Griechensland?"
grössten Tempel
den grossten Griechensland?" MD AI (AJ
MDAI (A) 99 98 n.10.
(1984) 98
99 (1984) n.10.
For Herodotus'
For several references
Herodotus' several referencesto to this
this temple, see 1.70.3,3.123.1,4.88.1,4.152.4.
temple, see 1.70.3, 3.123.1, 4.88.1, 4.152.4.
22 Thuc. 2.41.4: "And we we shall
shall be
be the
the wonder
wonder not
22 Thuc. 2.41.4: "And only of
not only of the men today
the men today but
but
those of the
those of the future (toïç te
future (TOi<; vOv Kat
H VUV Kai TOi<;
xoïç £7i£ixa 6au|aaa6r)aó|a£6a)."
fTIEL'W 8aUflau8'lUOflE8a)."
23 See R.R. Bichler, "Herodotus' ethnography: and principles,"
principles," in V.
2J See Bichler, "Herodotus' ethnography:Examples
Examples and in V.
Kargeorghis and I.
Kargeorghis and I. Taifacos, The World
Taifacos, The Worldofof Herodotus (Nicosia 2004)
Herodotus (Nicosia 94-95 and
2004) 94-95 and Irwin
Irwin
(above, n.14) 208.
(above, n.14) 208.
402
402 ELIZABETH IRWIN
ELIZABETH IRWIN
in taking aa barbarian
in taking barbarian city, city, he had in
he had in nine
nine months
months
time reduced
time reduced the the foremost
foremost and and most
most powerful
powerful people people
of
of Ionia.
Ionia. [6][6] And indeed his
And indeed his estimate
estimate of of himself
himself was was
not
not unjust, nay, the
unjust, nay, the war brought with
actually brought
war actually with it it much
much
uncertainty and
uncertainty and great peril, if
great peril, indeed, as
if indeed, as Thucydides
Thucydides
says
says the
the city
city of
of Samos
Samos came
came within
within a
a verylittle
very little of
of
stripping from
stripping from Athens
Athens her power on
her power on the
the sea.24
sea. 24
Pericles' comparison of
Pericles' comparison himself with
of himself Agamemnon sacking
with Agamemnon sacking Troy Troy isis
telling: while
telling: rhetorically deft
while rhetorically deft inin establishing comparative frame
establishing aa comparative frame
in
in which
which the
the nine months it
nine months took Athens
it took Athens to to subdue
subdue SamosSamos mightmight not
not
as
appear long
appear as long as
as it
it was,
was, and
and elevating
elevating the
the venture
venture to
to epic status,25
epic status,25
it
it also inadvertently reveals
also inadvertently reveals the the monumental stature of
monumental stature Samos in
of Samos in the
the
consciousness
consciousness of the Athenians.
of the Furthermore, another
Athenians. Furthermore, another storystory recorded
recorded
by Plutarch
by Plutarch of of the
the Athenians tattooing the
Athenians tattooing the Samian prisoners with
Samian prisoners with the
the
samaena,
samaena, reminds
reminds us
us that
that Samian
Samian money
money bore
bore the
the image the
image of
of ship
the ship
embodying the
embodying the naval power that
naval power came into
that came into existence
existence under
under Polycrates.26
Polycrates. 26
A passage from
A passage Pliny (NH
from Pliny (NH 7.207) similarly records
7.207) similarly competition in
records competition in
the
the naval sphere,here
naval sphere, here involving
involving an an innovation:
innovation: "The "The Samians
Samiansor or else
else
Pericles the Athenian
Pericles the [invented]transports
Athenian [invented] transports forforhorses."
horses."
A
A final storypoints
final story points in
in the
the same
same direction.
direction. Recordingaa contro-
Recording contro-
versy over
versy over the correctascription
the correct ascription of an
of an epithet appliedto
epithet applied to homonymous
homonymous
figures - one associated
figures-one associatedwith Pericles,the
with Pericles, other with
the other with Polycrates
Polycrates-a - a
passage
passage of of Plutarch there were
suggeststhere were those among
Plutarch suggests those Herodotus'
amongHerodotus' con- con-
temporaries
temporaries who whoengaged
engagedin in aa process
process of of cross-mapping
cross-mapping sixth-century
sixth-century
Samoson
Samos fifth-century Athens.
on fifth-century Athens. While to
according Ephorus(FGrHist
While according to Ephorus (FGrHist
70 F
70 194 apud
F 194 apud Plut.Plut. Per.Per. 27.3) Pericles'siege
27.3) Pericles' siege engineer
engineerduringduringthethe
Samianrevolt,
Samian revolt,one oneArtemon
Artemon of Clazomenae,27
of Clazomenae,27 was dubbed
was dubbedperiphoretus
periphoretus
("famous"or
("famous" or "carried
"carriedaround"), allegedlybecause
around"),allegedly because he was lame
he was lame andand
transported
transported about
about on
on a
a litter,
litter, Plutarch
Plutarch records
records also
also Heracleides'
Heracleides' lengthy
lengthy
objection(fr.
objection (fr.60)60) to theapplication
to the applicationof of this
thisstory
storyto to the
the engineer
engineeras as
an erroneous
an conflationof
erroneousconflation of Pericles' Artemonwith
Pericles'Artemon withanother Artemon
anotherArtemon
24Plut. Per.
24 Plut. all translations
28.5-6, all
Per. 28.5-6, translationsof of Plutarch
Plutarchcome fromthe
come from the Loeb,
Loeb, B.B. Perrin,
Perrin,
Lives. Vol.
Plutarch's Lives.
Plutarch's Ill (London
Vol. III (London and and New
NewYork,
York, 1916).
1916).
25 On Pericles'
Pericles' embarrassing setbacks inin this
this affair
affairsee below.
see below.
25 On embarrassingsetbacks
26Plut. Per.
Per. 26.3-4:
26.3-4: 'The Samians retaliated
"The Samians retaliatedupon theAthenians
Atheniansby their
brandingtheir
26 Plut. upon the by branding
prisonersin
prisoners in the
the forehead
foreheadwithwithowls; the Athenians
forthe
owls; for Athenianshad had once
once branded
branded[sic) some of
[sic] some of
themwith
them with the
the samaena.
samaena. NowNow the
the samaena
samaena is is aa ship
ship of war with
of war with aa boar's
boar's head
head design
design
forprow
for and ram,
prow and more capacious
but more
ram,but capacious than usual and
thanusual and paunch-like,
paunch-like,so thatit
so that it is
is aa good
good
and aa swift
travelerand
deep-sea traveler
deep-sea swiftsailor
sailor too.
too. [4) It got
[4] It this name
got this because itit made
name because made its its first
first
appearancein
appearance in Samos, wherePolycrates
Samos, where the tyrant
Polycratesthe tyranthad some built.
had some built.To
To these
these brand-marks,
brand-marks,
the verse
verse of
of Aristophanes made riddling "
reference:"'For 'For oh! how lettered
oh! how letteredis is
theysay,
they say, the Aristophanesmade riddlingreference:
the folk
the folkofof the
the Samians!'"
Samians!'" TheThe story
storyisis told
told also
also by Photius(who
by Photius attributesitit to
(who attributes to Duris,
Duris,
FGrHist 76
FGrHist 76 FF 66), Suda s.
66), Suda s.v. Eajaícov6ó biiflo~,
v. I:afllwv and Aelian
ôf)|ioç,and Aelian VH VH 2.9
2.9 (collected
(collected in in PCG
PCG
3.2: Aristophanes
3.2: Aristophanesfr. 71 K-A),
fr. 71 but they
K-A), but reversethe
theyreverse the tattoos,
tattoos,which matterslittle
which matters littlefor
forthis
this
modernscholarship
argument,modern
argument, scholarshiptending
tendingto to follow
follow Photius
Photius(e.g. P. Stadter,
(e.g. P. Städter,A A Commentary
Commentary
on Plutarch's
on Plutarch'sPericles
Pericles [Chapel Hill and
[Chapel Hill and London
London 1989) 250; C.
1989] 250; P. Jones,
C. P. Jones,"Stigma: tattoo-
"Stigma:tattoo-
and branding,"
ing and
ing branding,"JRSJRS 7711 [1987) 139-55). Certainty
[1987] 139-55). Certaintyis, however,impossible:
is, however, arguably
impossible:arguably
Plutarch'sversion
Plutarch's versionmay
may be seen as
be seen as the
the lectio
lectio di./ficilior,
difficilior,andand see W. Headlam,
see W. Herodas
Headlam, Herodas
(Cambridge 1922)
(Cambridge foracknowledgment
265, for
1922) 265, acknowledgmentof "how elusive"
of "how elusive" our information
our information on the
on the
is.
subject is.
subject
27 See also
27 See also Diod.
Diod. Sic.
Sic. 12.28.3.
12.28.3.
HERODOTUS and
Herodotus SAMOS: personal
AND Samos: OR political?
PERSONAL or POLITICAL? 403
403
famously dubbed
famously periphoretus by
dubbed periphoretus by Poly crates'court
Polycrates' poet, Anacreon
court poet, Anacreon (372(372
PMG),
PMG), to
to whom
whom the
the story
story of
of the
the litter
litter rightly
rightly belongs.Resolvingthe
belongs. Resolving the
debate need not
debate need concern us
not concern here,28 but
us here,28 but the vehemence of
the vehemence of Heracleides'
Heracleides'
objection is
objection is of interest in
great interest
of great in this discussion: when
this discussion: when the epithet of
the epithet of
the Artemon of
"famous" Artemon
the "famous" Polycratean Samos
of Polycratean Samos becomes applied to
becomes applied to the
the
homonymous architect of
homonymous architect Pericles, it
of Pericles, it suggests that there
suggests that were those
there were those
prepared
prepared to
to describe
describe Periclean
Periclean figures
figures in
in Polycratean
Polycratean terms,
terms, which,
which,
by extension, would
by extension, cast Pericles
would cast Pericles as as Polycrates, figure with
Polycrates, aa figure with whom
whom
no doubt his
no doubt his building program and
building program megaloprepeia could
and megaloprepeia could bebe seen
seen toto
compare and
compare perhaps were
and perhaps intended to
were intended to surpass.29 Inherent in
surpass. 29 Inherent in this
this
identification of
identification of the Artemon of
the Artemon of Polycrates' court with
Polycrates' court with the
the Artemon
Artemon
of
of the Samian revolt
the Samian revolt may well be
may well be anan analogy between the
analogy between tyrant of
the tyrant of
sixth-century Samos and
sixth-century Samos and the general of
tyrant-like general
the tyrant-like of the
the tyrant city,30 and
tyrant city,30 and
such an
such association of
an association of distant and recent
distant and past would
recent past suggest another
would suggest another
reason why Herodotus
reason why Herodotus may have dwelt
may have long on
dwelt long on the
the inconsequential
inconsequential
Spartancampaign
Spartan against Polycrates,
campaign against namely the
Polycrates, namely Sam ian revolt.
the Samian revolt.
II
II
II turn now to
turn now to the logos
the logos that
that Herodotus
Herodotus has gone on
has gone long about.
on long about.
On analysisit
On analysis it will prove to
will prove to be
be one saturatedin
one saturated in late
late fifth-century
fifth-century
politics and
politics events, and
and events, and indeed
indeed even resonates with
even resonates with Thucydides'
Thucydides'
narrative
narrative of them. Herodotus'
of them. Herodotus' allusiveness to more
allusiveness to more recent times in
recent times in
the firstSamian
the first logos is
Samian logos evidencedin
is evidenced in two
two interconnected elements
interconnected elements
28But Heracleides
28 But Heracleides' re-ascription
' re-ascription is flawed:
is flawed : Anacreon's
Anacreon's fragment suggeststhat
fragment suggests that
hisperiphoretus
his periphoretus ArtemonArtemon was labelled
was suchowing
labelledsuch owingto to his
his notoriety, and Chamaeleon's
notoriety, and Chamaeleon's
attempt
attempt (fr.36,
(fr. 36, quoted
quotedby Athen.533e)
by Athen. 533e) toto support
supporthis his fellow
fellowcountryman
countryman withPMG
with PMG
388 is
388 is un Periphoretus Artemon
persuasive. Periphoretus
unpersuasive. becameaa byword
Artemon became byword of of notoriety fr.35
(Diph. fr.
notoriety (Diph. 35
K-A, punnedon
K-A, punned on by Aristoph.
by Aristoph. Ach.850
Ach. withr:L ad
850 with ad loc.),
loc), particularly
particularly forthose
for thosewhowhoareare
desired(according
highlydesired
highly (accordingto Zenob. I.I. 64,
to Zenob. MillerMet.
64, Miller Mel. p. 356, who
p. 356, also records
who also recordsthethe
disputeover
dispute overthethemeaning
meaning of the
of theepithet);
epithet); see S.
see D. Olson,
S. D. Olson,ed.,ed.,Aristophanes
Aristophanes: Acharnians
: Acharnians
(Oxford2002)
(Oxford 2002) 284.284. Meanwhile,
Meanwhile,there thereis no problem
is no problemin in understanding
understanding thatthe
that theepithet
epithet
of the
of theperiphoretus ("sought-after")
periphoretus ("sought-after") Artemon
Artemon of Samos
of Samos was was also
also wittily transferred,
wittilytransferred ,
likelyby
likely by contemporaries,
contemporaries, to the
to the"sought-after"
"sought-after" engineer(on
engineer Artemon's
(on Artemon's reputation
reputation as
as
mosttalented,
most talented,ao<jlw'raw<;,
aocjxírtaToç, Zenobiusand
see Zenobius
see see r:E Ar.
and see Ar. Ach. whetheror
850a), whether
Ach. 850a), or not
not
he was
he was also
also "carried about"owing
"carriedabout" owingto to infirmity.
infirmity. Thereis
There no especial
is no reasonto
especialreason to doubt
doubt
testimony
Ephorus'testimony
Ephorus' and the
and the scholiast's claim(r:
scholiast'sclaim Ar. Ach.
(E Ar. thatArtemon
850a) that
Ach. 850a) Artemonlived lived
thesame
at the
at sametime timeas Aristeides
as Aristeides {albeityounger,
(albeit younger, withperhaps
with perhapsNaxosNaxos among eventsof
amongevents of
his early
his career,472
earlycareer, 472 B.C.),
B.C.), if if true,
true,this wouldpoint
thiswould pointto to his
his advanced
advancedage, age, suggesting
suggesting
bothaa reason
both reasonfor forinfirmity,
infirmity, as well as
as well as accounting
accounting forhis
for his reputation
reputation by the
by timeof
thetime of
theSam
the Samian revolt.
ian revolt.
29Tradition
29 Tradition narratesfrequent
narrates frequent dubbingsfor
dubbings forPericles, whether
Pericles,whether as aa tyrant
as tyrant (a Pei-
(a Pe i-
sistratid,
sistratid, Plut.Per.
Plut. Per. 16.16.1; see Plut.
1; see Plut.Per.
Per. 7.
7.1), or aa god
1), or Cratin.
(Zeus: Cratin
god (Zeus: frr.73.1
. frr. 73.1-2, 118,
- 2, 118,
Ar. Ach.
258; Ar.
258; 530-531; Plut.
Ach. 530-531; Plut.Per.Per. 13.6,
13.6, 39.2;
39.2; Dionysus
Dionysus: Cratin.Dionysalexandros
: Cratin. Dionysalexandros), ),
or aa mythological
or mythological (Heracles,implied
figure(Heracles,
figure impliedby Eup.
by Eup fr.294
. fr. 294 and
and adesp.
adesp. comcom fro
fr.204,
204,
withOlson
with Olson [above,
[above,n.28] 210). As
n.28] 210). formodels
As for modelsfor forhishis building projects,some
buildingprojects, con-
some con-
temporaries
temporaries claimedthe
claimed theOde
Odeum was intended
urn was intended to imitatethe
to imitate theskene
skeneof of the
theGreat
GreatKing
King
Per. 13
(Plut.Per.
(Plut. 13.6).
.6) .
30For the
JO For the tyrant-like
tyrant-like Pericles,see
Pericles, Plut.Per.
see Plut. Per. 16.
16.1,1, Crat. fr.258.3;
Crat.fr. 258.3; see see adesp
adesp. .
com.
com fr.703,
. fro Thuc. 2.65
703, Thuc. 2.65.8-9,
.8-9, andand J.J. Schwarze,
Schwarze,Die Die Beurteilung
Beurteilung des Perikles
des Periklesdurch
durch
die allische
die attischeKomodie
Komödieund undihreihrehistorische
historische undhistoriographische
und historiographische Bedeutung
Bedeutung (Munich
(Munich
11 n.13.
1971) lin.
1971) \3 . On On tyranny
tyranny Athenssee
and Athens
and see the
the summary
summary of texts
of textsandand sources
sourcesin in
R. Munson,
R. Munson,Telling Wonders:
TellingWonders: Ethnographic
Ethnographic and Political
and Discoursein
PoliticalDiscourse in the
the Work
Workof of
Herodotus(Ann
Herodotus (AnnArbor Arbor2002001) I) 5858..
404
404 Elizabeth
ELIZABETH Irwin
IRWIN
of
of his treatment
his treatment of Polycrates
of Polycrates which whichII will will demonstrate:
demonstrate: namely, namely,aa
mirroring
mirroring of
of Athens,
Athens, and
and specifically
specifically Pericles,
Pericles, in
in the
the character
character of
of
Polycrates,
Polycrates, and and aa depiction
depictionof of the stasis in
the stasis in archaic
archaic Samos Samos that that has
has
been shaped to
been shaped to evoke
evoke the the events of- and even
events of-and even disputes surround-
disputes surround-
ing -
ing-the the Samian
Samian revolt.
revolt.
Polycrates'
Polycrates' very entranceinto
very entrance into the
the Histories
Histories is is such
suchas to encour-
as to encour-
age associations with
age associations Athens of
with Athens of the
the next generation:
next generation: "in aa little
"in time
little time
straightaway
straightaway (év XQÓvcp
(tv XQavCfJ òÀíyo) aùxiKa) the
OAlYCfJ aU1:lKa) theaffairs
affairs of of Polycrates
Polycrates grew grew
(r|ü££To) and he
(fJU~E't:O) and he was
was thethe talk
talk of Ionia and
of Ionia and thethe rest
rest of of Greece.
Greece. For For
wherever
wherever he directed
he directed his military
his military activity,
activity, allall yielded
yielded to to him
him with ease.
with ease.
Andhe
And he had
had obtained
obtained 100 100 penteconters
penteconters and 1000archers"
and 1000 archers" (Hdt.(Hdt.3.39.3).
3.39.3).
Comparable to
Comparable thisstory
to this storyof of instant
instant naval successis
naval success thatof
is that of Athens
Athensas as
toldby
told Thucydides
by Thucydides (Thuc. 1.14.3; see
(Thuc. 1.14.3; see 1.18.2-3):
1.18.2-3):AthensAthensobtains
obtains shipsships
late in
late theday
in the takesto
(òi[>é),takes
day (oljJE), to the sea at
the sea thePersian
at the threatand
Persian threat and soon
soon
becomes
becomes aa formidable
formidable sea power.
sea she
Straightaway begins grow:
power. Straightaway she begins to
to grow:
auxêsis ("growth")being
auxesis ("growth") being the Archaeology's buzzword
the Archaeology's buzzword in in the
the history
history
of progress
of progress basedbased on on sea power which
sea power which willwill bebe realized
realized in in the
theAthens
Athens
of the
of thePentecontaetia,
Pentecontaetia, and and as as such
suchno no doubt belonging to
doubt belonging current
to current dis-
dis-
courseupon
course upon which
which Herodotus' of
description Polycrates
Herodotus' description of Polycrates also
also reflects.31
reflects.3'
And indeedthe
And indeed thecomment
comment that thatPolycrates
Polycrates went
went on on to harmfriend
to harm friendand and
foe alike
foe alike "because
"becausehe he claimed
claimed he he would
would be doing aa friend
be doing friendmoremore of of aa
favour
favour if if he
he returned
returned what what he he had
had taken thanif
taken than if he
he hadhad not taken it
nottaken in
it in
the firstplace
the first place (~ (rj àQxnv|arjòèAaßcov)"(Hdt. 3.39.4)
uQXt)v I-LfJbt Aaf3wv)" (Hdt. 3.39.4) could
could be
be applied
applied
to Athensin
to Athens in the
the minds
minds of somecontemporaries.
of some contemporaries. Indeed Indeed ~rjuQXt)v
àç>xr]v |urjòè
I-LfJbt
Aaf3wv is
Aaßcov also aa play
is also play on on words,
words, "than "thanif if he
he never
never took arche,"32
took arche,"32 and
and
Polycrates'
Polycrates' philosophy of
philosophy of rule
rule then
then becomes
becomes even even moremorecomparable
comparable to
to
that of the
that of Athenians
the Athenians as represented
as represented by Thucydides
by Thucydides (e.g. Thuc.
(e.g. 1.77).
Thuc. 1.77).
But afterthis
But after this introduction, Polycrates becomes
introduction, Polycrates suggestiveno
becomes suggestive no longer
longer
onlyof
only Athensbut
of Athens rather more
but rather specifically
more specifically of
of her
her first Pericles.
citizen,Pericles.
first citizen,
Herodotusnow
Herodotus changesregister
now changes ratherabruptly:
register rather abruptly: the the success
success of of
Polycratesleads
Polycrates leads to to the
the fairytale-like
fairy tale-like story storyof of the Ringof
the Ring of Polycrates
Polycrates
(Hdt. 3.40-43).
(Hdt. 3.40-43). Responding
Respondingto to his guest-friend's
his guest-friend's success with
success fear,
with fear,
the
the Egyptian
Egyptian King King Amasis
Amasis is is said
said to have requested
to have requested that that Polycrates
Polycrates
throw
throwawayaway that which means
thatwhich means most most to to him
him so so that
thatby by mixing
mixing some some
bad fortune with
bad fortune with the good he
the good he might avertaa bad
might avert end.When
bad end. WhenPolycrates
Polycrates
followsthis
follows this advice
advice as as he
he interprets
interprets it it and failsto
and fails to find
find the
the bad luck
bad luck
he
he soso needs,
needs, Amasis
Amasis breaks
breaks off theirfriendship
offtheir friendship lest
lest hehe be forcedto
be forced to
feelgrief
feel grieffor Polycrates as
for Polycrates as hehe would friend when
would aa friend when he meetsthe
he meets thebadbad
end that
end thatseems
seemsinevitable.
inevitable.
31 Thuc. 1.2.6,
31 Thuc. 1.2.6, 12.1,
12.1, 16, 17, 89.1,
16, 17, 99.3. For
89.1, 99.3. the overwhelming
For the association of
overwhelming association of
"growth"and
"growth" Athensreflected
and Athens in Herodotus,
reflected in Herodotus,seesee 5.77.4, 91.2 (see
91.1, 91.2
5.77.4, 91.1, (see 5.92el
5.92el with
with J.
J.
Moles, "Saving
Moles, Greece from
"Saving Greece from the 'Ignominy' of
the 'Ignominy' Tyranny?The
of Tyranny? The 'Famous'
'Famous' and 'Wonder-
and 'Wonder-
ful' Speech of
ful' Speech of Socies," in E.
Socles," in E. Irwin
Irwin andand E. Greenwood (eds.),
E. Greenwood Reading Herodotus:
(eds.), Reading The
Herodotus: The
Logoi of
Logoi of Book
Book 55 [Cambridge
[Cambridge2007] 245-68), and
2007] 245-68), and provocatively
provocatively 1.58 1.58 (see of òúvafiiç,
(see of bUvuflu;,
of the
1.46.1; of the growth
growthofof the
the body
body in in arguments
argumentsforfor imperial expansion, 3.134.3).
imperial expansion, 3.134.3).
32 paronomasia with
On paronomasia
l2 On arche in
with arche in Herodotus,
Herodotus, seesee Irwin
Irwin inin Irwin
Irwin and
and Greenwood
Greenwood
(above, n.31)
(above, 47 n.16
n.31) 47 n.16 and
and H. Smyth,Greek
H. Smyth, Greek Grammar
Grammar(Cambridge,
(Cambridge, Mass., 1920) §3040,
Mass., 1920) §3040,
"paronomasia"; and
"paronomasia"; see D.
and see D. Gilula, "Who Was
Gilula, "Who Was Actually
ActuallyBuried
Buried inin the
the First
First of
of the Three
the Three
Spartan Tombs
Spartan 9.85.1)? Textual
(Hdt. 9.85.1)?
Tombs (Hdt. Textual andand historical problems," in
historical problems," in P. Derow and
P. Derow and R.
R.
Parker, Herodotus
Parker, Herodotus and his World
and his World(Oxford 85-87.
2003) 85-87.
(Oxford 2003)
HERODOTUS AND SAMOS:
HERODOTUS AND PERSONAL OR
SANIOS: PERSONAL OR POLITICAL?
POLITICAL? 405
405
contrastedas
Starklycontrasted
Starkly as its
its fabulous
fabulous narrative
narrative is is with
with thethe more
more
"straight"
"straight" historical
historical account
account of
of the
the Spartancampaign
Spartan campaign and
and highly
highly
contrived
contrived in in its
its evocation
evocation of of the major theme
the major theme of of Herodotus'
Herodotus'Histo-Histo-
the changeability
ries,the
ries, changeability of human
of humanfortune,
fortune, this storycan
this story hardly have
can hardly have
been intendedto
been intended to pass
pass as as history.33
history.33 When an
When an author
author creates
creates aa nar-nar-
rativeso
rative so conspicuously
conspicuously marked
marked in
in its
its content
content and
and placement,
placement, more
more
astutereaders
astute readersought
ought to to require
require somesome explanation
explanationfor for its recounting
its recounting
other
other than
than the author'snaïveté
the author's naivete in in supposing
supposingthe the account
account true.34
true. 34 The
The
elementsof
elements of the storywere
the story likelyto
were likely to have
have had
had aa familiar "ring"for
familiar "ring" for
some contemporaries:
some contemporaries: aa tyrannical leaderof
tyrannical leader of aa naval
naval power eliciting
power eliciting
fear in his
fear in his guest-friend
guest-friend is is no
no less
less the storyof
the story of Pericles
Periclesand and his
his guest-
guest-
friend
friend Archidamus
Archidamus (Thuc. 2.13), who,
(Thuc. 2.13), accordingto
who, according Thucydides,
to Thucydides, gave
gave
the
the Athenians
Athenians the the ultimatum
ultimatum that that they could avoid
they could avoid warwar by throwing
by throwing
away whatmeans
away what means mostmost to to them:
them: for forthem,
them, no no less
less than
than Polycrates,
Polycrates,
this meanttheir
this meant theirarche?5 And indeed
arche. 35 And "fear"at
indeed "fear" another's"growth"
at another's "growth"as as
breach in
aa breach friendship
in friendship suggestsnothing
suggests nothing less thanThucydides'
less than Thucydides'tru- tru-
est
est cause
cause ofof the Peloponnesian War
the Peloponnesian War as as set out in
set out thatauthor's
in that author's own own
just-so storythat
just-so story announceshis
that announces History, the
his History, so-calledArchaeology.
the so-called Archaeology:
"The truest
"The explanation,although
truest explanation, althoughit it has
has been least often
been least oftenadvanced,
advanced,
II believe
believe toto have
have been
been thethe growth (auxêsis)
growth (auxesis) of
of Athens
Athens to
to greatness,
greatness,
which brought fear
which brought (phobos)to
fear (Phobos) to the Lacedaimoniansand
the Lacedaimonians and forced them
forced them
to war" (Thuc
to war" (Thuc 1.23).
1.23).
Of
Of course,
course, as as the
the next instalment
next instalment of the
of the logos
logos Herodotus
Herodotus will will
juxtapose
juxtapose this
this fairy
fairy tale
tale with
with some
some Realpolitik capable of
Realpolitikcapable furnishing
of furnishing
aa more
more historically
historically respectable explanationfor
respectable explanation the breach
for the breach between
between
these guest-friends.
these guest-friends. It is,
It as we
is, as discover,that
we discover, that the too-successful,
the too-successful,
tyrannical guest-friendis
tyrannical guest-friend is willing
willing to to conspire
conspire with with the
the Persians
Persians
33The evocation
33 The evocation of of other
otherset set pieces (Solon to
pieces (Solon to Croesus,
Croesus, Artabanus
Artabanus to Xerxes)and
to Xerxes) and
the
the fancifulness
fancifulness of of its details(such
its details (such asas the
the return
return ofof the
thering
ringin in the belly of
the belly of the
the fish)
fish)
mark
mark thethestory
story as as self-consciously outsidethe
self-consciously outside therealm
realmof of history. See the
history. See comments
the comments of
of
R. Bichler,
R. "Herodotund
Bichler, "Herodot und diedie Macht
Macht des Geldes," in
des Geldes," in Historiographie-Ethnographie-
Historiographie-Ethnographie-
Gesammelte
Utopie.Gesammelte
Utopie. Schriften, Teil
Schriften, rei! 1. Studienzu
I. Studien zu Herodots
Herodots Kunst
Kunst derder Historie, ed., R.
Historie, ed., R.
(Wiesbaden2007)
Rollinger(Wiesbaden
Rollinger 11-26
2007) 11-26
34G. de
34 G. Ste Croix,
de Ste "Herodotus,"
Croix, "Herodotus," G&R 24
G&R 24 (1977) 145,attributes
(1977) 145, his belief
attributes his belief toto his
his
"obsessionwith
"obsession with the supernatural"; Mitchell
the supernatural"; Mitchell (above, n.2) 79-80
(above, n.2) findshim
79-80 finds him misled
misled by by
his "partiality
his "partiality forthe
for Samians"from
the Samians" fromwhom
whom he he is
is supposed
supposedto to have
have heard
heard thethe story.
story.
Certainly
Certainly to believein
to believe thehistorical
in the historical truthof
truth of this story would
this story would be be one
one kind
kind ofof naïveté,
naIvete,
to believe
to believe itsits author did, 1I would
author did, maintain, is
would maintain, is another.
another. ForFor astute
astute discussion
discussion of of the
the
subject, see
subject, see R.R. Bichler, "Die 'Reichstriiume'
Bichler, "Die 'Reichsträume' bei
bei Herodot," Chiron15
Herodot," Chiron 15 (1985) 125-47.
(1985) 125-47.
35 As J.
35 As J.Van derVeen
Van der ("The Lord
Veen ("The Lord ofof the Ring:Narrative
the Ring: Techniquein
Narrative Technique in Herodotus'
Herodotus'
Storyon
Story Polycrates'
on Polycrates' Ring,"Mnemosyne
Ring," Mnemosyne 46 46 [1993]
[1993] 442-44) demonstrates, and
442-44) demonstrates, and isis made
made
clearby
clear by the
the fisherman
fisherman who,who,bringing
bringing thetheexceptional
exceptional fishto
fish to Polycrates,
Polycrates, identifies
identifies arche
arche
as Polycrates'
as Polycrates' most valuablepossession
most valuable (3.42; see
possession (3.42; see van
van derder Veen,
Veen, 450):
450): "1 "I decided
decided
not
not to
to take
take this fishII caught
this fish caught to to the townsquare,
the town eventhough
square,even though II make
makemy myliving
living as as aa
fisherman, because
fisherman, because it it seemed
seemedto to me
me toto be
be good enoughfor
good enough you and
for you arche"; see
yourarche";
and your see
N.
N. Marinatos,
Marinatos, "Wahl"Wahlund Schicksalbei
und Schicksal Herodot," Saeculum
bei Herodot," Saeculum 33 (1982) 260,
33 (1982) and H.
260, and H.
Löffler, Fehlentscheidungen bei
Loffler, Fehlentscheidungen bei Herodot (Tübingen
Herodot (Tiibingen 78-79. Spartans
2008) 78-79.
2008) Spartans to
to Athenians:
Athenians:
"The Lacedaimonians
"The Lacedaimonians desirethere
desire thereto to be peace, and
be peace, and there
there will
will bebe peace
peace if if you
you give
give
the
the Greeks
Greeks their independence" (Thuc.
their independence" 1.139). The
(Thuc. 1.139). The identification
identification of of an
an Egyptian
Egyptian kingking
with
with aa Spartan
Spartanone one isis rendered unproblematic
rendered unproblematic by Herodotus,
by Herodotus, whosewhosenarrative
narrative andand itsits
testimony
testimony regarding
regarding theaccounts
the accounts of of others
others suggest
suggest an an association
association between
between Egyptians
Egyptians
and
and the Dorianleaders
the Dorian leaderswas current
was current (Hdt. 6.53-55).
(Hdt. 6.53-55).
406
406 Elizabeth Irwin
ELIZABETH IRWIN
againstthe
against the nation
nation of his guest-friend,
of his guest-friend, again aa cause
again cause resonant
resonantwith with
Athens
Athens and and Sparta
Sparta and
and the
the outbreak
outbreak of
of the
the Archidamian
Archidamian War.36
War.36 Here
Here
Herodotusstages
Herodotus stagesaa timely entrance:at
timely entrance: at this
this very
very juncture
juncture in in the
the nar-
nar-
rative
rative who who else shouldenter
else should enter but
but the Spartans,and
the Spartans, and this theydo
this they do asas
protagonists of
protagonists of anan event
eventthat the inconsequentiality
that the inconsequentiality of which
of which oughtought
to
to have consigned[it]
have consigned [it] to Instead,its
oblivion.Instead,
to oblivion. its extensive
extensive narration
narration is is
justified not
justified not by recourseto
by recourse to any
anyutility
utility itit might have for
mighthave for understand-
understand-
ing the
ing past that
the past that itit narrates,37
narrates,37 but
but rather
rather by recourseto
by recourse to its
its (tenuous)
(tenuous)
relevancefor
relevance forthe
the present:
present: thesetheseare are the historicalevents
the historical events of of aa place
place
and
and time responsible
time responsible for
for works
works that
that remain
remain the
the greatest
greatest of
of those
those we
we
know.
know. Here Here thethe function
function of
of the present tense
the present mustbe
tense must be recognized:
recognized: it it
draws
draws aa contemporary
contemporary timeframe
timeframe into into the
the logos. But this
logos. But thisleads
leads to the
to the
further
further question:why
question: recountthose
whyrecount Samian works
those Samian thatcontinue
works that continueto to
be
be greatest?
greatest? The The answer
answer lies lies not only,as
not only, as II have argued in
have argued in Part
Part I, in
I, in
the
the current attitudes
current attitudes that might
that might cause
cause such
such megistaerga
megista erga as
as those
those of
of
Samiansto
Samians to become but, as
exitêla,but,
become exitela, as will
will be shown,in
be shown, in aa certain
certainevent
event
that
that is inextricable
is inextricable from
from-asas both cause and
both cause and consequence of- those
consequence of-those
attitudes,
attitudes, namelythe
namely Samianrevolt.
the Samian revolt.
When
When aa prolonged narrative
prolonged narrative detailing the
ensues,detailing
ensues, the ultimate failure
ultimate failure
of Sparta
of Spartato save Samos,
to save Samos,rather than ask
rather than whethersome
ask whether some would
would have have
recalled
recalled the the recent Samianrevolt
recent Samian revolt andand the
the failure
failure of thePeloponnesian
of the Peloponnesian
League to
League to act on behalf
act on behalf of of Samos,
Samos,better
better to ask whether
to ask whether there could
there could
have been
have been any who would
any who would not have.38
not have. In the
38 In the midst
midst of of this narrative
this narrative
aa number
number of elementsappear
gratuitouselements
of gratuitous appear capable
capable of evokingmore
of evoking more
contemporary
contemporary events, events,including
including aa lengthy account"explaining"
lengthy account "explaining" Corin-
Corin-
thian long-standing animosity
thian long-standing animosity with withCorcyra,
Corcyra, to whichII return
to which return below.
below.
For now II want
For now wantto to focus
focus on narrative
the narrative
on the of Polycrates' war
of Polycrates' war against
against
his own
his own subjects which, II argue,
subjectswhich, provides aa studied
argue,provides studiedallusion
allusion to to af-
af-
fairsbelonging
fairs belonging to to the revoltof
Samianrevolt
the Samian of 440/439 B.C., an
440/439 B.C., an event which
event which
began when
began when Athens
Athens used used thethe opportunity affordedby
opportunity afforded by war
war between
between
Samos and
Samos and Miletus
Miletusto installaa democratic
to install democratic government
government in in Samos.
Samos. In In
an apparently
an apparently gross gross miscalculation
miscalculation of of the Samians' acceptance
the Samians' acceptanceof of
36See Ar.
36 See Ar. Ach.
Ach. 91-127,
91-127, and see Hdt.
and see 5.73, which
Hdt. 5.73, mayalso
which may evokecontemporary
also evoke contemporary
events.As
events. As Mitchell
Mitchell (above, n.2) 79
(above, n.2) 79 characterizes Herodotus,
characterizes Herodotus, he provides as
merelyprovides
he merely as aa
passing factthe
passing fact assistancethat
the assistance Polycrates
that Polycrates provides
provides forforCambyses' Egyptian
Cambyses' Egyptian campaign:
campaign:
hereHerodotus
here Herodotus is so misled
is so misled by his Sam
by his Samianian bias
bias as to believe
as to believe inin this
this fairy-tale of the
fairy-tale of the
thathe
ringthat
ring he cannot
cannot himself identify
himself identify this act
this act as relatedto
as related to the
the breach
breach inin friendship
friendship
between
between the Samiantyrant
the Samian tyrant and Amasis.
and Amasis.
37
37 Cartledge n.9) 257
(above,n.9)
Cartledge (above, 257 n.76; see H.
n.76; see H. Wood,
Wood, The TheHistories of Herodotus
Histories of Herodotus (The
(The
Hague/Paris
Hague/Paris 1972) 12. Not
1972) 12. only is
Not only is the historicalevent
the historical inconsequential, but
eventinconsequential, but it fitsill
it fits ill
withits
with narrative
its narrative context:
context: as Pohlenzcomments
as Pohlenz comments (Herodot[Leipzig
(Herodot 76-77),Aber
1937] 76-77),
[Leipzig1937) Aber
die Nahtstellen
die tretennoch
Nahtstellen treten noch störend zutage, und
storend zutage, innerlich
und innerlich fehlt die stimmungsmäßige
fehlt die stimmungsmiijJige
Einheit.
Einheit. Die Abwehr des
gliickliche Abwehr
Die glückliche spartanischen Angriffs
des spartanischen steht doch
Angriffs steht doch inin direktem
direktem Ge-
Ge-
gensatz zu
gensatz zu Amasis' Unglücksprophezeiung,
Amasis' Ungliicksprophezeiung, und
und kein Wort
kein Wort weist unsetwa
weist uns daraufhin,
etwa darauf daß
hin, dajJ
hier
hier nur 'retardiendes
nur 'retardiendes Moment'
Moment' vorliege. ("But the
vorliege. ("But theseams
seams become disturbingly
become disturbingly visible,
visible,
and internally
and internally there lacks aa unity
there lacks unityof mood.The
of mood. The fortunate
fortunate repulsion
repulsion of theSpartan
of the Spartanat- at-
tack
tack stands
stands inin direct
directopposition
opposition to Amasis'prophecy
to Amasis' regarding
prophecy regarding misfortune
misfortune and nothing
and nothing
indicates
indicates toto us
us that
thatwhat
what lies hereis
lies here only a
is only moment'").See
'delayingmoment"').
a 'delaying See also
also J. Cobet,
J. Cobet,
Herodots
Herodots Exkurse
Exkurse und
und die
die Frage
Frage der derEinheit
Einheit seines Werkes
seines Werkes (Wiesbaden 163-64.
1971) 163-64.
(Wiesbaden 1971)
38 To say
38 To say recollection
recollection ofof the Samian
the Sam revoltwas
ian revolt inducedin
was induced in the
the audience
audience by by the
the
narrative does not
narrative does notnecessarily
necessarily entail thatevery
entail that every member
member of theaudience
of the audiencewillwill (be
(be able
able
to) understand
to) understand the the narrative
narrative inin this
this way.
way.
HERODOTUS AND
HERODOTUS AND SAMOS: PERSONAL OR
SAMOS: PERSONAL OR POLITICAL?
POLITICAL? 407
407
this change in
this change in government, Pericles-led Athens
government, aa Pericles-led waged aa full-scale
Athens waged full-scale
and protracted war
and protracted Samos in
against aa Samos
war against in revolt that included
revolt that included some some em- em-
barrassing reversals for
barrassing reversals for the
the famous
famous strategos before the
strategos before island was
the island was
brought to
finally brought
finally to heel.
heel.
Juxtaposition with
Juxtaposition accounts of
extant accounts
with extant of the Samian revolt
the Samian revolt shows
shows
Herodotus' first
Herodotus' first Samian
Samian logoslogos to to be ostensibly about
only ostensibly
be only about the the past:
past :
the events he
the events follow the
narrates follow
he narrates the broad contours of
broad contours of those
those described
described
by Thucydides,
by Diodorus, and
Thucydides, Diodorus, Plutarch, when
and Plutarch, when the tyrant city
the tyrant city led
led byby
its tyrant-like general
its tyrant-like campaigned against
general campaigned described as
those described
against those as kin
kin
(avYYEvi]c; nóAiç,
(ovyyevr'c, Pluto Per.
noAlC; , Plut. 28.4). One
Per. 28.4). One may outline the
may outline points of
the points of
contact between
contact account and
Herodotus' account
between Herodotus' and the Samian revolt
the Samian revolt as as known
known
from
from our our sources.
sources. Initially there is
Initially there is the
the easy removal of
easy removal of the
the opponents:
opponents:
Polycrates sends
Polycrates sends his enemies who
his enemies must be
who must members of
be members of thethe elite to the
elite to the
Persian
Persian King (Hdt. 3.45),39
King (Hdt. while Athens
3.4S),39 while Athens sets sets up democracy induc-
up aa democracy induc-
ing the
ing Samianswho
the Samians come to
who come to occupy Anaea to
occupy Anaea to leave
leave SamosSamos (Thuc.
(Thuc.
1.115).
1. Hostages are
IIS) . Hostages taken to
are taken compliance, among
guarantee compliance,
to guarantee among them them
children (TEKva, Hdt.
children (xéicva, naibEC;, Thuc.
3.4S; TiaïÔEç,
Hdt. 3.45; I.l1S, Diod.
Thuc . 1.115, Diod . Sic. 12.27.2,
Sic. 12.27.2,
Plut.
Pluto Per. 2S .1). The
Per. 25.1). expelled opponents
The expelled resulting in
rally, resulting
opponents rally, in aa confused
confused
situationin
situation in which
which the the exiles experience
exiles experience some
some victories
victories (Hdt. 3.45;
(Hdt. 3.45;
Thuc.1.11S
Thuc. 1.115and and 1414 days
days in
in 1.117;
1.117; Diod.
Diod. Sic.
Sic. 12. 27.3,
12.27.3,28.1; 28.1; Plut.
Pluto Per.
Per.
25.3,
25 26 .2-3); II return
.3, 26.2-3); return to to this below. An
this below. appeal to
An appeal Spartais
to Sparta is made,
made ,
its results
its results of of no consequence(Hdt.
no consequence 3.46; Thuc.
(Hdt. 3.46; Thuc. 1.40.5, 43 . 1): in
1.40.5, 43.1): in the
the
case
case of archaicSamos,
of archaic Samos, the
the Spartans
Spartans assist
assist reluctantly
reluctantly (the
(the famous
famous
bag story),and
bag story), once there
and once there do do not all behave
not all behave as two whom
as two whom Herodotus
Herodotus
highlights, Archiasand
highlights, Archias and Lycopes
Lycopes (Hdt. 3.56, on
(Hdt.3.56, on whom
whom see see below);
below); andand
in
in the case of
the case of fifth-century
fifth-century Samos,Samos, Thucydides' Corinthians
Thucydides'Corinthians allude
allude
to the
to the Peloponnesian
PeloponnesianLeague contemplating
League contemplating action.40
action.40 The opposition
The opposition
is crushed,
is crushed, and
and flees
flees to
to establish
establish new
new communities:
communities : forthe
for the archaic
archaic
Samians,in
Samians, in Crete
Crete(Hdt. 3.57-9), for
(Hdt. 3.57-9), forthe
the fifth-century
fifth-century oligarchs,in
oligarchs, in
Anaia (e.g.
Anaia Thuc. 4.75.1).
(e.g. Thuc. 4.75.1).
The parallelism
The parallelismof of structure
structure can hardlybe
can hardly accidental.Moreover,
be accidental. Moreover,
featuresof
certainfeatures
certain of Herodotus'
Herodotus' account serveto
accountserve to blur
blur past past andand pres-
pres-
ent. The
ent. "remarkable"failure
The "remarkable" failureto to name eitherSpartan
name either Spartan king,
king, or
or for
for
thatmatter
that matterany anyof thevaguely
of the vaguelydubbeddubbedarchontes
archontes(3.46 (3.46.1), allows the
. 1), allows the
narrative
narrative to be
to unanchored
be unanchored to its
to its ostensible
ostensibledate. date.41 Likewise,and
41 Likewise, and by by
39Commentators
39 Commentators Asheri[above,
(e.g.. Asheri
(e.g n.2] 443)
[above, n.2] are stumped
443) are stumpedby the apparent
by the apparent
anachronism
anachronism (if Thucydides
(if Thucydidesis is to
to bebe believed,
believed,1.13-14) thatthese
1.13-14) that theseships
shipsareare called
called
triremes,
triremes notpenteconters
, not penteconters Hdt.3.39.3),
(see Hdt.
(see butthis
3.39.3), but thisanachronism
anachronism maybe
may thecue
be the cue to
to
audiencesthat
audiences theproper
thatthe referent
properreferent of the
of narrative
thenarrative belongsto
belongs to aa later
latertime
time..
40Some epigraphic
• 0 Some epigraphic evidencehas
evidence has been used to
been used to support
supportthe thenotion
notionthat Samians
thatSamians
solicitedhelp
solicited fromthat
help from thatquarter:
quarter:ML ML 5656== JG
/G i'.
i2.50.12 and Thuc.
50.12 and Thuc. 1040
1.40.5, 1.43.1;
.5, 1.43.1 see
; see
Meiggs(above,
Meiggs 190. It
n.7) 190.
(above,n.7) It may
maybe be the case that
thecase that[Arist] Oecon.2.2.9
[Arist]Oecan. 2.2.9 pertains
pertainsto to the
the
Samian
Sam ian revolt: unableto
revolt:unable to help militarily
helpmilitarily in an
in an official
officialcapacity (presumably
capacity(presumably owingto
owing to
theThirty-Years
the Thirty- YearsPeace),
Peace), Spartans supported
Spartanssupported theSamians
the Samiansthrough
through rationing,
rationing, to which
to which
theempty
the emptybag bag story
storymay allude.
mayallude .
41Cartledge
41 Cartledge (above,n.9)
(above, 247,251
n.9) 247, 251,, and 258. Indeed,
and258. Indeed,as as aa postscript
postscript to hisaccount
to his account
Herodotus
Herodotus evensuggest
can even
can suggestanother recentpast
anotherrecent eventinvolv
pastevent involvinging Pericles and another
Periclesand another
Spartanking,
Spartan in what
king,in whathe he conspicuously
conspicuously marksas
marks as aa "sillier
"sillierstory"
story"<flu'[atOu
(laaxaioxcooc Aóyoç
Qo<; Aoyo<;
3.56.2,but
3.56.2, butalso "moreinsulting"
also "more insulting") sincehe
which,since
) which, he rejects neednot
it,need
rejectsit, nothave
havebeenbeentold
told
at all
at theSpartans,
all:: the Spartans, thisstory
this goesQà fa
storygoes la Pleistoanax
Pleistoanax Per.22-3),
(Plut.Per.
(Plut. hadbeen
22-3), had beenbribed
bribed
Polycrates
by Polycrates
by to leave.
to leave.
408
408 ELIZABETH Irwin
Elizabeth IRWIN
contrast, the
contrast, Spartans Herodotus
the Spartans Herodotus does choose to
does choose to name, Lycopes and
name, Lycopes and
lead to
Archias, lead
Archias, to an evocation of
an evocation of Herodotus'
Herodotus' present
present day day with
with aa veryvery
rare
rare statement
statement about about hishis sources:
sources:
Now, if
Now, if all
all the Lacedaimonians there
the Lacedaimonians there that day had
that day had
been
been the the equals (O~OlOl) of
equals (õ|aotoi) of Archias
Archias and and Lycopes,
Lycopes,
Samos
Samos would would havehave fallen
fallen (aipeBr) Ea~oc;). Archias
(aiQE811 av Eá|aoç). Archias
and Lycopes were
and Lycopes were the only ones
the only ones who followed the
who followed the
retreating
retreating Samians
Samians all
all the
the way
way back
back inside
inside the
the town
town
walls, where
walls, where they were cut
they were cut off
off from retreat, and
from retreat, and so so
they died
they there inside
died there inside thethe town
town of of Samos.
Samos. Once Once in in
Pitaña (which was
Pitana (which was his his native village), II personally
native village), personally
met another
met Archias, who
another Archias, who waswas the grandson of
the grandson of the
the
Archias II have
Archias have justjust been talking about,
been talking since he
about, since he was
was
the son of
the son Samius,the
of Samius, son of
the son Archias. This
of Archias. This Archias
Archias
honoured
honoured the Samians more
the Samians more than any other
than any other foreigners,
foreigners,
and he
and he told
told me me thatthat his
his father
father hadhad been given the
been given the
name Samiusbecause
name Samius because of of the
the heroic death his
heroic death his father
father
Archias had
Archias had died
died on Samos. He
on Samos. explained that
He explained that thethe
reason
reason he thought well
he thought well of of the Samianswas
the Samians was because
because
they had
they givenhis
had given grandfather aa public
his grandfather public funeral.
funeral.
This reference to
This reference to Archias
Archias the younger is
the younger surelysignificant
is surely significant for
for
contemporaries:
contemporaries: this
this Archias
Archias was
was no
no doubt
doubt a
a figure
figure who
who if
if any
any should
should
have been
have been deeply concernedwith
deeply concerned withthethe fate
fate of Samos in
of Samos 440/439B.C.,
in 440/439 B.C.,
likely herproxenos,42
likelyher proxenos,42 and and as suchwas
as such was no doubtwell
no doubt known,in
well known, some
in some
circlesat
circles at least,43
least,43 by Herodotus'audience
by Herodotus' audiencefor forprecisely
precisely this this reason;
reason;
in the
in contextof
the context of the
theThirty-Year
Thirty-Year Peace
Peace everyone
everyone must
must have
have been
been at-
at-
tentively
tentively waiting
waiting to
to see
see whether
whether Sparta
Sparta would
would act.
act. The
The first-person
first-person
statement
statement has its
has its function,
function, too, explicitly
too, bringingthe
explicitlybringing the present
presentday day
intothis
into thisnarrative
narrative of the
of the"past,"
"past,"and invitescomparison
and invites comparisonof of Spartans
Spartans
and present.
past and
past present.Given Given the natureof
the nature the evidence
of the evidencefor forthe revolt,
the revolt,
the exact
the exact force
forceof of the
the comparison
comparison must
must remain
remain unclear,
unclear, but
but it may
it may
well be
well be accusatory:
accusatory:either eitherthe thesonson ofof Samius
Samiussat sat by
by and did nothing,
and did nothing,
failingto
failing to live
live up his grandfather's
to his
up to grandfather's nameand
name and thethegratitude
gratitude claimed
claimed
to be
to commemorated
be commemorated by
by his
his father's
father's actual
actual name;or,althoughsome
name; or, although some
Spartans,
Spartans, like
like Archias
Archias the
the younger(on
younger (on the
the model
model of
of Aristeus
Aristeus son
son of
of
Adeimantus
Adeimantus at Poteidaia,
at Poteidaia,Thuc.Thuc.1.60), refused
1.60),refused to watch
to watchSamos subdued
Samossubdued
Athensand
by Athens
by and chose
chose to to actact inin an
an unofficial
unofficialcapacity,
capacity,the the Spartans
Spartans
and her
and her League
League failed
failed to
to act
act homoioi
homoioi as
as Archias
Archias and
and Lycopes.44
Lycopes. 44
42 250, citing also G.

G. Dunst, "Archaische Inschriften
Dunst, "Archai"sche und
Inschriftenund
n.9) 250,
(above, n.9)
Cartledge(above,
42 Cartledge citingalso
Dokumenteder
Dokumente Pentekontaëtieaus
der Pentekontaetie aus Samos,"
Samos," AMAM 87 87 (1982) and W.
142, and
(1982) 142, W.W. How and
W. How and J.J.
Wells,A
Wells, A Commentary
Commentary on Herodotus
on Herodotus, 2nd ed.
, 2nd ed. (Oxford 1928) 1.271,
(Oxford 1928) who erroneously
1.271, who see
erroneouslysee
him as
him as an
an etheloproxenos,
etheloproxenos, termknown
aa term knownonlyonly from its single
fromits single appearance
appearancein in Thucydides
Thucydides
(3.70).
(3 See also
.70). See Asheri (above,
also Asheri 450.
n.2) 450.
(above, n.2)
43If not
not known
knownby all (but
(but surely likely nearly all Athenians,
nearlyall Athenians,atat least,
least, who must
who must
43 If by all surelylikely
have tensely
have awaited aa possible
tenselyawaited possible Spartan thensuch
response), then
Spartanresponse), such knowledge
knowledgeof of prominent
prominent
would stratify
Spartans would
Spartans audiences along
stratifyaudiences the lines
along the of class,
lines of class, political and/
orientation,and/
political orientation,
or political
or political engagement.
engagement.
44On the
the irony, see B.
B. Shimron, "Ein Wortspiel
Shimron,"Ein mitHOMOIOI
HOMOIOI bei bei Herodot," RhM
Herodot,"RhM
44 On irony,see Wortspielmit
122 (1979)
122 (1979) 131-33; Asheri (above,
131-33; Asheri (above, n.2) 450. One
n.2) 450. is entitled
One is to wonder
entitledto whetherthese
wonderwhether these
Herodotus and SAMOS:
HERODOTUS AND Samos: Personal or POLITICAL?
PERSONAL OR Political? 409
409
Whichever scenario,"If
Whichever scenario, "If all
all the Lacedaimonianspresent
the Lacedaimonians present had had been
been
the same (ojaoioi)
the same (ofloLOl) ... ..." " constitutes
constitutes aa devastating
devastating play
play on
on words
words that
that
challengesthe
challenges thevery ideology of
very ideology of being Spartan,and
being Spartan, and thethe consequences
consequences
of aa failure
of failure to live up
to live up to
to that
that name
name in in "that
"thatfirst
firstmilitary
military expedition
expedition
of the
of Dorian Lacedaimonians"
the Dorian Lacedaimonians" is is that
thatSamos
Samos was was letlet down
down by by the
the
Spartans, a
Spartans, phenomenon
a phenomenon that
that thanks
thanks to
to Herodotus'
Herodotus' narration
narration of
of this
this
event will
"past" event
"past" thenseem
will then seem (in 439 B.C.)
(in 439 B.C.) to to recur.45
recur.45
At
At the same time,
the same thereare
time, there are ofof course provocations for
course provocations the
for the
Athenians,
Athenians, too. too. Herodotus
Herodotusconspicuously
conspicuously tells tells of competing
of competing versions
versions
regarding whether
regarding whether thesetheseSamians
Samianshad had any successagainst
any success Polycrates,
against Polycrates,
expressing the
expressing implausibility
the implausibility that
that a
a figurecommanding
figure commanding his resources
his resources
could ever
could have been
everhave defeatedby
been defeated the Samian
by the Samianexilesexiles (Hdt. 3.45):
(Hdt. 3.45):
Yet another
Yet anotherversion claims that
version claims these Samians
that these Samiansfrom from
Egypt overthrew
Egypt Polycrates,
overthrew Polycrates, but II do
but do not thinkthis
notthink this can
can
be
be right (Àéyovxeç
right (Atyov·w; EflOt òoiceeiv
é|Lioì bOKEflV oùk sincethey
òqBcõç),since
OUK oQ8wc:), they
would
would not not have
have had
had to send for
to send forthe Lacedaimonians,
the Lacedaimonians,
if they were
if they capable of
were capable of bringing
bringing Polycrates
Polycrates down downon on
theirown.
their Besides, it
own.Besides, does not
also does
it also makesense
not make senseto think
to think
(oùòè
(OUbE Aoyoc: aíçéei) that
AóyoçaiQEfl) someonewith
thatsomeone vastnumbers
with vast numbers of
of
mercenaries
mercenaries and
and native archersat
native archers at his disposal
his disposal would
would
have been beaten
have been beaten by thefew
by the returning
few returning Samians.
Samians.
Such claims
Such claims to to be evaluatingthe
be evaluating the historical correctnessof
historicalcorrectness of various
various
accounts, replete with
accounts, replete with the language of
the language of proof and arguments
proof and arguments from
from like-
like-
lihood,always
lihood, always havehave the potential to
the potential to be disingenuous: while
be disingenuous: arguing
while arguing
forthe
for superiorpower
the superior power of of Polycrates,
Polycrates, Herodotus' studiedevaluation
Herodotus' studied evaluation
simultaneously
simultaneously immortalizes
immortalizes doubt
doubt on
on precisely
precisely that
that point.46
point. And in-
46 And in-
deed
deed as as constructed,
constructed, the the argument
argument can always
can potentially be
alwayspotentially be turned
turned
on
on its head, the
its head, the defeat
defeatthe the historical
historicallectiolectio difJicilior:
difficilior: the
the greater
greater
Polycrates' resources
Polycrates' resources were were the the more someonecould
unlikelysomeone
more unlikely could invent
invent
this story;
this story; in
in this
this light,
light, the
the itemization
itemization of
of his
his resources
resources renders
renders the
the
putative
putative defeat
defeat more
more embarrassing.
embarrassing.
The polemic of
The polemic thepassage
of the passage may, however, run
may,however, deeper: this
run deeper: dis-
this dis-
pute over
pute over how theseearlier
how these exilescould
earlier exiles couldhave have had
had any successagainst
any success against
Polycrates finds
Polycrates finds an an analogue
analoguein in the accountsof
the accounts of the
the Samian
Samian revolt.
revolt.
Disputes
Disputes existed
existed alreadyamongcontemporaries
already among contemporaries regarding
regarding how
how Pericles
Pericles
could have been
could have been bested
bested by by thethe exiles
exiles of of the
the revolt (Plut. Per.
revolt (Plut. 26):
Per. 26):
earlier eventsoccurred
earlier events occurredat at all sincethe
all since thechronological
chronological difficulties raisedby
difficulties raised Herodotus'
by Herodotus'
account
account of of archaic Samos (on
archaic Samos whichsee
(on which see J.J. Barron, "The Sixth-Century
Barron, "The Sixth-Century Tyranny at
Tyranny at
Samos,"CQ
Samos," CQ n.s. 14 (1964)
n.s. 14 210-29 with
(1964) 210-29 with bibliography)
bibliography) mightmight well have been
well have been a cue
a cue
to historically
to historically more
more astute audiences(not
astute audiences (not the
the polloi) thatthe
polloi) that the logos
logos is
is not
not kosher
kosher as as
history
history (see n.65 below).
(see n.65 below). Moreover,
Moreover, thethepassage
passage is conspicuousfor
is conspicuous forits
its irrelevance
irrelevance to
to
the past: a
the past: a non-event,
non-event, thethetotal
totalfailure
failureof
of the
the brief
brief stratte, otherwise
oughtotherwise
stratii'!, ought to occlude
to occlude
remembrance, but
its remembrance,
its transformed
but transformed frominsignificant
from insignificant toto significant by a
significant by a venture
venture into
into
contra-factual
contra-factual history
history and aa label
and label of
of "first," enablesHerodotus
"first,"itit enables Herodotus to bring himself
to bring himself andand
the
the present-day - Archiasand
present-day-Archias and subsequent
subsequent stratiai - intohis
stratiai-into his narrative.
narrative.
45On the
45 On thefunction
function ofof counting,
counting, see
see J. Henderson,
J. Henderson, "'The Fourth
'''The DorianInvasion'
Fourth Dorian Invasion'
and 'the
and 'the Ionian Revolt'(5.76-126),"
Ionian Revolt' (5.76-126)," inin Irwin and Greenwood
Irwin and (above,n.31)
Greenwood (above, n.31) esp. 307.
esp. 307.
46 Plut,de
See Plut.
46 See de Mal
Mal. Her. 27 (862e-863a).
Her. 27 (862e-863a). On Herodotus'polemical
On Herodotus' polemical useuse of the
of the
languageof
language of proof see R.
proof see R. Thomas, Herodotus in
Thomas, Herodotus Context(Cambridge
in Context (Cambridge2000) ch. 7.
2000) ch. 7.
410
410 Elizabeth Irwin
ELIZABETH IRWIN
ThenPericles
Then tooksixty
Pericles took triremes
sixtytriremes and sailed
and sailed out into
out into
the
the main sea, as
main sea, most authorities
as most authoritiessay, say, because
because he
he
wished to
wished to meet
meet aa fleetfleetofof Phoenician
Phoenicianships which
ships which
was coming
was comingto the aid
to the aid ofof the Samians,and
the Samians, fightit
and fight it
at as
at great aa distance
as great distance from Samos as
from Samos as possible;
possible; but but
accordingto
according to Stesimbrotus,
Stesimbrotus, because
because he he had designs
had designs
on Cyprus,which
on Cyprus, which seems incredible.[2]
seems incredible. [2] ButBut in in any
any
whicheverdesign
case, whichever
case, design he cherished, he
he cherished, he seems
seems to to
have made aa mistake.
have made mistake.For For no no sooner
sooner had had he he sailed
sailed
off
off than Melissus,the
than Melissus, thesonson of Ithagenes,
of Ithagenes, aa philosopher
philosopher
who was
who was then
thenacting
acting as as general
general at
at Samos,
Samos, despising
despising
eitherthe
either small number
the small number of ships that
of ships that were
were left, or
left, or
the inexperience
the inexperience of of the
the generals
generalsin in charge
chargeof of them,
them,
persuaded his
persuaded his fellow-citizens
fellow-citizens to makean
to make attackupon
an attack upon
theAthenians.
the Athenians.In In the
the battle thatensued
battle that ensuedthe Samians
the Samians
were victorious,
were victorious, taking
taking manymanyof of their
their enemy
enemy cap- cap-
tive, and destroying
tive,and destroying manyof
many of their ships,so
their ships, so that
thatthey
they
commanded
commanded the the seasea and laid in
and laid in large storeof
large store such
of such
necessariesfor
necessaries the war
for the war as they did
as they did notnot have
have before.
before.
[3] And
[3] And Aristotle says that
Aristotle says that Pericles
Pericles was himself also
was himself also
defeatedby
defeated by Melissus
Melissus in in the
thesea-fight
sea-fight which
which preceded
preceded
this.[Emphasis
this. [Emphasismine].mine].
Again this
Again backdrop, Herodotus'
this backdrop, Herodotus' apodexisapodexis of of his
his historie
historie becomes
becomes
disingenuous
disingenuous on on another
another level: less aa proto-historian's
level: less proto-historian's attempt attempt to to
determine what actually
determine what actuallyhappened
happened in
in the
the archaic
archaic past,
past, instead
instead his
his
forayinto
foray sourcecriticism
into source criticism becomes
becomes aa tactic
tacticto dwellon
to dwell on aa contentious
contentious
momentin
moment in more
morerecent
recenthistory.
history. To
To dwell
dwell at lengthon
at length on why
why thethe vic-
vic-
tory of
tory thosepast
of those past exiles against aa figure
exiles against figurewith
with thetheresources
resources suchsuch as as
attributed to Polycrates
attributed to Polycrates must
must be considered
be considered oùkoQ8wc;
aUK òqGcõç("notcorrect")
("not correct")
is to
is rub(some)
to rub (some) Athenian
Athenian noses noses in in what
what may have been
may have unlikely to
been unlikely to
have happened
have given the
happened given similarlyequipped
the similarly Athens, but
equippedAthens, did in
but did in fact,
fact,
owing to
owing to Pericles'
Pericles' botched-up
botched-up job job which almostcost
which almost cost Athens
Athens her em-
her em-
pire, as Thucydides
pire, as Thucydideswill only dare
will only dare to admitat
to admit at aa distance
distancefrom fromthe the
famous general(Thuc.
famous general 8.76.4).47While
(Thuc. 8.76.4).47 While ourour sources
sourcesdo notallow
do not allow oneone
to identify Herodotus'
to identify allusionsto
Herodotus' allusions to the
the events
eventsof the Samian
revolt
47AndThucydides'
47 And Thucydides' narrative
narrative ofof the
the revolt
revolt is deceptive: both
is deceptive: his acknowledgment
both his acknowledgment
of Samian
of Samianmastery
mastery of of their
theirwaters
waters(kcieT éauxoúç,1.117.1)
(Ka8' rau'Wu<;, and the
1.117.1) and precision of
the precision its
of its
fourteen daysstake
fourteen days stake a claimfor
a claim forobjective
objectiverecounting
recounting of of the
thepast,
past, but
but in factalso
in fact subtly
also subtly
undermine
undermine the thesignificance
significance ofof the Samian
the Sam resistance
ian resistance as limited
as limited both
both in timeand
in time and extent;
extent;
Thucydides
Thucydides tells
tells us
us about theSamians'
about the Samians'fourteen
fourteen days
days ofof mastery, ratherthan
mastery, rather thanthe
thenine
nine
months requiredto
months required to subdue
subdue them. See Plut.
them. See Plut. Per. 26.1-3, regarding
Per. 26.1-3, the Samians
regarding the Samianswho, who,
although under
although siege, à[icoç
under siege, UflW<; yé ncoc,èxi
y€ 71W<; En to'iù)vtclç
TOflwv'ta<; rmi;L€VaL Kai òia|aáx£cj9ai
èneîévai Kat bLafluxw8m 71QO nçò xoù
'Wu
xeíxouç ("who somehow
Tdxou<; ("who somehow or other, still
or other, still had
had the daringto
the daring to sally
sallyforth
forth and
and fight withhim
fight with him
before
before their walls") before
their walls") they defeated
before they defeated the theAthenians.
Athenians. Moreover,
Moreover, Thucydides
Thucydides never
never
suggests
suggests thatthatPericles
Pericleswaswas defeated
defeated in any of
in any of the
the sea-battles withthe
sea-battles with the Samians.
Samians.It It
mayeven
may even be be the
the case thatHerodotus'
case that register
Herodotus' register and
and word choicein
word choice in refuting
refuting the claims
the claims
of the
of the exiles' victoryis
exiles' victory provocative: the
is provocative: the philosophical
philosophical register
register ofof the
thepassage
passage (oùòè
(oubi'
Aoyo<; aIQ€H and
Aóyoçaioéei and particularly
particularly òqQcjç)
oQ8w<;) may may suggest
suggest thethesuccessful
successfulSamSamian general, the
ian general, the
philosopher Melissus:
philosopher Melissus: on on the degreeto
the degree whichthe
to which conceptof
the concept of "correctness"
"correctness" was associ-
was associ-
atedwith
ated with Melissus (e.g. DK
Melissus (e.g. OK 30B and how
8), and
30B 8), exclusively,
how exclusively, see
see the measured
the measured discussion
discussion
of Thomas
of Thomas(above,
(above,n.46) 231-32 with
n.46) 231-32 withbibliography.
bibliography.
HERODOTUS AND
HERODOTUS SANIOS: PERSONAL
AND SAMOS: OR POLITICAL?
411
too precisely, it
too precisely, it is
is enough
enough to to recognize
recognizethe provocations inherent
the provocations inherent inin
going long
going on
on long about
about the
the likelihood
likelihood of
of the
the success
success of
of these
these archaic
archaic
Samians:it
Samians: servesto
it serves to recollect
recollect justjust how long,and
how long, how many
and how times,
many times,
thelatter-day
the Samiansrallied
latter-day Samians rallied against Athenians
against Athenians who
who boasted resources,
boasted resources,
dunamis,no
dunamis, no less
less extensive
extensive than thoseof
than those of the tyrant.48
the tyrant. 48
At
At this point, one
this point, mightbriefly
one might briefly examine
examine the
the directions
directions in which
in which
the allusionsto
the allusions to more
more recent eventsin
recent events in this Samian logos
this Samian might be
logos might be
taken; II focus
taken; focuson two.The
on two. The first wouldbe
first would to recognize
be to recognizethat theSamian
that the Samian
revoltis
revolt is aa central
central preoccupation
preoccupation of book 33 with
of book with thethe final Samian10-
final Samian lo-
gos - Samos'
gos-Samos' conquestby
conquest by Darius - likewise
Darius-likewise evoking
evoking the
the structure
structure of
of
that later event.49
that later Both Herodotus'
event. 49 Both Herodotus'and Thucydides' narratives
and Thucydides' narratives begin
begin
when
when a Samianparty
a Samian party requests
requests the the imperial power to
imperialpower depose the
to depose cur-
the cur-
rent government
rent government and to
and to transfer
transfer power
power to to the handsof
the hands of aa party well
party well
towardsit:
disposedtowards
disposed it: Herodotus'
Herodotus'accountaccounttellstells of Syloson,brother
of Syloson, brother ofof
Polycrates,
Polycrates, showingup
showing up in
in Sousa
Sousa asking
asking Darius
Darius to
to depose
depose the
the current
current
government
government of Maeandrius
of Maeandrius(3.140.5)
(3.140.5) and and toto transfer
transfer power
power to to himself
himself
as euergetes
as euergetesof of the king, while
the king, Thucydides
while Thucydides tells
tells of Samianswho
of Samians who were
were
in
in Athens
Athens at at the
the time
time of thetension
of the tensionbetween
between SamosSamos and Miletus who
and Miletus who
"wishedto
"wished to change the
change politela"(1.115.2)
the politeia" (1.115.2) to
to one
one which
which as
as a
a democracy
democracy
would be
would friendly to
be friendly Athens.50
to Athens. Next,initially
50 Next, initially therethereseems
seemsto to have
havebeen
been
an easy
an acquiescenceto
easy acquiescence thewishes
to the wishes of theimperial
of the power: Maeandrius
imperialpower: Maeandrius
and
and the
the stasiotai leave the
stasiotai leave the island,
island,while Otanesnegotiates
while Otanes negotiates the the terms
terms
withPersians
with Persians in in situ
situ (3.144, see 3.146.3),
145.1;see
(3.144, 145.1; just as
3.146.3), just someSamians
as some Samians
leave
leave for themainland
for the mainland upon uponthe theAthenians installing aa democracy
Athenians installing democracy and and
garrisons (1.115.3-4).5IAn
garrisons (1.115.3-4).51 alliancebetween
An alliance thosewho
between those who fled
fled the island
the island
48On Athenian
48 On confidencein
Athenian confidence in their resourcessee
their resources the speech
see the speech of of Pericles
Pericles at the
at the
outbreak
outbreak of of the Peloponnesian War
the Peloponnesian (Thuc. 2.13
War (Thuc. 2.13 andand Diod. Sic. 12.40,
Diod. Sic. 12.40, see see thethe use
use
of
of nAfjooc
nAij8o~ in in Diodorus'
Diodorus'account
accountof Pericles'speech
of Pericles' speech [40.1 [40.1 (2x); 40.3] and
(2x); 40.3] and its its use
use inin
Herodotus'
Herodotus' description
description of ofjust whyPolycrates'
just why Polycrates' couldnot
could not have
have been
been defeated [3.45.3]).
defeated [3.45.3]).
49 The logoslogos of 139-49 is
chs. 139-49 is introduced:
49 The of chs. introduced: flETa [xexàbk bi: lavxa
mum Laflov Láfiov ßaaiAeuc
~amAEu~
AaQeïoç alQEEl, 7toAlcjv
LlaQEio~ aiQ££i, noAlwv naoécov 7ioc¿xr]v
naaEwv nQwT'lv 'EAAr)viocov
'EAA'lvlbwv Kai ßaoßaocov,
Kat ~aQ~aQwv, bLa olà TOLI]vbE
xoir|vÒ£ xivà
'[[va
("Afterthis
aiTÍr)v("After
atTl'lV thisKing
KingDarius captured Samos.
Darius captured Samos. He He would
would go go onon toto capture
captureplentyplenty of of
places, both
places, both Greek
Greek andand non-Greek,
non-Greek, but Samos was
but Samos first").Beyond
was first"). sharingaa contem-
Beyond sharing contem-
porary referent,
porary referent, thefirst
the firstand
and third Samian
third Sam ian logoi are otherwise
logoi are linked:the
otherwise linked: "firstcity"
the "first city"
in aa series
in series of of Darius' (3.139), Samos
conquests(3.139),
Darius' conquests Samos was earlierthe
was earlier "first"destination
the "first" destination of of
Dorian
Dorian campaigns
campaigns to to Asia
Asia (3.56.2; see Polycrates
(3.56.2; see Polycrates "first"firstthalassocrat"
thalassocrat" of of the
the second
second
3.122.2), which
logos, 3.122.2),
logos, oughtto
which ought to have resulted in
have resulted in what Darius in
what Darius factaccomplished,
in fact accomplished,
the "taking"of
the "taking" Samos (Eá[iov
of Samos (!:ci:flov paaiAeùç
~aaLAd)~ LlaQEio~ olíqéei,3.139.1;
Aaqeloc,aiQEH, aiQE811 âv
3.139.1; aígéerj Lápoç
av !:ci:flo,:;
Moreover, both
3.55.1). Moreover,
3.55.1). both areare introduced
introduced by by aa fairy-tale
fairy-tale account:
account: the thestory
storyof Polycrates'
of Polycrates'
xenos, Amasis,is
xenos, Amasis, is matched
matched by by one
one concerning Darius'euergetes,
concerning Darius' Syloson,each
euergeles, Syloson, each purport-
purport-
ing to
ing to provide
provide an an explanation
explanation (xoùòeòè
(TOubE bi: £Ïv£K£v
dVEKEV . . .. .. [3.43.2]; òià TOLijvbE
[3.43.2]; bLa xoir|vÒ£ xivà aìxirjv
'[[va ahl'lv
[3.139.1]) for
[3.139.1]) forevents
eventswhose
whosecausation
causationthe the ensuing narrative
ensuingnarrative allows
allows to to be
be understood
understood
in historically
in historically more respectable
more respectable terms.
terms.
50Thucydides
50 Thucydides (aside from
(aside from my Herodotus) is
my Herodotus) is the
the remarkably
remarkably only sourcefor
only source forthe
the
revoltto
revolt to mention
mention thisthis presence
presence in in Athens.
Athens.
51
51 II suspect Maeandriusis
suspectMaeandrius is thus
thusnamed
namedbecause
because the destination
the destination of Thucydides'
of Thucydides'
Samiansis
Samians is Anaea,
Anaea,aa city city onon the
the Maeander,
Maeander, and and itit is thesepeople
is these people with mainland in-
withmainland in-
terestswho
terests who would
would havehave been mostvexed
been most vexed by by the
the intervention
intervention of Athensin
of Athens in their war
their war
with Miletusover
with Miletus over mainland Priene.In
mainland Priene. In addition,
addition, since
since theirtheirmay
may havehave been
been only onlyor or
primarily
primarily on on the mainlandrather
the mainland thanthe
rather than the island
island itself, theywould
itself, they likely be
would likely be the newer
the newer
thusexplaining
elite,thus
elite, explaining why why Maeandrius
Maeandrius is is described
describedas as yfyovcbç KaKWC: Kai
YEYOVWs KaKcõç écbv6AE8Qos
Kat iwv òA£0qoç
("low-born,
("low-born, good-for-nothing")
good-for-nothing") by by one Telesarchus
one Telesarchus who
who is is described
described as xoimaaTOim
év TOim
as tv àaxolai
b6KLflo~ ("a
òÓKi|aoç ("a person
person of of some
some standing amongthe
standing among theastoi").
asloi").
412
412 ELIZABETH IRWIN
ELIZABETH IRWIN
and those
and within,joined
those within, joined by epikouroi,leads
by epikouroi, leads to to aa surprise
surpriseattack
attack on on
the imperial
the imperialpower:
power: for
for Herodotus,
Herodotus, Maeandrius
Maeandrius (whose
(whose return
return to
to the
the
island
island is unaccounted
is unaccounted for
for inin the
the text)
text) is reconciledwith
is reconciled with hishis brother,
brother,
Charilaos,
Chari whomhe
laos, whom freesfrom
he frees prison, and
from prison, Charilaos,
and Chari together
laos, together with
with
epikouroi arranged
epikouroi arranged by Maeandrius,
by Maeandrius, killsthe
kills thehigh-ranking Persians;for
high-ranking Persians; for
Thucydides,
Thucydides, those
those who
who fled
fled to
to the
the mainland
mainland join
join with
with the
the dunatotatoi
dunatotatoi
in
in the city
the city-asas it were,Sam
it were, Samianian brothers - and as
brothers-and as aa result
resultthe hostages
the hostages
are freed,
are freed, and those in
andthose in the city,likewise
the city, likewise helped
helped by by epikouroi negotiated
epikouroi negotiated
by thosewho
by those leftthe
who left theisland, removethe
island, remove thegarrison
garrison of
of the Athenians
the Athenians and
and
the archontes,
the archontes, handing
handing them
them over
over to
to the
the satrap
satrap of
of Sardis
Sardis (1.115.4-5).52
(1.115.4-5),51
Anotherstrane
Another stratie is sentout
is sent out toto deal withthe
deal with the uprising ("Persian,"Hdt.
uprising ("Persian," Hdt.
3.146.4; Thuc.
3.146.4; 1.116.1-2),and
Thuc. 1.116.1-2), and thethe reprisals
reprisals are are violent
violent(Hdt.
(Hdt. 3.147,
3.147,
149; Plut.
149; Pluto Per
Per. 28).
28).5353Finally,
Finally,at point in
some point
at some theseevents,
in these events,an an ap-
ap-
proachultimately little
proach ultimately of
of consequence is
littleconsequence made to
is made Spartaon
to Sparta on behalf
behalf
of
of the exiles (Hdt.
the exiles (Hdt. 3.148; Thuc. 1.40.5,
3.148; Thuc. 43.1, and
1.40.5,43.1, and see n.40 above).
see n.4O above).
This schematicoutline
This schematic outlineof of the thirdlogos
the third logos and and its its relation
relationto to the
the
Samianrevolt
Samian follows the
revolt follows the same contoursof
same contours of the
the first Samian story:
first Samian story:
the initialremoval
easy initial
the easy removal of of aa group
group ofof Samians
Samians(dispatched
(dispatchedby by Poly-
Poly-
crates
crates on on ships
ships destined
destined for
for Cambyses,3.44;
Cambyses, 3.44; the
the easy departure
easy departure of
of
Maeandrius
Maeandrius and and the thestasiotai, 3.144); aa situation
stasiotai, 3.144); situation in which
in which these
these exiles
exiles
are
are described
described as as having
having somesome "success"
"success" against
againstthe the tyrant/king
tyrant/king (al-
(al-
beit contestedin
beit contested in the
the first 3.145.1-3; and
logos, 3.145.1-3;
first logos, pyrrhic in
and pyrrhic in the
the latter
latter
account, 3.146-47); and
account, 3.146-47); and finally Spartanhelp
finally Spartan solicitedbut
help solicited whatever
but whatever
thathelp
that help constituted
constituted proving
proving to
to be
be futile
futile (3.46-47,
(3.46-47, 54-57.1;
54-57.1; 3.148).
3.148).
Discussion of
Discussion of the fullimport
the full importof thisrepeated
of this repeated allusionallusion to the Samian
to the Samian
revoltmust
revolt mustawait
awaitanother context,54 but
anothercontext,54 one function
but one function of narrating the
of narrating the
Samianrevolt
Samian obliquelyin
revolt obliquely these two
in these logoi,first
two logoi, firstas stasisand
as stasis and then
then as as
conquest,might
conquest, might be
be to
to enact
enact the
the transformation
transformation of
of Athens'
Athens' relationship
relationship
with
with herher Samian
Samianalliesallies as as one
one based
based on on suggeneiê - configured
suggeneie-configured as aa
as
Samiantyrant
Samian againsthis
tyrant against his own
own people
people-to- to one one of of anan imperial
imperialpowerpower
reducing an
reducing an ally
ally to to subject status,in
subjectstatus, in which
which it followsthat
it follows thatAthens
Athensis is
rendered
rendered the thenew Persia. In
new Persia. In this regard, it
thisregard, it is telling that
is telling thissecond
that this second
recounting
recounting of the revolt
of the revolt isis the
the oneone that corresponds most
that corresponds closelyto
most closely to
thatof
that of Thucydides,
Thucydides,his therefore
his therefore being
being the the "imperial narrative" of
"imperialnarrative" of
the event.
the event.
seconddirection
The second
The direction in in which
whichto to pursue
pursue Herodotus' allusionsto
Herodotus' allusions to
morerecent
more eventsis
recent events is to
to return
return to to the
the first examining what
logos, examining
first logos, what
52 On the
51 On point of
the point of what
what happened
happened to to the
the garrison
garrison and officials,the
and officials, the versions of
versions of
Herodotusand
Herodotus Thucydideswould
and Thucydides would differ: the one
differ: the one having
having the Samianskill
the Samians kill them, the
them, the
otherhaving
other having them sentto
them sent to Sardis.
Sardis.Thucydides
Thucydides never tells us
nevertells us what
what befell them after
befell them after
this
this event.
event. And
And in in fact,
fact, Thucydides (and, on
Thucydides (and, on my
my argument, Herodotus)is
argument, Herodotus) unique in
is unique in
mentioning
mentioning the garrison
the garrisonandand political officersat
political officers all: T.
at all: Quinn,Athens
T. Quinn, Athens andand Samos,
Samos,
Chiosand
CMos and Lesbos (Manchester
Lesbos (Manchester 1981) 11.
1981) II.
53 That
53 That aa voûaoç comesto
vouao~ comes afflictthe
to afflict the figure identified as
figureidentified theperpetrator
as the perpetrator of the
of the
devastation
devastation of of the Samianpopulation,
the Samian population, inin Herodotus'
Herodotus' account "sometime
account "some time later" (3.149),
later" (3.149),
can hardly be
can hardly coincidencegiven
be coincidence given the fate of
the fate of Pericles himselfsome
Pericles himself some time afterSamos
time after Samos
(see the
(see tenyears
the ten of Plato
years of Sym. 201d3-5).
Plato Sym. 20 I d3-5).
54
54 I discussthis
I discuss topic in
this topic full in
in full in aa monograph thatII am
monograph that preparing on
am preparing book 3
on book of
3 of
Herodotus.
Herodotus.
HERODOTUS AND
HERODOTUS SAMOS: PERSONAL
AND SAMOS: OR POLITICAL?
413
actually accounts for

actually accounts for the length of
the length of what
what would otherwise be
would otherwise be aa brief
brief
account of
account of the
the first Spartan expedition
first Spartan - itselfonly
expedition-itself only three
three sentences
sentences
and
and three
three chapters
chapters-and - and seekingseeking an explanation for
an explanation for just
just whywhy the the
logos of
logos of the Spartan Campaign
the Spartan Campaign is extended with
is extended with this additional ma-
this additional ma-
terial. The
terial. The bulkbulk of of the
the digression consists of
digression consists of the story of
the story of Periander
Periander
and Lycophron: not
and Lycophron: justified by
not justified erga as
megista erga
by megista as the length of
the length of his
his
Samian
Samian logos is,55 Herodotus'
logos is,55 Herodotus' going going on on rather
rather long about Corinthians
long about Corinthians
and Corcyrans demands
and Corcyrans demands another explanation which
another explanation which he claims to
he claims to lie
lie
in
in the consequences for
the consequences for the Samians of
the Samians of the
the role they once
role they played in
once played in
an animosity between
age-old animosity
an age-old Corinthians and
between Corinthians Corcyrans. Explora-
and Corcyrans. Explora-
tion
tion ofof the
the details
details of of the story of
the story Periander and
of Periander and hishis son
son are
are beyond
beyond
the scope of
the scope of the discussion and
present discussion
the present need not
and need concern us
not concern us here.56
here. 56
Instead, II wish
Instead, wish to consider the
to consider self-referentiality of
the self-referentiality of thethe passage.
passage. It It
is significant
is significant that
that within
within a
a largerlogos
larger logos whose
whose conclusion
conclusion makes
makes the
the
aware that
reader aware
reader that itsits extensive recounting should
extensive recounting require some
should require some ex- ex-
planation,
planation, Herodotus
Herodotus has
has chosen
chosen to
to provide
provide another
another explanation
explanation for
for
why the
just why
just Corinthians he
the Corinthians narrates had
he narrates chosen to
had chosen to recall
recall an an episode
episode
of their
of history (3.49):
early history
their early (3.49):
If, afterPeriander's
If, after Periander's death, death, thethe Corinthians
Corinthians and and the the
Corcyrans
Corcyrans had
had been
been on
on good
good terms
terms with
with one
one another
another
[lit. had
[lit. ph ilia], the
had philia], Corinthians would
the Corinthians would not have had
not have had
this
this pretext (aitië) for
pretext (aitie) assisting the
for assisting expedition
the expedition against
against
Samos.
Samos But in
. But in fact,
fact, despite theirkinship,
despite their kinship,they theyhavehave
been hostiletowards
been hostile towards one another
one another [àÀÀrjÀoiai
[aAAr'JAoLUL òuxcj)OQoi]
bLl:XcpOQOL]
since Corinth
ever since
ever colonizedthe
Corinthcolonized the island,
island,and and so the
so the
Corinthians
Corinthians retainedtheir
retained againstthe
grudgeagainst
their grudge Samians.
the Samians.
It is
It is precisely
precisely here, almostdead
here,almost centerin
dead center the larger
in the larger logoslogos on on
Samos resonating
Samos resonating with with the the island's recenthistory,
island's recent history,that Herodotus
that Herodotus
drawsattention
draws attention to an
to an aspect
aspectof the relationship
of the relationship of History
of Historyas Event
as Event
to History
to as
History Logos: namely degree
as Logos: namely the
the degree to
to which
which the
the present is
present impli-
is impli-
catedin
cated in the
theactact of of recounting
recounting thepast.
the This reflection
past.This reflection has,of
has, of course,
course,
reverberations
reverberations on aa meta-level
on meta-levelfor Herodotus'entire
forHerodotus' narrative
entirenarrative itself,
itself,
but II limit
but limitdiscussion
discussionto this passage.
to this While for
passage. While the intradiegetic
for the intradiegetic
audienceof
audience of his
his logos,
logos,the late sixth-century
the late sixth-century Corinthians,
Corinthians, it is
it is expe-
expe-
dientto
dient recall this
to recall thispastpast event
event as
as justification
justification for
for their
their present-day
present-day
towardsthe
dispositiontowards
disposition the Corcyrans,
Corcyrans, providingas
providing as itit does
does an aitie for
an aitie for
their involvement
theirinvolvement in aa stratie
in stratiêagainst
againstthetheSamians,
Samians,for forthe thefirst
firstof of his
his
extradiegetic
extradiegetic audiences,
audiences, those
those earliest
earliest groups
groups for
for whom
whom he
he recounts
recounts
his own
his own logos
logos of of these
theseevents,
events,their theirpresent
presentis the turn
is the turnof of thethe last
last
quarter
quarter ofthe
of fifth
thefifth century
century whenthis
when thisanimosity
animosity betweenCorcyrans
between Corcyrans and
and
Corinthians
Corinthians is in
is in fact "still"playing
fact"still" itselfout.
playingitself out. WeWe are are consequently
consequently
invitedby
invited theparallelism
by the parallelismto to conduct
conductour ownhistorie,
ourown historié,and and ask what
ask what
"55Or
Or explicitly at least
explicitlyat as the
least as the spark
sparkofof the
the flEyianl as they
kívj]olças
êyíoTr'KivfJaL~ are for
theyare for
Thucydides
Thucydides The tendentiousness
(1.24-60). The
(1.24-60). tendentiousness of this
of thislogos as explanation
logosas explanation of Corinthian
of Corinthian
hostility
hostility towards Samos is
towardsSamos is enough
enoughtoto render Plutarchapoplectic,
renderPlutarch apoplectic,not withoutreason
notwithout reason
(Asheri[above,
(Asheri n.2] 445-46).
[above,n.2] 445-46).
56 will explore
56 II will thesedetails
explorethese in another
detailsin context.
anothercontext.
414
414 Elizabeth IRWIN
ELIZABETH Irwin
function
function recounting
recounting aa logos
logos of of these
theseevents
eventshad had for forHerodotus
Herodotusand and
his audiences.
his audiences.57 Mostobviously,
57 Most obviously,the thelong-standing
long-standing hatred
hatred of
of Corcyra
Corcyra
and Corinth
and Corinth was topical,
was redolent
topical,redolent of among
of amongthe themost
mostsignificant
significant aitiai
aitiai
("causes")- forsome
("causes")-for someat least- of the
at least-of thePeloponnesian
Peloponnesian War.One
War. One might
might
suspect - and indeed
suspect-and indeedHerodotus'
Herodotus'commentcomment on the
on theCorinthians'
Corinthians' motives
motives
shouldcue
should cue oneone to to suspect-that
suspect - that this
this story
story would
would not
not be
be recounted
recounted
wereit
were it the
thecase
case that
thatphilia existedbetween
philia existed betweenpresent-day Corinthians
present-day Corinthians
and Corcyrans.
and Corcyrans. But if
But if the
theCorinthians
Corinthians recallthis
recall thisstory
storyas as an
an aitie
aitiê for
for
theirparticipation
their participation in in aa military
military campaign,
campaign, crucialquestions
crucial arise:what
questionsarise: what
aitiê does
aitie does Herodotus'
Herodotus'recounting
recounting of this
of thislogos serve,and
logos serve, and forforwhom?
whom?
Aitiai are, of
Aitiai are, of course,
course,the the domain
domainto to which
whichallusion
allusionto to Corcyra
Corcyra
famously
famously belongs:
belongs: beyond Thucydides'choice
beyond Thucydides' choiceof of Corcyra
Corcyraas as the
thefirst
first
and most
and mostsignificant
significant of proximate
of proximate causesof
causes of the
thewar, Herodotus'rather
war,Herodotus' rather
contrived
contrived collocationof
collocation of Samos
Samoswith withCorcyra
Corcyraseems seemsto reflectcommon
to reflect common
historiographical
historiographical practice in
practice constructing preamble
in constructing the
the preamble to
to the
the Pelopon-
Pelopon-
nesianWar,
nesian the lists
War, the lists that wouldhave
that would have been drawnby
been drawn contemporaries
by contemporaries
and lateranalysts
and later analysts whenwhen giving theiraitiai
givingtheir aitiai ofof the
the war.58
war. 58 Moreover,
Moreover,
according to
according to Thucydides,
Thucydides, Samos Samos is is connected
connected to to Corcyra
Corcyra in another
in another
respect:
respect: Corinth
Corinth herself
herself is
is said
said to
to have
have made
made the
the collocation,claim-
collocation, claim-
ing Athens
ing shouldallow
Athens should allow her her toto deal
deal with
with her her colony
colony as she likes
as she likes
since she
since she dissuaded
dissuadedthe Spartansfrom
the Spartans interfering
from interfering with
with Athens'
Athens' warwar
against Samos (Thuc.
against Samos (Thuc. 1.40.5, 1.43.1).59Here
1.40.5, 1.43.1).59 Here those questions asked
those questions asked
above
above become
become more more pressing.
pressing. By embedding the
By embedding the Corinthians'
Corinthians' mo- mo-
tive
tive for recalling this
for recalling this past animosity in
past animosity in aa logos
logos for for which
which he he draws
draws
attention
attention to to the
the need
need for for an explantion of
an explantion of its recounting, Herodotus
its recounting, Herodotus
implicitly invites
implicitly invites hishis audiences
audiences to to make
make their
their own inquiries into
own inquiries into why
why
his logoi of
his logoi of the
the past - Corycran,Sam
past-Corycran, Samian-are
ian-are recounted.
recounted. A series of
A series of
arises, not
questions arises,
questions only "if
not only "if the
the Corinthians
Corinthians and Corcyrans were
and Corcyrans were onon
good terms" in
good terms" in the
the time
time of of Herodotus' writing, would
Herodotus' writing, would he he have
have be-
be-
ing recounted
ing recounted this problematic tale,60
this problematic tale,60 but
but those
those thatthat also
also involve
involve hishis
audiences:
audiences: wouldwould any any have
have beenbeen interested
interested as as they evidently were?
they evidently were?
And
And what
what would
would have prompted that
have prompted that interest? Simply wonder
interest? Simply wonder at at the
the
duration
duration of of such
such exceptional animosity between
exceptional animosity between colonycolony andand mother-
mother-
city, current
city, even in
current even in their day? Or
their day? Or would
would their
their interest
interest bebe motivated
motivated
57
57 On
On this subject see
this subject see Irwin
Irwin andand Greenwood
Greenwood (above, n.31) 35.
(above, n.31) 35.
58
58 In
In all
all our major sources
our major sources forfor the
the Samian
Samian revolt (and therefore
revolt (and arguably their
therefore arguably their
sources), it
sources), it is immediately followed
is immediately followed by Corcyraica (Thuc.
by Corcyraica 1.118, Diodorus
(Thuc. 1.118, Diodorus 12.28-30,
12.28-30,
and
and Plut.
Plut. Per.
Per. 28-29, the the latter
latter two reflecting sources
two reflecting independent of
sources independent Thucydides, and
of Thucydides, and
also, at
apparently also,
apparently at least
least inin some details, at
some details, at odds
odds with
with each
each other:
other: for
for aa detailed
detailed discus-
discus-
sion
sion of
of the sources, see
the sources, see Quinn
Quinn [above,
[above, n.52] 10-23; see
n.52] 10-23; Meiggs [above,
see Meiggs n.7] 188-93).
[above, n.7] 188-93).
59
5. A
A nice - sophistic- irony arises
nice-sophistic-irony arises when
when thethe two
two authors
authors are
are taken together: as
taken together: as
Thucydides presents Corinthians
Thucydides presents recalling their
Corinthians recalling unwillingness to
their unwillingness participate in
to participate in aa venture
venture
to
to Samos
Samos in in 440, Herodotus'
Herodotus' Corinthians
Corinthians recall
recall aa grudge
grudge that
that renders
renders them willing for
them willing for
such
such aa venture,
venture, and and in in either
either case, whether willing or
whether willing or not, opposing tendencies
not, opposing tendencies are are
motivated
motivated by by aa similar
similar indifference
indifference to to the Samians, and
the Samians, ultimately result
and ultimately result inin the
the same
same
fate
fate for
for them.
them. It It is
is not necessary to
not necessary to decide
decide here
here whether
whether Herodotus'
Herodotus' narrative
narrative seems
seems
to engage with
to engage Thucydides' because
with Thucydides' Thucydides reflects
because Thucydides knowledge and/or
reflects knowledge and/or opinions
opinions
also
also available
available to Herodotus, or
to Herodotus, or because
because somesome version
version of Thucydides' account
of Thucydides' account of of the
the
430's
430's was
was available
available to Herodotus; for
to Herodotus; preliminary remarks
for preliminary remarks onon this subject see
this subject see Irwin
Irwin
(above, n.14) 190-93, 220-23.
(above, n.14) 220-23 .
60
60 See
See above, n.55, on
above, n.55, on Plutarch's (justified) reaction
Plutarch's (justified) reaction to
to the
the story.
story.
Herodotus AND
HERODOTUS and SAMOS:
Samos: PERSONAL
Personal OR
or POLITICAL?
Political? 415
415
by an
by an aitie
aide not notjust forthe
just for the present-day
present-day circumstances
circumstances but also
but also for
for
future
future actions,alliances,
actions, alliances,even,
even,inin this
thispast eventthat
past event thatdifferent
different groups
groups
findno
mightfind
might no less
less than
thanHerodotus'
Herodotus'early Corinthians?61
earlyCorinthians?61
Butrather
But rather thananswer
than answerthatthatquestion
questionof of the
theCorinthian
Corinthian digression,
digression,
in the
in thecontext
contextof of this
thisdiscussion
discussionone one ought
oughtto to apply
applyit it to
to the
theSamian
Samian
whoseneed
logos whose
logos need for
forjustification Herodotushas
justification Herodotus has brought
brought to to the
thefore
fore
withhis
with his justification
justification of of 3.60:
3.60: just why
just why has
has Herodotus
Herodotus recounted
recounted this
this
Samianlogos
Samian logos as as he
he does?
does? WeWe have
have seen
seen itit to
to lie in aa meta-narrative
lie in meta-narrative
abouttimes
about timesmore morerecent
recentfor forhis
his audience
audienceand and about
aboutthethe function
function of
of
recounting
recounting thepast
the forthose
past for thoseinin the
thepresent.
present. Will contemporary
Will contemporary audi-
audi-
enceshave
ences havefound
foundwhatwhatforforthem
themwaswas useful
useful in in this
this"history,"
"history," theproof
the proof
thattheir
that characterizations
their characterizations of Sparta
of Spartaas as slow
slow to to act
act and
and reluctant
reluctant to
to
be embroiledin
be embroiled affairsin
in affairs in Asia
Asia have
have always
alwaysbeen true,62
been true,62 failingto
failing to see
see
mirrored
mirrored in the
in theSamian
Samiantyrant
tyrant and his
and his thriving
thriving naval
naval power (rjuêxo)
power (fjlJi;E'W)
things
things far
far closer
closer to
to home;63
home;63 or
or will
will theyrecognize history
they recognize not
not history wiewie ist
ist
war,64but
eigentlichwar,64
eigentlich ratheraa different
but rather different truthin
truth in Herodotus'
Herodotus'narrative
narrative
(if not
(if also an
not also an ominous
ominousthreat
threatabout future
about future crossings to
Spartancrossings
Spartan Asia),
to Asia),
which includesaa bid
which includes bid for Samos' megala
for Samos' megala ergaerga to to have
have thethe kleos they
kleos they
whichthey
deserve,which
deserve, otherwisemight
they otherwise lose if
mightlose if the distorting
the distorting trendsin
trends in
historiography
historiography represented
represented by Thucydides'Archaeology
by Thucydides' Archaeology are
are allowed
allowed
to prevail? But
to prevail? But this
this bid formemory
bid for pertains not
memory pertains onlyto
not only to the
the monu-
monu-
ments
ments andand achievements
achievements of of archaic Samos, but
archaic Samos, but also
also toto those
those more
more
recent, their
recent, their resistance
resistance to to Athens during their
Athens during their revolt
revolt and
and what
what they
they
suffered,
suffered, the memory of
the memory of which,
which, again judging from
again judging Thucydides, was
from Thucydides, was
being shunted
being shunted by by some
some into
into oblivion.
oblivion.
Taking Herodotus'
Taking example as
Herodotus' example as an
an implicit injunction, II have
implicit injunction, have gone
gone
on
on at length about
at length about Samos.
Samos. AndAnd indeed
indeed one
one could
could have gone on
have gone on longer.
longer.
61
61 II would suggest that
would suggest that by establishing the
by establishing antiquity of
the antiquity of the animosity, this
the animosity, this logos
logos
renders
renders thethe act
act of taking the
of taking part of
the part of this
this colony against her
colony against mother-city as
her mother-city as not
not as
as mor-
mor-
ally problematic as
ally problematic as it
it could
could be be otherwise
otherwise seem, seem, andand as as it was, for
it was, for instance
instance seenseen byby the
the
Corinthians; but
Corinthians; facetiously, since
but facetiously, since thethe story's register is
story's register is fabulistic. Establishing the
fabulistic. Establishing the an-
an-
tiquity of
tiquity of Corinthian/Corcyran
Corinthian/Corcyran animosity animosity must must be be the
the function
function that recalling the
that recalling the "oldest
"oldest
naval
naval battle"
battle" (vav^xaxia rcaAal'[(i1:'l, between
(vavflaxia naAaiTaxri, between Corinth
Corinth and Corycra, had
and Corycra, had forfor Thucydides
Thucydides
and
and his
his contemporaries
contemporaries (1.13.4):(1.13.4): pace pace S. Hornblower, A
S. Hornblower, Commentary on
A Commentary Thucydides II
on Thucydides
1991) 8
(Oxford 1991)
(Oxford 8 and
and 45,45, for
for whom
whom the the aitiê
aitie of
of this foreshadowing is
this foreshadowing is merely
merely "artistry."
"artistry."
62
62 See
See J. J. Henderson
Henderson (above, n.45); see
(above, n.45); see Irwin
Irwin and and Greenwood
Greenwood (above,
(above, n.31)n.3 I) 38-39.
38-39.
63
63 And
And given Polycrates' demise
given Polycrates' demise for for all
all his megaloprepeie, the
his megaloprepeiê, prognosis for
the prognosis for his
his
successors/analogue is
successors/analogue is not good: see
not good: see Irwin
Irwin (above,
(above, n.14)n. 14) 216-22.
216-22 .
64 I, for
64 I, one, find
for one, find it it difficult
difficult to to believe
believe thatthat Herodotus
Herodotus himself
himself wasn't
wasn't aware
aware
of
of the
the notorious problems his
notorious problems his account
account createdcreated for reconstructing the
for reconstructing the archaic
archaic Samian
Sam ian
tyranny, if
tyranny, if he
he isis as
as familiar
familiar withwith Samos
Samos as as we suppose him
we suppose him toto be.
be . For
For thethe problem,
problem,
see, for
see, example, Barron
for example, Barron (above, n.44), M.
(above, n.44), White, "The
M. White, "The duration
duration of of the
the Samian
Samian tyr-tyr-
anny," JHS
anny," JHS 74 36-43, J.
(1954) 36-43,
74 (1954) Labarbe, "Un
J. Labarbe, decalage de
"Un décalage de 40
40 ans
ans dans
dans la la chronologie
chronologie
de Polycrate," Ant.
de Polycrate," Ant. Class.
Class. 31 31 (1962) 153-88. If
(1962) 153-88. If II am
am correct
correct inin this
this assessment
assessment of of
Herodotus, the
Herodotus, strategy of
the strategy of the
the narrative's engagement with
narrative's engagement with the
the audience
audience would would be be asas
follows:
follows : some
some would
would not not have
have noticed
noticed aa problem,
problem, carried
carried awayaway by by thethe narrative
narrative and and
trusting the
trusting expertise of
the expertise of an
an author
author whose
whose own own career
career they they would
would have
have known
known to to have
have
included
included intimate
intimate tiesties with Samos; those
with Samos; those more knowledgeable in
more knowledgeable in his
his audience
audience wouldwould
have
have been
been faced
faced withwith aa choice
choice either
either to to dismiss
dismiss Herodotus
Herodotus as wrong, or
as wrong, or to
to ask
ask why
why
one
one with
with such knowledge would
such knowledge would create
create aa narrative
narrative with
with such chronological flaws.
such chronological flaws. Mod-
Mod-
ern
ern readers explain this
readers explain by his
this by being aa slave
his being slave toto his sources, but
his sources, but aa knowing
knowing audience
audience
might interpret the
might interpret the fact
fact that
that hishis account
account renders problematic archaic
renders problematic history as
archaic history as aa cue
cue
to understanding that
to understanding that itit was
was not only, or
not only, or even primarily, about
even primarily, about that
that time.
time .
416
416 ELIZABETH IRWIN
ELIZABETH IRWIN
ItIt must
must of of necessity
necessity belongbelong to to another context to
another context trace how
to trace how the the three
three
Samian
Sam ian logoilogoi of book 3
of book 3 interact together to
interact together portray different
to portray different facetsfacets
of
the Samian revolt as event and
as event and as memory.65 And
as memory.65 And there also II will
there also will
analyse more
analyse fully the
more fully the details
details of of Herodotus'
Herodotus' narrative against our
narrative against our other
other
sources to
sources assess what
to assess contribution Herodotus'
what contribution Herodotus' versions
versions may may make make to to
our knowledge of
our knowledge of the details of
the details of the
the Samian revolt and
Samian revolt and the the attitudes
attitudes
toward that
toward defining event
that defining event in in the history of
the history of Athenian
Athenian arche.
arche. And, And, of of
course, the
course, implications of
the implications of the argument that
the argument that Herodotus
Herodotus is is writing
writing
as
as much about recent
much about events as
recent events those of
as those of the
the past, and in
past, and in such
such detail,
detail,
are immense
are immense and and cannot
cannot be fully addressed
be fully here. The
addressed here. The basic
basic questions
questions
II hoped
hoped to to have raised in
have raised in this contribution are
this contribution are these, just how
these, just how we we
ought to
ought to be Herodotus, and
reading Herodotus,
be reading and just how well
just how well the past that
the past that wewe
have narrated from
have narrated from our readings of
our readings of Herodotus - whether
Herodotus-whether about archaic
about archaic
history or
history or Greek
Greek historiography - correspondsto
historiography-corresponds to the function that
the function that
narrating past
narrating the
the past had
had for
for Herodotus
Herodotus and
and his
his contemporaries.66
contemporaries. 66 These
These
are topics that
are topics that require investigation. With
ongoing investigation.
require ongoing With my my contribution,
contribution,
II hope
hope to to have shown that
have shown that Herodotus
Herodotus goes goes on long about
on long about SamosSamos not not
owing to
owing some (involuntary)
to some (involuntary) reflex
reflex arising from the
arising from the details
details of of his
his
personal
personal life
life and
and the
the sources
sources available
available to
to him,
him, but
but rather
rather represent
represent
an effort
an effort to guarantee the
to guarantee the preservation
preservation of of two types of
two types Samian
of Sam ian erga
erga
for one and
for one and the same reason:
the same reason: he attempted to
he attempted ensure that
to ensure Samos'
that Samos'
monuments,
monuments, superlativein
still superlative
still in his
his day, and her
day, and her recent
recent fate fatenot not bebe
rendered exitêla
rendered exiteia by by the versions of
the versions the past
of the purveyed by
past purveyed by hishis Athe-
Athe-
nocentriccontemporaries,
nocentric contemporaries, if not
if Thucydideshimself.
not Thucydides himself. It It is, however,
is, however,
up to
up to us
us to do our
to do our own historie in
own historié orderto
in order to listen
listen toto his logoi with
his logoi with
theattention
the attention of at
of at least some of
least some of his contemporaries.67
his contemporaries. 67
ColumbiaUniversity
Columbia University ELIZABETH IRWIN
ELIZABETH IRWIN
Classical 102.4 (2009)
World102.4
Classical World (2009) ei42@columbia.edu
ei42@columbia.edu
65 For
For instance,
instance, thethe two
two competing explanations for for the demise of
the demise of Polycrates
Polycrates
65 competing explanations
in the
in the second
second SamSamian essentiallyphthonos
logos, essentially
ian logos, phthonos over its independence
over its (3.120) or
independence(3.120) or aa
snub to
snub the "Persians"
to the "Persians" when when they
they came matterthat
over aa matter
came over Herodotus conspicuously
that Herodotus conspicuously
does not supply
does not would describe
(3.121), would
supply (3.121), describe well two Athenian
well two motivationsfor
Athenianmotivations for wishing
wishing
to subdue
to subdue Samos, eitherphthonos
Samos, either for their
ph than as for most powerful
theirmost powerfuland and wealthiest
wealthiestallyally still in
still in
possession of
possession of her
her ownown fleet and aa non-democratic
fleet and non-democraticconstitution,
constitution,or or anger over being
anger over being
snubbed when
snubbed when Samos
Samos ignored
ignoredthe the Athenian demand to
Atheniandemand to submit
submitthe matterof
the matter Priene to
of Priene to
arbitration(Plut.
arbitration 25.1-2; see
(Plut. 25.1-2; 24.1 and
see 24.1 and Quinn
Quinn [above, n.52] II).
[above, n.52] Moreover,Polycrates'
11). Moreover, Polycrates'
demise, his
demise, his crucifixion,
crucifixion,is is worryingly evocative of
worryinglyevocative of Pericles'
Pericles' brutal treatmentof
brutal treatment of the
the
Samian
Sam trierarchsas
ian trierarchs as recounted
recountedby Duris of
by Duris of Samos
Samos (FGrH
(FGrH 76, 76, apud Plut. Per.
apud Plut. Per. 28
28.2-3,
.2-3,
on the
on the veracity
veracityof of which
which see
see Meiggs [above, n.7]
Meiggs [above, R. Lewis,
192, R.
n.7] 192, Lewis, "An "An Alternative
AlternativeDateDate
forSophocles'
for Antigone,'"GRBS
Sophocles' Antigone," GRBS 29 29 [1988]
[1988] 45-49, and and Stadter
Städter[above, 258-59;
n.26] 258-59;
[above, n.26]
forcomparable
for atrocities,see
comparableatrocities, Ael. VH
see Ael. VH 2.9, Plut. Lys.
2.9, Plut. and Xen.
9.5, and
Lys. 9.5, Xen. HG HG 2.1.31-2), and and
incidentallythe
incidentally same treatment
the same attributedto
treatmentattributed to his
his father,
father,Xanthippus, conspicuous for
Xanthippus,conspicuous for
being twice
being cited (7.33;
twice cited 9.114.2, 120.4)
(7.33; 9.114.2, 120.4) and the last
and the last historical
historicalepisode
episode of of the Histories.
the Histories.
66For aa challenge to Herodotusis is made
made toto play in the
the story of Western
Western
66 For challenge to the the role
role Herodotus play in storyof
historiography,
historiography, focussingon
focussing the character
on the characterof of Minos,
Minos, see Irwin (above,
see Irwin n.14).
(above, n.14).
67 would very much
67 II would like to
to thank Pat Easterling,
thankPat Robin
and Robin
very much like Greenwood,and
Emily Greenwood,
Easterling,Emily
Osborne for
Osborne theirunflagging
for their unflaggingpatience
patience andand help with the
help with the development
developmentof of this
this article,
article,
as well
as well as as the Arts and
the Arts and Humanities
HumanitiesResearch Board (AHRB)
Research Board (AHRB) of of the
the United
United Kingdom
Kingdom
for its
for its past
past support
supportof of this
this research.
research.

Herodotus and Samos: Personal or Political?

Загружено:

Сведения о документе

Исходное описание:

Оригинальное название

Авторское право

Доступные форматы

Поделиться этим документом

Поделиться или встроить документ

Параметры публикации

Этот документ был вам полезен?

Это неприемлемый материал?

Авторское право:

Доступные форматы

Herodotus and Samos: Personal or Political?

Загружено:

Авторское право:

Доступные форматы

Herodotus AND

HERODOTUS and SAMOS:

17Anacr. 491 PMG =

42 250, citing also G.

actually accounts for

Вам также может понравиться