3. Tradition [some preserved in previous authors].
Under the heading of personal observations may be included—
- (a) His topographical inquiries.
- (b) His inquiries from persons who had taken part in or had witnessed events.
Among records, the following sources may be suggested:—
- (a) Inscriptions set up in various cities;
- (b) (Probably) official lists other than inscriptions;
- (c) Records of oracular responses.
The traditions, of which he manifestly made important use, are of great variety of origin. Sometimes he mentions their source; more frequently the nature of his information clearly indicates it.
- (a) Pan-Hellenic, or Patriotic Greek;
- (b) Athenian (Pan-Athenian; Aristocratic);
- (c) Spartan (Official; Popular);
- (d) Argive;
- (e) Arcadian;
- (f) Sicilian;
- (g) Macedonian;
- (h) Asiatic Dorian;
- (i) Ionian;
- (k) (Possibly) Persian sources;
- (l) Delphic.
This list, long as it is, is absolutely confined to the sources for the story of the war, and that, too, of its main incidents. Were the sources for the history of Greece before the opening of the fifth century, for the non-Hellenic history, or even for minor incidents of the war, to be taken into consideration, their discussion would extend to many chapters.
The most remarkable general characteristic about this aspect of his work is the composite, sometimes extremely composite, nature of the sources employed in drawing up the account of any single one of the main incidents. A second characteristic, hardly less remarkable, is that those parts of his work whose truth is most conspicuously demonstrable originate in the majority of cases in the historian’s personal observation and personal inquiry.
Autopsy, and the evidence of eye-witnesses.