[58] It is not a part of the design of this chapter to discuss in detail either (a) the various palpably unhistorical references to incidents of the campaign made by the orators of the fourth century, as well as by later classical authors;
or (b) the numerous and varied reconstructions of the history of the time which have been attempted by modern writers.
The policy thus adopted with regard to the latter is not due to want of respect, but to want of space. Any full discussion of these theories would make a book in itself.
They are very fully explained and discussed in—
- (1) Busolt’s “Griechische Geschichte;”
- (2) Macan, Herod. iv.–vi, vol. 2, Appendix 10,
- (3) Hauvette’s “Hérodote;”
and to these I would refer any student who wishes to survey the whole field of possible and impossible theory.
I owe much to these able summaries of critical discussion, as well as to other papers which I have read at different times in various German periodicals.
A very valuable article on the constructive side of the history of the campaign is that by Mr. J. A. R. Munro, in the Journal of Hellenic Studies, vol. xix., Part II., 1899.
With respect to the ancient authorities, the majority of modern critics seem to be in agreement that the amount of reliable evidence outside Herodotus is very small.
The topographical details observable at the present day which have a bearing on the history of the actual fight are few, though important.