The great Persian War and its preliminaries: A study of the evidence, literary and topographical

About this book

The work is a scholarly study that re‑examines the Persian Wars up to 479 B.C. by combining literary analysis with the author’s own topographical surveys of key battlefields. Grundy opens by noting the “destructive” criticism that recent scholars have directed at Herodotus and Thucydides, then argues that much of this critique rests on imperfect maps and sketches. He outlines his own fieldwork, surveys of Marathon, Thermopylae, Plataea, and other sites conducted between 1892 and 1899, and explains how these observations underpin his reassessment of the classical narratives. The preface makes clear that the volume is limited to the Greco‑Persian conflicts, with a separate study promised for later fifth‑century wars, and that the author distinguishes between arguments presented in the main text and more technical notes. Throughout, Grundy emphasizes a constructive approach, aiming to balance criticism of accepted authorities with respect for earlier scholars constrained by the evidence of their time.

Written in the formal, measured prose of an early‑20th‑century academic, the book reflects the voice of a meticulous Oxford professor who blends personal field experience with rigorous historiography. Its style is dense but precise, alternating detailed descriptions of terrain with careful linguistic notes on Greek names. Readers who appreciate a blend of archaeological insight and critical historiography, students of ancient military history, classicists interested in source criticism, or historians of cartography, will find Grundy’s methodical argumentation rewarding. Those seeking a narrative-driven retelling of the wars may prefer more popular accounts, while scholars looking for a nuanced, evidence‑based re‑evaluation will be most engaged by this volume.

Opening lines

Within the last half-century modern criticism of great ability has been brought to bear on the histories of Herodotus and Thucydides. Much of it has been of a destructive nature, and has tended to raise serious doubts as to the credibility of large and important parts of the narratives of those authors. I venture to think that, while some of this criticism must be accepted as sound by every careful student, much of it demands reconsideration. …

Keep reading free · chapter 1 needs no account