Reseña del libro "E Mache tou Marathona: Istorike kai Topographike Prosengise"
Researchers' interest in Marathon remains undiminished. From the seventeenth century to the present day, numerous distinguished scholars have been involved with the problems this important chapter in the history of mankind presents and have proposed solutions to them. But these proposals are frequently contradictory, because the ancient texts on which they are based leave a wide leeway for theorizing and speculation. Herodotus, who is the principal and most reliable source for research, gives a summary picture of the events and is reticent on certain fundamental details concerning the Battle of Marathon. In order to fill the gaps and shortcomings of the Herodotan narrative, scholars have relied on secondary sources. However, instead of these being used supplementarily, they have led some to arbitrary conclusions and transformed them into creators of imaginary scenarios, since their theories are in complete opposition to the primary source as well as, sometimes, to commonsense. In Herodotus, as in the other sources too, there are some words or phrases that, through erroneous evaluation, may lead us astray, and others that, on first glance, tell us nothing. However, on careful scrutiny we ascertain that their silence is apparent and that they conceal within them truths which are revealed to us, in some cases indeed in stentorian voice. In this book the author exposits the various theories that have been formulated, he studies the difficulties the issues present and proposes his own view, having as guideline, as far as the textual testimonies are concerned, mainly He evaluates and utilizes the secondary sources according to their credibility, to the degree that they are consistent with the Herodotan narrative and do not come into conflict with this.
