Routledge - Drama, Oratory and Thucydides in Fifth-Century Athens

Explore the complex relationship between Athenian rhetoric and historical reality in this scholarly study from Routledge Monographs in Classical Studies. This book examines the discrepancy between Thucydides' account of the Peloponnesian War and the way Athens presented itself through tragedy, funeral orations, and public art. Author Mills investigates how the Athenian empire was perceived by its own citizens compared to the cynical assessment found in Thucydides' writings. By looking at the popular education provided to Athenians through civic performances and monuments, the text argues that the average citizen likely held a different view of their city's power than the historian's critical narrative suggests. This work is essential for students and historians interested in ancient Greek history, political rhetoric, and the role of art in imperial identity. It provides a deep look into how public speech and drama shaped the understanding of empire in fifth-century Athens.