Xenophon and the Orators on the Topography of Arginousae and Aegospotami

Abstract

Abstract In his description of the naval battles of Arginousae and Aegospotami Xenophon integrated detailed topographical data into the historical description of war operations because he regarded them as absolutely necessary elements of his text, which was intended as a tool of understanding and interpretation. On the other hand, the orators tend not to use the names of Arginousae and Aegospotami when referring to the episodes which occurred there, and they write in a way that shows that their fellow citizens did not want to know or remember the topography of these naval battles, since this would have evoked painful memories to them.