Greek Prose: History, Oratory, and Philosophy

The major prose literature of classical Greece — historiography, oratory, and philosophical writing — studied for its language, style, and intellectual content.

Definition

The study of ancient Greek prose literature in the genres of history, oratory, and philosophy, including its language, style, and argumentative form.

Scope

This topic covers Greek prose genres: the historiography of Herodotus, Thucydides, and Xenophon; the oratory of Lysias, Isocrates, and Demosthenes; and the philosophical prose of Plato and Aristotle and their successors. It addresses Attic prose style and syntax, the rhetorical organization of argument, and the literary and intellectual aims of these works.

Core questions

• What distinguishes the styles and methods of the major Greek historians?
• How was persuasive oratory composed and what were its conventions?
• How do Plato and Aristotle use prose form to advance philosophical argument?
• What features characterize classical Attic prose style and syntax?

Key theories

The development of Greek rhetoric

George Kennedy's account of how systematic rhetoric arose in Greece and shaped oratory, historiography, and philosophical prose through its theory of persuasion.

History

Greek prose emerged in the late archaic period with the Ionian logographers and reached maturity in fifth- and fourth-century Athens with historiography, sophistic and forensic oratory, and philosophical dialogue. Alexandrian and later scholars edited and commented on these authors, and modern philology studies them through detailed linguistic, stylistic, and historical commentary.

Debates

Rhetoric and the reliability of the historians

Scholars debate how far the speeches and narratives in Greek historiography reflect rhetorical convention rather than report, and how this affects their use as evidence.

Key figures

• John Dewar Denniston
• George Kennedy
• Simon Hornblower
• Pat Easterling

Seminal works

• kennedy1963
• hornblower1991
• denniston1934

Frequently asked questions

Who are the major Greek historians?

The principal classical Greek historians are Herodotus, often called the father of history, Thucydides, known for his analytical method, and Xenophon, whose works continue the historical and other prose traditions.

Why study Greek particles?

Greek particles convey tone, connection, and emphasis that are central to the texture of Greek prose, and Denniston's standard work catalogues their nuanced functions.