Note 232 — Chapter XIV · HERODOTUS AS THE HISTORIAN OF THE GREAT WAR.
Reading edition
I have had occasion to speak of the Thermopylæ narrative under various aspects in relation to the sources from which it is derived.
To prevent any misconception, I should like to sum up briefly my conclusions.
(1) The whole “motivation” of the story is derived from a version of official origin at Sparta.
(2) The incidents of the actual fighting may be derived partly from a Spartan source, probably of an unofficial character. The description of some of them, however, rests on information picked up by Herodotus at Thermopylæ itself from natives of the region.