The ancient Greek historians (Harvard lectures) by J. B. Bury.

V

ANTIQUARIANISM

189

will show in a subsequent lecture, it has a human
value and is therefore ultimately not disinterested.
Although the ancient antiquarians tended to be
rather learned than critical, and in criticism to be
rather minute and finical than luminous, there were
brilliant exceptions; such as Eratosthenes, the
greatest and most original geographer of the ancient
world. His studies in physical science helped him
to prosecute his antiquarian researches with freshness of insight. I would, in particular, point out
his attitude to Homer. One of the most serious
impediments blocking the way to a scientific
examination of early Greece was the orthodox
belief in Homer's omniscience and infallibility-a
belief which survived the attacks of Ionian philosophers and the irony of Thucydides. Eratosthenes
boldly asserted the principle that the critic in studying Homer must remember that the poet's knowledge was limited by the conditions of his age, which
was a comparatively ignorant age.' This was an
important step in historical criticism.
Ancient antiquarians did not work out principles
of method, nor did they, beyond the collection of
libraries, provide facilities for research, like the
bibliographies and innumerable works of reference
which are compiled for the convenience of modern
students. It is somewhat surprising that archives
were not systematically transcribed, and official
documents collected. The idea was not unknown.
Craterus, who seems to have been a contemporary
1 Strabo, vii. 3. 6; cp. also 1. 23-25.