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not be many but through the possession of a fleet。'
Anticipating in some measure the comparative method of research； he
argues from the fact of the more barbarous Greek tribes； such as
the AEtolians and Acarnanians； still carrying arms in his own day；
that this custom was the case originally over the whole country。
'The fact；' he says； 'that the people in these parts of Hellas are
still living in the old way points to a time when the same mode of
life was equally common to all。' Similarly； in another passage； he
shows how a corroboration of his theory of the respectable
character of piracy in ancient days is afforded by 'the honour with
which some of the inhabitants of the continent still regard a
successful marauder；' as well as by the fact that the question；
'Are you a pirate？' is a common feature of primitive society as
shown in the poets； and finally； after observing how the old Greek
custom of wearing belts in gymnastic contests still survived among
the more uncivilised Asiatic tribes； he observes that there are
many other points in which a likeness may be shown between the life
of the primitive Hellenes and that of the barbarians to…day。'
As regards the evidence afforded by ancient remains； while adducing
as a proof of the insecure character of early Greek society the
fact of their cities （2） being always built at some distance from
the sea； yet he is careful to warn us； and the caution ought to be
borne in mind by all archaeologists； that we have no right to
conclude from the scanty remains of any city that its legendary
greatness in primitive times was a mere exaggeration。 'We are not
justified；' he says； 'in rejecting the tradition of the magnitude
of the Trojan armament； because Mycenae and the other towns of that
age seem to us small and insignificant。 For； if Lacedaemon was to
become desolate； any antiquarian judging merely from its ruins
would be inclined to regard the tale of the Spartan hegemony as an
idle myth； for the city is a mere collection of villages after the
old fashion of Hellas； and has none of those splendid public
buildings and temples which characterise Athens； and whose remains；
in the case of the latter city； would be so marvellous as to lead
the superficial observer into an exaggerated estimate of the
Athenian power。' Nothing can be more scientific than the
archaeological canons laid down； whose truth is strikingly
illustrated to any one who has compared the waste fields of the
Eurotas plain with the lordly monuments of the Athenian acropolis。
（3）
On the other hand； Thucydides is quite conscious of the value of
the positive evidence afforded by archaeological remains。 He
appeals； for instance； to the character of the armour found in the
Delian tombs and the peculiar mode of sepulture； as corroboration
of his theory of the predominance of the Carian element among the
primitive islanders； and to the concentration of all the temples
either in the Acropolis； or in its immediate vicinity； to the name
of ＇Greek text which cannot be reproduced＇ by which it was still
known； and to the extraordinary sanctity of the spring of water
there； as proof that the primitive city was originally confined to
the citadel； and the district immediately beneath it （ii。 16）。 And
lastly； in the very opening of his history； anticipating one of the
most scientific of modern methods； he points out how in early
states of civilisation immense fertility of the soil tends to
favour the personal aggrandisement of individuals； and so to stop
the normal progress of the country through 'the rise of factions；
that endless source of ruin'； and also by the allurements it offers
to a foreign invader； to necessitate a continual change of
population； one immigration following on another。 He exemplifies
his theory by pointing to the endless political revolutions that
characterised Arcadia； Thessaly and Boeotia； the three richest
spots in Greece； as well as by the negative instance of the
undisturbed state in primitive time of Attica； which was always
remarkable for the dryness and poverty of its soil。
Now； while undoubtedly in these passages we may recognise the first
anticipation of many of the most modern principles of research； we
must remember how essentially limited is the range of the
ARCHAEOLOGIA； and how no theory at all is offered on the wider
questions of the general conditions of the rise and progress of
humanity； a problem which is first scientifically discussed in the
REPUBLIC of Plato。
And at the outset it must be premised that； while the study of
primitive man is an essentially inductive science； resting rather
on the accumulation of evidence than on speculation； among the
Greeks it was prosecuted rather on deductive principles。
Thucydides did； indeed； avail himself of the opportunities afforded
by the unequal development of civilisation in his own day in
Greece； and in the places I have pointed out seems to have
anticipated the comparative method。 But we do not find later
writers availing themselves of the wonderfully accurate and
picturesque accounts given by Herodotus of the customs of savage
tribes。 To take one instance； which bears a good deal on modern
questions； we find in the works of this great traveller the gradual
and progressive steps in the development of the family life clearly
manifested in the mere gregarious herding together of the
Agathyrsi； their primitive kinsmanship through women in common； and
the rise of a feeling of paternity from a state of polyandry。 This
tribe stood at that time on that borderland between umbilical
relationship and the family which has been such a difficult point
for modern anthropologists to find。
The ancient authors； however； are unanimous in insisting that the
family is the ultimate unit of society； though； as I have said； an
inductive study of primitive races； or even the accounts given of
them by Herodotus； would have shown them that the ＇Greek text which
cannot be reproduced＇ of a personal household； to use Plato's
expression； is really a most complex notion appearing always in a
late stage of civilisation； along with recognition of private
property and the rights of individualism。
Philology also； which in the hands of modern investigators has
proved such a splendid instrument of research； was in ancient days
studied on principles too unscientific to be of much use。
Herodotus points out that the word ERIDANOS is essentially Greek in
character； that consequently the river supposed to run round the
world is probably a mere Greek invention。 His remarks； however； on
language generally； as in the case of PIROMIS and the ending of the
Persian names； show on what unsound basis his knowledge of language
rested。
In the BACCHAE of Euripides there is an extremely interesting
passage in which the immoral stories of the Greek mythology are
accounted for on the principle of that misunderstanding of words
and metaphors to which modern science has given the name of a
disease of language。 In answer to the impious rationalism of
Pentheus … a sort of modern Philistine … Teiresias； who may be
termed the Max Muller of the Theban cycle； points out that the
story of Dionysus being inclosed in Zeus' thigh really arose from
the linguistic confusion between ＇Greek text which cannot be
reproduced＇ and ＇Greek text which cannot be reproduced＇。
On the whole； however … for I have quoted these two instances only
to show the unscientific character of early philology … we may say
that this important instrument in recreating the history of the
past was not really used by the ancients as a means of historical
criticism。 Nor did the ancients employ that other method； used to
such advantage in our own day； by which in the symbolism and
formulas of an advanced civilisation we can detect the unconscious
survival of ancient customs： for； whereas in the sham capture of
the bride at a marriage feast； which was common in Wales till a
recent time； we can discern the lingering reminiscence of the
barbarous habit of exogamy； the ancient writers saw only the
deliberate commemoration of an historical event。
Aristotle does not tell us by what method he discovered that the
Greeks used to buy their wives in primitive times； but； judging by
his general principles； it was probably through some legend or myth
on the subject which lasted to his own day； and not； as we would
do； by arguing back from the marriage presents given to the bride
and her relatives。 （4）
The origin of the common proverb 'worth so many beeves；' in which
we discern the unconscious survival of a purely pastoral state of
society before the use of metals was known； is ascribed by Plutarch
to the fact of Theseus having coined money bearing a bull's head。
Similarly； the Amathusian festival； in which a young man imitated
the labours of a woman in travail； is regarded by him as a rite
instituted in Ariad