WEEK 9_Rhodes_2006_The Literary Sources (Kinzl ed A companion to the Classical Greek World)-2023 edits

Rhodes believes that Thucydides presents speeches in a manner that reflects the political and social circumstances of the time, rather than providing verbatim accounts of what was actually said. Thucydides aims to provide a factual and useful account, but his narratives are shaped by his understanding and interpretations of the events. This means that while his work is structured and analytical, it is not wholly accurate in terms of direct quotations. Rhodes suggests that Thucydides' speeches, while informative, should be approached with caution regarding their reliability as exact historical evidence.