“Standing Your Ground”: Discourses of Courage on the Battlefield in Greek and Roman Historiography

This chapter surveys the main roles which “courage” as displayed on the battlefield plays in the works of some of the main Greek and Roman historiographers. It considers how historians use “courage” in their explanations of victory and defeat and how, in doing so, they often go against popular discourse on “courage” as defined by heroic exploits. It also goes into the role of “courage” in generals’ prebattle harangues and other types of speeches which historians record. It shows how some historians bring courageous acts to life in their narratives. Finally, it zooms in on some problematic aspects, such as the place of “courage” in civil wars and national defeats.