The Vagueries Of Chance

We have lost so much. Polybios,Diodoros, and Livy must have had literary sources, The amount of knowledge which is lost to us far exceeds those crumbs which have managed to survive.

I met a young man who told me he was going off to college to study archaeology. I asked him what his particular interest was and he answered, “gold and Jewels”. I pointed to the corner. “There’s a jewelry store just down that way; it is filled with those things. See, now there is no need to waste your time or the college’s time. Bring me an ancient Greek shopping list or a Roman laundry receipt. Any written word from the past is a voice speaking out over the centuries like a recording and it’s value far exceeds gold.”

I’m certain he thought me dotty. I hope I saved some archaeology 101 teacher some valuable time.