The Saber and Scroll Journal Volume 1, Issue 1, April 2015 | Page 7

place, before there was any union of the Greek city-states, and the
Persians were a very dangerous threat. Born only four years after the
death of Leonidas at the Battle of Thermopylae, he was able to give a
unique history of that battle because it was still relatively fresh in the
minds of the people. The Battle of Thermopylae has always fascinated
me, and I would love to sit and talk about theories behind the strategy
with Herodotus.
Judy Monhollen,
American Public University
With apologies to the fine writers of the BBC series, Doctor Who, the
following is an alternate ending to The Girl in the Fireplace episode:
Jeanne-Antionette “Reinette” Poisson, Madame du Pompadour, clutched
the Doctor’s sleeve as they ducked through the fireplace in her bed-
chamber to arrive on the deck of an abandoned fifty-first century space
ship, the Madame du Pompadour. The Doctor had promised to take her
anywhere she desired in time and space, and Reinette immediately made
her wish known; to visit Herodotus. “He has been my inspiration for
many years, and I wish to speak to him.” Slipping into the TARDIS, they
set the controls for Greece, circa 450 B.C.E. Reaching their destination,
they sought out Herodotus. The Doctor introduced Reinette to his old
friend, since, of course, this was not his first visit to Pericles’ Athens.
Herodotus was only too pleased to expound on his philosophy of history
and learning. History provides examples of the use and abuse of power;
“Is it not the duty of all to understand from whence they came to better
design the path ahead,” he asked? She nodded in agreement with all he
said, and asked that he acquaint her with his favorite story. “Ah, the tale
of the Spartans’ courage and sacrifice at Thermopylae,” he began,
launching into a tale of the doomed three hundred. As the sun began to
sink, the Doctor interrupted the dialogue. “I hear that great statesmen and
military leaders are pushed from the center stage of history in twentieth
century historiography, replaced by commoners.” Both looked at him
disbelievingly, shook their heads in amusement at such a preposterous
thought, and continued discussing Thermopylae.
Anne Midgley
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