J.P.V.D. Balsdon,
Romans and Aliens (London: Duckworth, 1979), pp. 39-40, with note on p. 267:
Greeks themselves, of course, in their compartmentalised city-state
existence, had never been uncritical of other Greeks. A Rhodian,
representative of a state which in less troubled times was the object of
widespread admiration, had said in the Senate in 167 BC, 'Some
people are irascible, some headstrong, others pusillanimous. Some
drink too much and some are over-sexed. The Athenians are
traditionally impetuous and indulge in bold enterprises which are
beyond their power; Spartans procrastinate. Nor can I deny that, as a
whole, Greeks living in western Asia Minor are empty-headed and
that we open our mouths far too wide.'
Even between neighbouring cities there were wide diversities.
'The Boeotians say that greed lies in Oropus, envy in Tanagra,
quarrelsomeness in Thespiae, insolence in Thebes, covetousness in
Anthedon, curiosity in Coronea, braggadocio in Plataea, fever in
Onchestus, stupidity in Haliartus.' This was perhaps written in the
second half of the third century BC or in the second.57
57. L. 45, 23, 14-16; FHG II, 59, 25, p. 260 (and Geog. Gr. Min. 1, p. 104), a fragment, probably, of
Heracleides Criticus (RE VIII, 484-6, no. 46).
484-6, no.46).
Livy 45.23.14-16:
gentes quoque aliae
iracundae, aliae audaces, quaedam timidae, in uinum, in Venerem proniores aliae
sunt. Atheniensium populum fama est celerem et supra vires audacem esse ad
conandum, Lacedaemoniorum cunctatorem et vix in ea, quibus fidit, ingredientem.
non negaverim et totam Asiae regionem inaniora parere ingenia, et nostrorum
tumidiorem sermonem esse.
Heracleides Criticus, fragment 1, § 25:
ἱστοροῦσι δ' οἱ
Βοιωτοὶ τὰ κατ' αὐτοὺς ὑπάρχοντα ἴδια ἀκληρήματα λέγοντες ταῦτα· τὴν μὲν
αἰσχροκέρδειαν κατοικεῖν ἐν Ὠρωπῷ, τὸν δὲ φθόνον ἐν Τανάγρᾳ, τὴν
φιλονεικίαν ἐν Θεσπιαῖς, τὴν ὕβριν ἐν Θήβαις, τὴν πλεονεξίαν ἐν
Ἀνθηδόνι, τὴν περιεργίαν ἐν Κορωνεία, ἐν Πλαταιαῖς τὴν ἀλαζονείαν, τὸν
πυρετὸν ἐν Ὀγχηστῷ, τὴν ἀναισθησίαν ἐν Ἁλιάρτῳ.