Thucydides: What is war good for?

Speeches that start a war, a plague that ravages, a fleet that gathers, and a fleet destroyed. These small excerpts give a taste of an epic conflict in Western civilization's ancient past.

Blue light, coming from above—feeling it fill you as you sit, lotus or half-lotus pose, on the carpet. An Australian voice says it’s compassion, warmth, energy. Or that is misremembered.

Coming after Herodotus is Thucydides. I am told his Greek is difficult, and some theorize it’s difficult on purpose. Make it harder, so you need to concentrate on it! Th…