Želivskýs Head: Memory and New Martyrs Among the Hussites

Abstract

In his 'Histories', Herodotus argues in order to preserve the memories of great achievements he would use stories generated by makers of great events. His arch rival Thucydides denounced the use of "myth" as unscientific and of little value for proper historians and pure history.In order to discover the answer to Ranke's great query: "wie es eigentlich gewesen ist" - what exactly happened - one must decide either for Herodotus or Thucydides. I lean towards Herodotus. Myths are sacred stories shared by those finding meaning of the highest importance embedded therein. These are stories arising in the past about past events but having future reference. Such stories are essential for partly because they are remembered. Telling stories raises the question of memory. From antiquity humans have pondered the notion of memory. Aristotle's treatise 'De memoria et reminiscentia' argues memory is distinct from other types of cognition. The object of memory has to do with things past. One consideration centres on the reliability of mental images upon which memory is dependant. After 1268 Thomas Aquinas wrote a commentary on this treatise. Other medieval writers reflected on the idea of memory and its functions.