His nine book history of the persian wars is gossipy. Herodotus presented his theme as recording the achievements of both our own greek and other peoples. The greeks referred to all other peoples as barbarians whose unintelligible speech sounded like barbarbar, using it in the wider sense of foreigners. Herodotus, politics and athenian democracy brad martin, xavier university as is widely accepted by scholars, much of the western philosophies have roots in ancient greece. The eighth book of the histories, called urania here begins book viii of herodotus histories, being the continuation of the narative from book vii. Here begins book vii called polymnia of herodotus histories, being the continuation of the narative from book vi. An evaluation of herodotuss treatment of persia and the persians is a difficult task. Histories book viii cambridge greek and latin classics 9780521573283. Herodotus was indeed popular during the hellenistic period, but he was popular because every twobit intellectual went abroad with the intent of writing a pamphlet disproving some facet of the history. This place is called thermopylae by most of the hellenes, but by the natives and. Book i book ii book iii book iv book v book vi book vii book viii book ix chapter. Enter your mobile number or email address below and well send you a link to download the free kindle app. The greeks appointed to serve in the fleet were these.
Click anywhere in the line to jump to another position. When the whole army had crossed, and the troops were now upon their march, a strange prodigy appeared to them, whereof the king made no account, though its meaning was not difficult to conjecture. The history of herodotus by herodotus, part of the internet classics archive. The herodotus histories was starting to interest me after appearing on the searches, but didnt purchase until researching more what it was about. Herodotus excerpts from book vii of the histories translated and edited by a. A 1464k textonly version is available for download. Herodotus covers the empires geography, social structure, and history before describing the events which. The only one of these pamphlets that has survived with the text intact is plutarchs on the malignity of herodotus.
To place us there, herodotus tells the story from the point of view of a local hellespontine who watches and relates the. The internet classics archive the history of herodotus. Such a passage may be found in book vii of the histories. Gates of fire, by stephen pressfield, has the battle of thermopylae book vii as its. Since the release of the film version of michael ondaatjes the english patient, there has been renewed interest in the histories of herodotusthe book the dying patient treasures so much the writings of herodotus are the ground zero of western history. Im becomming a little obsessed with history after getting this book. The amassing of an army by darius after learning about the defeat at marathon.
Herodotus reveals his in saying, the greeks have been from very ancient times distinguished from the barbarians by superior sagacity and freedom from foolish simpleness. He also wanted the higher powers to be on his side and asked his close friend, mys of europus. Herodotus and the origins of political philosophy diva portal. Unlike other ancient writers such as homer, earlier, or virgil, later, herodotus does not attribute his narrative to divine sources, nor call on such for assistance, but announces clearly that this is his work and no others. Herodotus was the first historian in the european world, and an important influence on subsequent historians.
The athenians furnished a hundred and twentyseven vessels to the fleet, which were manned in part by the plataeans, who, though unskilled in such matters. Book vii polymnia now when tidings of the battle that had been fought at marathon reached the ears of king darius, the son of hystaspes, his anger against the athenians, which had been already roused by their attack upon sardis, waxed still fiercer, and he became more than ever eager to lead an army against greece. Histories, by herodotus, is an ancient greek text that tells the history of the wars between greece and persia. It was the fault of the greek gods, who with their arrogance, encouraged me to march onto your lands. The history of herodotus by herodotus the internet classics archive. List of books and articles about herodotus online research. Then you can start reading kindle books on your smartphone, tablet, or computer no kindle device required. Herodotus wanted his audience to see the wonders that xerxes accomplished in crossing his army over the hellespont on the illfated invasion of greece. List of people mentioned in herodotus, book one wikipedia. Legend key description book book number roman numeral and page number of the histories penguin 1975 edition in which the person is first mentioned name the name of the individual as given by herodotus. Herodotus, the greek historian known as the father of history, describes a debate on the three government types herodotus iii. Herodotus account of the grecopersian wars was the only book he ever wrote. In book 3, passages 102 to 105, herodotus reports that a species of foxsized, furry ants lives in one of the far eastern, indian provinces of the persian empire.
But their conscious cultural pride was unmistakable. After xerxes retreat, mardonius prepared his offensive on land. His goal no longer is the punishment of athens, but the subjugation of europe. The history of herodotus macaulaybook viii wikisource, the free. Nobody is mad enough to choose war whilst there is peace. E, and his histories chronicle the events of the persian wars, which were within living memory when. I also purchased the histories from barnes and noble with translation by g.
Those of the hellenes who had been appointed to serve in the fleet were these. This region, he reports, is a sandy desert, and the sand there contains a wealth of fine gold dust. The histories, which is the oldest history book in western civilization, was completed around 425 b. Bc, greek historian, called the father of history, b. Nobody is mad enough to choose war whilst there is. His ninebook history of the persian wars is gossipy. Herodotuss influence on our view of the history, not only of persia and the persians, but also of the ancient near east generally, is ubiquitous.
Book ix is the final book of herodotus s histories and contains, among other things, herodotus s accounts of the battles of plataea and mycale, the immediate aftermath of the persians defeat in and withdrawal from mainland greece, and the siege of sestos. This article presents a list of people whom herodotus c. Source for persia and persians encyclopaedia iranica. Only scant knowledge of his life can be gleaned from his writings and from references to him by later writings, notably the suda. The king replied, it was caused by your good fate and my bad fate. Herodotus and the persian wars the organization of herodotus histories is discursive main thrust. The histories is considered the first work of history in western literature, and was written in the ionian dialect of ancient greek, ca. Urania the greeks engaged in the seaservice were the following. The internet classics archive the history of herodotus by. State individual cities were in effect citystates and so a city or a country is appropriate.
The story of historiography offers a concise but comprehensive and uptodate account of the many ways history has been studied and recounted, from the ancient world to the new universe of the internet. The athenians furnished a hundred and twentyseven vessels to the fleet, which were manned in part by the plataeans, who, though unskilled in such matters, were led by their active and daring spirit to undertake this duty. Herodotus often presents a number of different opinions on an issue, and then proceeds to state his own opinion and the reasons why he supported it. Plutarch wrote an essay on the malice of herodotus. A reading of the whole text would have required fifty or more hours, a team of readers and a number of days exceeding the length of any known festival. In the lifetime of herodotus the writing of history, and indeed of prose of any sort, was still something of a novelty. Herodotus covers the empires geography, social structure, and history before describing the events which led to xerxes invasion of greece and the greek citystates uniting to defeat his army.
Jan 02, 2009 herodotus s account of the persian wars of 481479bc takes six books out of nine or 300odd pages of robin waterfields excellent english translation even to begin on the battle of marathon. Herodotus is a lengthy writer, and a singlevolume edition is bound to make a thick book, but this one is. The history of herodotus book i the first book of the histories, called clio this is the showing forth of the inquiry of herodotus of halicarnassos, to the end that1 neither the deeds of men may be forgotten by lapse of time, nor the works2 great and marvellous, which have been produced some by hellenes and some by barbarians, may. Athenian democratic ideology and herodotus histories article in american journal of philology 1223. According to herodotus, the city of babylon had magnificence greater than all other cities of which we have knowledge. The subject is not limited to a specific logos but is ubiquitous in the histories. Talthybios 1 darius xerxes precursor once sent men to demand submission from the athenians and spartans but they killed his men. The flags in the text are links to the greek as printed on facing pages in the loeb edition. Herodotus claims to have traveled extensively around the ancient world, conducting interviews and collecting stories for his book, almost all of which. Featured content includes commentary on major characters. Among the most influential ancient greek figures is the father of history, herodotus of halicarnassus, who chronicled the history of the persian wars.
Historical novels sourcing material from herodotus. He has been called the father of history, and was the first historian known to collect his materials systematically, test their accuracy to a certain extent and arrange them in a wellconstructed and vivid narrative. The quarrel over succession by two of darius sons, artabazanes and xerxes 2. Site contains many greek and latin texts, translations and related material.
For the events which brought the end of lydias existence as an independent nation, as indeed more generally for the rise of persia to world power status, we depend. Herodotuss history is an account of the grecopersian wars 499479 bce and the story of the growth and organization of the persian empire. He asked, croesus, who told you to attack my land and meet me as an enemy instead of a friend. Wells, a commentary on herodotus, book i, chapter 0.
King xerxes lay encamped in trachis in malis and the hellenes in the pass. He claims that 100 bronze gates were erected at the entrance of babylon, and that babylons. Herodotus, the histories, book 8, chapter 144, section 2. He also wanted the higher powers to be on his side and asked his close friend, mys of europus, to consult the local oracles of boeotia 8. The earliest writings in prose had been the work of a group of. Herodotus was an ancient greek historian who lived in the fifth century bc c. In book one of the histories, when herodotus describes the physical and political atmosphere in persia, he greatly exaggerates how massively fortified the city of babylon is. Athenian democratic ideology and herodotus histories. Go to previous table of contents book viii, go to next. He traveled along the coast of asia minor to the northern islands and to the shore of the black sea. Upset by the results of thermopylae, the greek fleet wants to retreat.
Like many important ancient greeks, herodotus was not only not born in athens but wasnt even born in what we think of as europe. Here begins book viii of herodotus histories, being the continuation of the narative from book vii. Pharaoh, by boleslaw prus, incorporating the labyrinth scenes inspired by herodotus description in book ii of the histories. Creation, by gore vidal, interpreting many scenes from the persian viewpoint. Herodotuss moral message is the one also at the heart of the tragedy oedipus the king, by his peer and perhaps friend, sophocles. In its first logos, we witness the naval engagement on the sea between aphetae and artemisium. Herodotus was an ancient greek historian, who lived in the fifth century bce c. Supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides for challenging works of literature. Part of a complete english translation of herodotus. Mar 27, 2018 herodotus once refused to read his book to a crowd until there was ample cloud cover to shade him on the platform. We may think all the famous ancient greeks came from athens, but its not true. Herodotus and the persian wars utah state university. This 147page guide for histories by herodotus includes detailed chapter summaries and analysis covering 9 chapters, as well as several more indepth sections of expertwritten literary analysis.
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