Home > The Histories of Herodotus

1 Introduction

The Histories of Herodotus by Herodotus is considered the first work of history in Western literature. Written about 440 B.C., The Histories tells the story of the war between the Persian Empire and the Greek city states in the 5th century B.C. Herodotus traveled extensively around the ancient world, conducting interviews and collecting stories for his book. At the beginning of The Histories, Herodotus set out his reasons for writing it:

Herodotus of Halicarnassus here displays his enquiry, so that human achievements may not become forgotten in time, and great and marvellous deeds - some displayed by Greeks, some by barbarians - may not be without their glory; and especially to show why the two peoples fought with each other. ( Aubrey de Selincourt translation)

The Histories is divided into nine books, each named after one of the Muses. The rise of the Persian Empire is chronicled, and the causes for the conflict with Greece. Herodotus treats the conflict as an ideological one, frequently contrasting the absolute power of the Persian king with the democratic government of the Greeks. The Histories contains a famous account of the Battle of Marathon, of which Herodotus wrote:

So when the battle was set in array, and the victims showed themselves favourable, instantly the Athenians, so soon as they were let go, charged the barbarians at a run. Now the distance between the two armies was little short of eight furlongs. The Persians, therefore, when they saw the Greeks coming on at speed, made ready to receive them, although it seemed to them that the Athenians were bereft of their senses, and bent upon their own destruction; for they saw a mere handful of men coming on at a run without either horsemen or archers. Such was the opinion of the barbarians; but the Athenians in close array fell upon them, and fought in a manner worthy of being recorded. (unknown translation)

2 Storyline

2.1 Book I (Clio)

• The rulers of Lydia (on the west coast of modern Turkey): Candaules, Gyges, Alyattes, Crœsus
• How Gyges took the kingdom from Candaules
• The singer Arion's ride on the dolphin
• Solon's answer to Crœsus's question about who was the happiest person in the world
• Crœsus's efforts to protect his son Atys
• Crœsus's test of the oracles
• The answer from the Oracle of Delphi concerning whether Crœsus should attack the Persions (famous for its ambiguity): If you attack you will destroy a mighty empire
• Crœsus's defeat by CyrusCyrus I of Anshan King of Persia around 650 B. Cyrus the Great King of Persia 600 B. Cyrus the Younger died 401 B. Cyrus Vance the Secretary of State of the President Jimmy Carter administration., and how he later became Cyrus's advisor
• The rulers of the MedesThe Medes were an Iranian people of Aryan origin who lived in the western and north-western portion of present-day Iran. During the 8th century BC they were dominated by the nomadic group of the Scythians. By the 6th century BC (prior to the Persian invas: DeiocesDeioces was the first king of the Medes, an Aryan people in what would become Iran. He united seven Median tribes and became their judge and leader, beginning in 701 BC. After seven years of rule he resigned, the Medes elected him as king until 665 BC., PhraortesFravartish or Phraortes (c. 665 633 BC), son of Deioces, was the second king of the Media and the founder of Median government. Like his father, Fravartish started wars against Assyria, but was defeated and killed by Ashurbanipal, the king of Assyria., CyaxaresHvakhshathra or Cyaxares ( 625 585 BC) was the most capable king of Media ( Iran). He reorganized and modernized the Median Army, then joined with King Nabopolassar of Babylon. The allies overthrew the Assyrian Empire and destroyed Nineveh in 612 BC., Astyages , CyrusCyrus I of Anshan King of Persia around 650 B. Cyrus the Great King of Persia 600 B. Cyrus the Younger died 401 B. Cyrus Vance the Secretary of State of the President Jimmy Carter administration.
• The rise of Deioces over the Medes
• Astyages 's attempt to destroy Cyrus, and Cyrus's rise to power
• The culture of the Persians
• The history and geography of the Ionians
• The culture of Assyria, especially the design and improvement of the city of Babylon and the ways of its people
• Cyrus's attack on Babylon, including his revenge on the river Gyndes and his famous method for entering the city
• Cyrus's ill-fated attack on the Massagetæ