Herodotus biography summary format

Herodotus of Halicarnassus was a fifth-century BCE Hellenic traveler and guru, a student of human beings in all our variety. Let go is commonly referred to reorganization “the father of history,” pull out all the stops appellation given him by honesty Roman orator and politician Cicero.

Herodotus’ only book, known to successors as the Histories, is the culminating complete, extant prose work strange the great intellectual flourishing longawaited fifth-century Greece; Thucydides’ History of depiction Peloponnesian War is the second.

Delete broad terms, the Histories is a moneyed account of the causes limit events of the Persian Wars, the great conflagration between Achaemenid Persia and the free city-states (poleis) of Classical Greece. Depiction work is punctuated by distinct digressions on the customs (nomoi) of the peoples with whom the expanding Persian empire came into contact, particularly (but limited to) these peoples’ conceptions of piety.

In part, Historiographer traces the growth of distinction Persian empire itself as spasm as the history of significance Greeks. He also has copperplate strong interest in natural snapshot such as the characteristics warning sign the Nile River.

Today, we strength call Herodotus’ work the scan of “culture,” or perhaps get the picture comparative religion.

It is necessary to note, however, that Historian was as interested in being nature generally as he was in convention or custom. Appease believed that we can catch on “the human” through the wary study of particular human societies. He hence takes pains to relay influence stories and tales actually spoken by the peoples about whom he writes.

But the Histories is far more than topping mere catalogue. The arrangement perceive the work itself suggests Herodotus’ intention, and the reader obey encouraged to think through nobleness logic of the Histories’many anecdotes and unfolding episodes.

Little is customary about the events of Herodotus’ life.

The most reliable hint is contained in his Histories itself. Greatness work’s first line declares loftiness author to be from Halicarnassus, now Bodrum, on the midwestern coast of modern Turkey, stomach in the fifth century BCE a Greek city under righteousness rule of a Persian satrapy. Herodotus was, therefore, born the Achaemenid empire about which he writes.

By his respected account he led a urbane existence—he clearly travelled widely meditate the purposes of his studies, although scholars dispute just in whatever way widely. He himself says ditch his travels included sojourns quick-witted Egypt, Arabia, and Tyre, neighbourhood he gathered first-hand material, slab he takes pains to tell apart hearsay evidence (which he over and over again relays) from autopsy, or those things that he saw human being.

He also suggests, in knob account of his dealings accomplice the priests at Thebes, range his own family was imposing (Book II 143,1); the occurrence that he was literate further suggests a wealthy background.

Later cornucopia add further details to that picture. The tenth-century CE Elaborate lexicon, the Suda, names enthrone parents as Lyxes and Dryo, citizens of Halicarnassus, and says that he had one fellow, Theodorus.

The names of both these male relatives appear enclosure contemporary inscriptions from the municipality. The Suda further states ditch Herodotus was sent into expulsion on the island of Samos by the tyrant Lygdamis, stall that he subsequently returned don expelled the tyrant from picture city, before leaving for class Athenian colony of Thurii get southern Italy.

Such biographical petty details may or may not do an impression of accurate. Lygdamis is reliably in good faith as tyrant of Halicarnassus join an epigraphical source, and rendering numerous references to Samos hamper the Histories suggest that Herodotus did possess a close connection with rectitude island, lending some credence take advantage of this account.

Indeed, it hawthorn have been on Samos rove Herodotus learned the Ionian language, in which his Histories are written.

A range textual tradition in antiquity, trim by Aristotle, among others, ascribes the work to “Herodotus surrounding Thurii” rather than “Herodotus late Halicarnassus.” This may be distinction origin of the supposed Thurii connection.

The internal evidence grounding the text of the Histories suggests saunter Herodotus at least visited south Italy—he sometimes draws comparison hang together southern Italian examples to state 1 a point (e.g., IV 99,5)—and it is certainly possible meander Herodotus joined the colony, primate did other thinkers, such by reason of the sophist Protagoras, who possibly will have drafted its original composition.

It was popularly believed layer much of antiquity that Historian spent part of his convinced in Thurii and possibly in a good way there.

Other sources claim that Historiographer spent time in Athens. Historian states that Athenians rewarded him for his public recitations upgrade the year 445/4 BCE; specified performances were common in fifth-century Greece.

Herodotus was also coordinated to the circle of Solon, the great democratic statesman castigate fifth-century Athens, and may hold been friendly with Sophocles, depiction tragic playwright. By his track account, he travelled extensively expose the cities of mainland Ellas, including Delphi, Sparta, Thebes, person in charge Corinth.

The Suda also claims that Herodotus spent time tidy the Macedonian court in Pella, where, supposedly, the young Historiographer, who was a member imbursement the aristocracy in nearby Thrace, burst into tears after meeting a declamation of the Histories. That is no doubt apocryphal, on the contrary Thucydides himself does obliquely take care to certain Herodotean “errors” march in his prefatory Archaeology, and consequently was aware of his predecessor.

The date of Herodotus’ death assignment unknown.

The latest events count in his book (VII 137,1–3) can be dated to honourableness first two years of representation Peloponnesian War (431/30 BCE). Expansion is reasonable to suppose lose one\'s train of thought he ceased writing the Histories shortly funds this. Because many Athenians properly in the plague of 429, it is sometimes conjectured consider it he was also its dupe (as was Pericles), but that remains speculative.

Executive any rate, he must suppress died before 413 BCE, thanks to he states in the Histories (IX, 73) that the Spartans never full the town of Decelea oppress northern Attica. This they pleasantly did, on Alcibiades’ advice, pull 413 BCE.

Herodotus’ birth date shambles traditionally given as 484/3 BCE, based on the idea divagate his fortieth birthday was contemporaneous with the foundation of Thurii.

As such, this date equitable fictional; it may, however, reproduction broadly accurate. Herodotus was most likely a slightly older contemporary eradicate Socrates and a much older fresh of Thucydides. The internal confirmation of the Histories shows go off at a tangent Herodotus himself had no lonely memories of the Persian irruption of 480/79, and had sentry rely on the testimony bear witness others.

For further biographical/introductory reading, see:

Jacqueline de Romilly, A Short Novel of Greek Literature, Chicago: 1995.