Herodotus
Paperback | Pages: 716 pages Rating: 3.98 | 38161 Users | 946 Reviews
Declare Epithetical Books The Histories
| Title | : | The Histories |
| Author | : | Herodotus |
| Book Format | : | Paperback |
| Book Edition | : | Penguin Classics |
| Pages | : | Pages: 716 pages |
| Published | : | January 30th 2003 by Penguin Books (first published -450) |
| Categories | : | History. Classics. Nonfiction. Ancient History |
Commentary To Books The Histories
One of the masterpieces of classical literature, the "Histories" describes how a small and quarrelsome band of Greek city states united to repel the might of the Persian empire. But while this epic struggle forms the core of his work, Herodotus' natural curiosity frequently gives rise to colorful digressions - a description of the natural wonders of Egypt; an account of European lake-dwellers; and far-fetched accounts of dog-headed men and gold-digging ants. With its kaleidoscopic blend of fact and legend, the "Histories" offers a compelling Greek view of the world of the fifth century BC.Itemize Books Toward The Histories
| Original Title: | Ἰστορίαι |
| ISBN: | 0140449086 (ISBN13: 9780140449082) |
| Edition Language: | English |
| Characters: | Leonidas, Xerxes I of Persia, Themistocles, Thales of Miletus, Cyrus the Great, Croesus, Aphrodite, Megabazus, Leutychides, Ister, Maeandrius, Histiaios, Harpagos, Kypselos, Artaphrenes, Massagetai, Adrastos, Kandaules, Hermotimos, Gorgos, Kleombrotos, Hekataios, Mardonlos, Bagaios, Labda, Kepheus, Necos, Apollo (Greek god), Artabazos I of Phrygia, Mardonius, Pausanias of Sparta, Solon (of Athens), Amasis II, Gyges of Lydia, Candaules of Lydia, Psamtik III, Psamtik I, Cambyses I, Tomyris (Massagetean Queen), Artemisia I of Caria, Eurybiades, Leotychidas, Hydarnes II, Artyphius |
| Setting: | Cappadocia(Turkey) Lydia Halys River(Turkey) …more Corynth(Greece) Sparta(Greece) Sardis (now: Sart)(Turkey) Ecbatana(Iran) Delphi(Greece) Ascalon (now: Ashkelon)(Israel) Cytherea(Greece) Babylon Athens(Greece) Marathon(Greece) Salamis (Greece) …less |
Rating Epithetical Books The Histories
Ratings: 3.98 From 38161 Users | 946 ReviewsCommentary Epithetical Books The Histories
Although he is the very first historian in Western Civilization, Herodotus has something of a bad reputation for being too gullible. Current critical opinion tends to favor Herodotus's near contemporary, Thucydides, the author of an equally great history of The Peloponnesian War. And yet, as I re-read the earlier book, I was surprised that Herodotus frequently notes that he doesn't always believe what he has been told, but presents it anyhow, if only because the Greek word for "history" is theI absolutely adore this book! It is among my top favorites. What I'm sure most people identify it with, if they can identify it at all, is the movie 300. Yes, this book does relate the first, true story of the 300 Spartans and not with comic pictures. It is one of my favorite stories in this book (there are many: suicidal cats, burning of Athens, Croesus and Solon, etc.), but it is far from the baseness of the horribly inaccurate movie.
A wonderful start for someone looking to ease into classical primary sources. Not as dry or intimidating as Thucydides.
I had read this work three times before, always in George Rawlinsons traditional translation. I wanted to read it at least once more as I listened to the lecture series on Herodotus by Professor Elizabeth Vandiver of Whitman College, a lecture series made available through the Teaching Company via their Great Courses. At Vandivers recommendation I used Robin Waterfields more recent translation and found it most satisfactory. This edition also contains adequate maps, an essential feature
This book merits five stars because it truly represents the starting point of Western historical writing. Herodotus asks all the basic questions that historians are supposed to when confronted with a source. Is the account truthful? If you think that it is not truthful do you ignore the information provided or use it and share your reserves with the reader? The best of historians will occasionally reject truthful accounts and accept lies as truthful. The point is that Herodotus is clearly
Superb book, it immersed me in ancient Greece. Herodotus skills are unmatched as a story teller, although the speeches are far better in Thucydides.Written at the outset of the Peloponnesian War this book comes across as Athenian propaganda some times. However, all the detail provided of the different civilizations the Greeks had contact with is just great. For anyone who enjoys reading on the subject this is a fun, thorough and excellently crafted book.Props to Herodotus for being more
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