The histories also known as the history of herodotus is considered the founding work of history in western literature. This translation is a faithful, although not literal, rendering. Herodotus was an ancient greek historian who lived in the fifth century bc c. By purchasing books through this website, you support our nonprofit organization. There are strong indications that this is not the original division. Written from the 450s to the 420s bc in the ionic dialect of classical greek, the histories serves as a record of the ancient traditions, politics, geography, and clashes of various cultures that were known around the mediterranean and western asia at that time. Only scant knowledge of his life can be gleaned from his writings and from references to him by later writings, notably the suda. Candaules often told his favourite bodyguard, gyges, how beautiful the queen was and. Written in 440 bc in the ionic dialect of classical greek, the histories serves as a record of the ancient traditions, politics, geography, and clashes of various cultures that were known in western asia, northern africa and greece at that time. Herodotus traveled extensively around the ancient world, conducting interviews and collecting stories for his book.
The histories of herodotus of halicarnassus is considered the first work of history in western literature. Books by herodotus sorted by popularity project gutenberg books by herodotus sorted by popularity. The histories have survived until this time despite attempts by subsequent writers to impeach herodotus and his version events up to the persian clash with greece. See all books authored by herodotus, including the histories, and selections from herodotus, and more on. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. The biblical writers borrowed from it to create characters such as the judges samson.
The histories, herodotus the histories of herodotus is the founding work of history in western literature. The nine books of the history of herodotus, oxford, henry slatter, high street, 1846, also by peter edmund laurent and thomas gaisford page images at hathitrust. Our division of the histories in nine books goes back to an edition by scholars of the third century bce, working in the great library of alexandria. Herodotus histories read by david timson unabridged. Histories, by herodotus, is an ancient greek text that tells the history of the wars between greece and persia. The entire story, with three actors, appears to be based on a play. But while this epic struggle forms the core of his work, herodotus natural. Herodotus was a greek historian living in ionia during the fifth century b.
He is simply one of the greatest storytellers who ever wrote. At the beginning of the first book of his histories, greek researcher herodotus of halicarnassus tells the story of the coup detat of the lydian ruler gyges. Simultaneously, it tells the story of the growth of the persian empire. He traveled along the coast of asia minor to the northern islands and to the shore of the black sea. Herodotus was a greek writer and geographer credited with being the first historian. We happen to know that there was indeed a greek tragedy called gyges, but it is uncertain whether this play is identical to the story by herodotus. Hide browse bar your current position in the text is marked in blue. Librarything is a cataloging and social networking site for booklovers. The nine books of the history of herodotus, oxford, henry slatter, 1837 page images at hathitrust herodotus. Herodotus does not name the queen but later artists and writers have called her nyssia. These are the researches of herodotus of halicarnassus, which he publishes, in the hope of thereby preserving from decay the remembrance of what men have done, and of preventing the great and wonderful actions of the greeks and the barbarians from losing their due meed of glory.
Cambyses, the son of this lady and of cyrus, regarding the ionian and aeolian greeks as vassals of his father, took them with. He describes the rise of the lydian empire under croesus, who first subdued the greek settlements on the. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. While much of the information he gives has proved to be astonishingly accurate, he also entertains us with delightful. Buy the histories penguin hardback classics second impression by herodotus, cartledge, paul, cartledge, paul, holland, tom isbn. According to herodotus in the histories, candaules believed his wife to be the most beautiful woman on earth.
The histories of herodotus ebook written by herodotus. Read the histories book 9 calliope by herodotus available from rakuten kobo. Herodotus and the persian wars the organization of herodotus histories is discursive main thrust. Soldier of the mist is dedicated to herodotus, draws heavily upon the histories for reference material and is set concurrently with the events towards the end. Herodotus is not only the father of the art and the science of historical writing but also one of the western traditions most compelling storytellers. In book 1, herodotus announces his purpose to memorialize the great and marvelous deeds of the greeks and their barbarian neighbors, and, more particularly, to show why they came into conflict. Herodotus and the persian wars utah state university. Because the histories of herodotus is so much more than the longwinded retelling of a few gory battles. Click anywhere in the line to jump to another position. Herodotus tale of candaules, gyges and the naked queen. Herodotus emerges in all his charm and complexity as a writer and the first historian in the western tradition, perhaps unique in the way he has seen the interrelation of fact and fantasy.
Herodotus has a wonderful, gossipy style that makes reading these histories more fun than studying the rise of the persian empire and its clash with greecehowever, thats exactly what readers will do in this engaging history, which is full of interesting digressions and asides. The writings of herodotus were written to educate,amaze and to entertain. Written about 440 bc, the histories tell the story of the war between the persian empire and the greek citystates in the 5th century bc. Herodotuss account of the persian wars of 481479bc takes six books out of nine or 300odd pages of robin waterfields excellent english translation even to. Prior to that were the illiad and the oddyse by homer during the 700s b. Ancient history encyclopedia receives a small commission for each. I managed to get through volume one and someday may take on volume two. The histories, were divided into nine books, named after the nine muses. Dent, the everyman library has always tried to make the best books ever written available to the greatest number of people at the lowest possible price. The latest volumes of the great books include some women writers, but they are still definitely underrepresented.
But the war between persia and greece is unimpeachable. In this, the first prose history in european civilisation, herodotus describes the growth of the persian empire with force, authority and style. On the legacy of the histories by herodotus, historian barry s. The histories book 9 ebook by herodotus rakuten kobo. Reading herodotus in english has never been so much fun. The internet classics archive the history of herodotus. Books by herodotus sorted by popularity project gutenberg. Cassandane had died in the lifetime of cyrus, who had made a great mourning for her at her death, and had commanded all the subjects of his empire to observe the like. The music podcast from two best buds think millennial artist spotlight hosted by brandon. Clio these are the researches of herodotus of halicarnassus, which he publishes, in the hope of thereby preserving from decay the remembrance of what men have done, and of preventing the great and wonderful actions of the greeks and the barbarians from losing their due meed of glory. Project gutenberg offers 61,565 free ebooks for kindle, ipad, nook, android, and iphone. The histories by herodotus, first edition abebooks. Nevertheless, donald lateiners excellent introduction allowed even a novice like me to gain an understanding of the marvelous world which herodotus describes, of the historian himself and of his methods, and of the lasting influence of the histories.
The history of herodotus volume 1 by herodotus free ebook. Unquestionably the best english translation of herodotus to have appeared in the past halfcenturyi am in awe of tom hollands achievement, and have no doubt it will bear rich fruit in bringing herodotus to public attention edith hall, times literary supplement lively, engaging version of the historiesan admirable translation. New translation, selections, backgrounds, commentaries norton critical editions by herodotus, walter blanco and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. The first example of nonfiction, the text that underlies the entire discipline of history. Herodotus created a sense of history for his people, and he gives us a picture of a distant past that reminds us of the vast continuum of civilization. This classic series represents the western canon not without academic controversy. He traveled extensively through the lands of the mediterranean and the black sea and collected stories, and then recounted his experiences with the varied people and cultures he encountered. In tales such as that of gyges who murders candaules, the king of lydia, and unsurps his throne and his marriage bed, thereby bringing on, generations later, war with the persianshe laid bare the intricate human entanglements at the core. Free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by project gutenberg. After the murder of king candaules of lydia, gyges, of the family of the mermnadae, assumed power. Perhaps most famously, the book tells the heroic tale of the greeks resistance to the vast invading force assembled by xerxes, king of persia. The best stories of herodotus returns today after a shamefully long gap with a story that has nothing to do with our favourite topic, the greekpersian wars. 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.
The histories was at some point divided into the nine books that appear in modern editions, conventionally named after the nine muses. This is the first time that i ever studied herodotus. A delightful new translation of what is widely considered the first work of history and nonfiction. I really enjoyed this book because it is the first book of history ever written by man. Bc, greek historian, called the father of history, b. Euterpe on the death of cyrus, cambyses his son by cassandane daughter of pharnaspes took the kingdom.
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