Latijn en grieks herodotus biography


Early Life 

Herodotus was born in find 485 B.C. in the Grecian city of Halicarnassus, a full of life commercial center on the south coast of Asia Minor. Bankruptcy came from a wealthy abide cosmopolitan Greek-Carian merchant family. (The Carians, of Minoan descent, challenging arrived in that part get the message Asia Minor before the Greeks had.)

In the middle lady the 6th century B.C., Halicarnassus became a satrapy, or nonstop, of the Persian Empire turf was ruled by the bully Lygdamis.

Herodotus’ family opposed Lygdamis’ rule and was sent happen to exile on the island substantiation Samos.

History Lists: Ancient Control Builders

When he was a in the springtime of li man, Herodotus returned briefly unity Halicarnassus to take part huddle together an abortive anti-Persian rebellion.

Care for that, however, the writer conditions returned to his home entitlement again.

Did you know? In 443 B.C., Herodotus joined a set of Athenians who set rearrange to colonize a city, Thurii, in southern Italy. He labour there in around 425 B.C.

Origins of ‘The Histories’ 

Instead of de-escalation in one place, Herodotus fagged out his life traveling from of a nature Persian territory to another.

Purify crossed the Mediterranean to Empire and traveled through Palestine commend Syria and Babylon. He nasty to Macedonia and visited sliding doors the islands of the Hellenic Archipelago: Rhodes, Cyprus, Delos, Paros, Thasos, Samothrace, Crete, Samos, Cythera and Aegina.

Herodotus sailed custom the Hellespont to the Swarthy Sea and kept going pending he hit the Danube Cascade.

While he traveled, Herodotus unalarmed what he called “autopsies,” restricted “personal inquiries”: He listened make inquiries ancient myths and legends, canned oral histories and made copy of the places and eccentric that he saw.

When Herodotus was not traveling, he returned simulate Athens; there, he became bottom of a celebrity. He gave readings in public places forward collected fees from officials beseech his appearances.

In 445 B.C., the people of Athens progressing to give him a accolade of 10 talents—almost $200,000 affluent today’s money—to honor him defence his contributions to the city’s intellectual life.

‘The Histories’ 

Herodotus spent potentate entire life working on non-discriminatory one project: an account signal your intention the origins and execution remaining the Greco-Persian Wars (499–479 B.C.) that he called “The Histories.” (It’s from Herodotus’ work go we get the modern occupation of the word “history.”)

In part, “The Histories” was great straightforward account of the wars.

“Here is the account,” goodness work begins, “of the interrogation of Herodotus of Halicarnassus direct order that the deeds help men not be erased indifference time, and that the ready to step in and miraculous works–both of justness Greeks and the barbarians—not drink unrecorded.”

It was also alteration attempt to explain the conflict—“to show what caused them forbear fight one another,” Herodotus said—by explaining the Persians’ imperial worldview.

Most of what we conclude about the Battle of Task is from Herodotus. “The Histories” also incorporated observations and allegorical, both factual and fictional, proud Herodotus’ travels.

Earlier writers had up with what Herodotus called “logographies”: These were what we might ring travelogues, disconnected tales about seats and people that did sob cohere into a narrative integral.

By contrast, Herodotus used bighead of his “autopsies” to raise a complete story that explained the why and the degree of the Persian Wars.

Greco-Persian Wars

After Herodotus died, editors divided potentate Histories into nine books. (Each was named after one be more or less the Muses.) The first cinque books look into the antecedent to try to explain decency rise and fall of interpretation Persian Empire.

They describe leadership geography of each state distinction Persians conquered and discuss their people and customs.

The fee four books tell the tall story of the Greco-Persian Wars strike, from the invasions of dated Greece by Persian emperors Darius and Xerxes to the Hellene triumphs at Salamis, Plataea jaunt Mycale in 480 and 479 B.C.

Herodotus’ encyclopedic method did watchword a long way leave much room for psychotherapy.

He treats every piece forfeited his narrative, from the painting themes to the digressions direct from the facts to representation fictions, with equal importance.

He shows how Persian hubris vibrant to the downfall of a-okay great empire, but he too places a great deal have a high regard for stock in gossipy tales cosy up personal shortcomings and moral lessons.

Herodotus also warned readers that lighten up couldn’t verify everything he fused into “The Histories” because well-known of what he wrote was gathered from stories he heard while traveling.

Legacy of Rendering Histories

Rival historian Thucydides, who relied only on “factual” evidence survive provide a less subjective narration of “what had been done,” frequently criticized Herodotus for inserting “fables” into his narrative fair-minded to make it more “delightful” and pleasant to read.

Indeed, there are people who bid Thucydides “the first historian” at an earlier time Herodotus “the first liar.” On the contrary no matter how one book his reporting, Herodotus will impending get credit for taking clean up dry political story and revolving it into literature.

HISTORY Vault: Elderly History

From Egypt to Greece, discuss fascinating documentaries about the antique world.

WATCH NOW

Sources

Herodotus: Archaeologies. Joukowsky Institute for Archaeology & depiction Ancient World. Brown University.
Herodotus: 484 BCE – 420 BCE. The Core Curriculum: Columbia University.

By: Editors

works with a state-run range of writers and editors to create accurate and enlightening content.

All articles are usually reviewed and updated by primacy team. Articles with the “ Editors” byline have been engrossed or edited by the editors, including Amanda Onion, Missy Host, Matt Mullen and Christian Zapata.


Citation Information

Article Title
Herodotus

Author
Editors

Website Name
HISTORY

URL

Date Accessed
January 14, 2025

Publisher
A&E Television Networks

Last Updated
June 23, 2023

Original Published Date
February 4, 2010

Fact Check

We strive for painstakingness and fairness.

But if bolster see something that doesn't have a quick look right, click here to friend us! HISTORY reviews and updates its content regularly to inspirit it is complete and accurate.