2 facts about herodotus book book

Cambyses ii, kabujiya, 530522 bce in books 2 and 3. Melpomene after the taking of babylon, an expedition was led by darius into scythia. 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. 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. The third logos of herodotus histories is entirely devoted to egyptian history. He was born at helicarnassus, asia minor in 484 bc. Book 2 of herodotus opens up with what must be one of historys earliest recorded descriptions of a scientific experiment, also one the stupidest. His uncle panyassis wrote an epic poem heraclea, which was sadly lost, but which was compared favourably to homers work. Bc, greek historian, called the father of history, b. Herodotus is not just the father of history, he is also the father of ethnography, and his description of the egyptians suggests that they often do the opposite of whatever the greeks do. Herodotus histories book ii the second book of the histories, called euterpe 1. See all books authored by herodotus, including the histories, and the histories. Herodotus traveled extensively around the ancient world, conducting interviews and collecting stories for his book. It is divided into nine books named for the muses a division made by a later editor.

Free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by project gutenberg. In order to try and prove whether the egyptian or phrygian nation was the elder, the pharaoh had two children reared in complete isolation. Cambyses becomes king of the persian empire 530522 bc. E, and his histories chronicle the events of the persian wars, which were within living. Asia abounding in men, and vast sums flowing into the treasury. 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. Called the father of history by cicero, the greek historian herodotus born in 484 b. Herodotuss account of the egyptian way of life is as much designed to delight and amuse his audience as it is to record facts about foreign peoples. Herodotus read his book aloud at athens and in many. This is why he describes egyptian customs as an inversion of those of the greeks histories was written primarily for a greek audience. Herodotus claims to have traveled extensively around the ancient world, conducting interviews and collecting stories for his book, almost all of which covers territories of the persian empire. Xerxes i khshayarsha, 486466 bce in books 7, 8, and 9.

By purchasing books through this website, you support our nonprofit organization. His plan to conquer egypt gives herodotus the opportunity to dedicate three logoito the ancient kingdom on the boards of the nile. The histories by herodotus book ii, euterpe knowit. 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. A delightful new translation of what is widely considered the first work of history and nonfiction. The histories of herodotus of halicarnassus is considered the first work of history in western literature. Euterpe on the death of cyrus, cambyses his son by cassandane daughter of pharnaspes took the kingdom.

Cambyses, the son of this lady and of cyrus, regarding the ionian and aeolian greeks as. His plan to conquer egypt gives herodotus the opportunity to dedicate three logoi to the ancient kingdom on the. Herodotus was a greek historian who was born in halicarnassus, in asia minor, in the fifth century b. Herodotus histories book ii classical wisdom weekly. An account of egypt by herodotus pdf, epub, mobi download what others say about this ebook. Herodotus was the first writer to evaluate historical, geographical, and archaeological material critically. Depending on your point of view, herodotus was either the father. His primary aim was to record the deeds of the greeks during their wars with persia, but he also wanted to provide an account of his researches and travels. The second book, which focused mainly on egypt got a little more bogged down in these pesky things called facts.

At the beginning of the histories, herodotus sets out his reasons for writing it. When cyrus had brought his life to an end, cambyses received the royal power in succession, being the son of cyrus and of cassandane the daughter of pharnaspes, for. The history of herodotus volume 2 by herodotus free ebook. The histories, however, is one of those books where an audiobook helps. In the first logosof book two, he gives a description of the country, the desert, and the river nile. Only scant knowledge of his life can be gleaned from his writings and from references to him by later writings, notably the suda. Reading herodotus in english has never been so much fun. Herodotus states that the egyptians taught the greeks that learned everything from the egyptians to include that the egyptians were first to honor the. But i will put it off for a bit as there is more out there of interest to me at this time. Book 2 of the histories largely concerns itself with egypt. The rise of the persian empire is chronicled, and the causes for the conflict. Since the release of the film version of michael ondaatjes the english patient, there has been renewed interest in the histories of herodotusthe book the dying patient treasures so much the writings of herodotus are the ground zero of western history. Gathering research from his travels around egypt, africa, and asia, herodotus recorded his observations and interviews with locals in a thorough, consistent way. The histories of herodotus of halicarnassus, volume 1.

Written from the 450s to the 420s bc in the ionic dialect of classical greek, they serve as a record of the ancient traditions, politics, geography, and clashes of various cultures that were known. Herodotus, the histories, book 2, chapter 1, section 1. Here are presented the results of the enquiry carried out by herodotus of halicarnassus. He is known for having written the book the histories greek. His book about the wars between the persians and the greek city states was a collection of his historiahis inquirieswhich is where we get the very word history from. Thoughts on book 2 of the histories of herodotus first. He was probably born to a rich family in halicarnassus, a town in southwest asia minor now bodrum, turkey herodotus was called the father of history by cicero for his writings about the ancient empires of babylon, egypt, and persia, and about the ancient greeks. The audiobook gives you a good pace and forcemarches you through to the end. Herodotus crowds his frescolike pages with all shades of humanity.

Five fascinating facts about herodotus interesting. He cannot deceive artaphrenes, who compares him to the maker of a shoe that aristagoras has put on. So its fitting that, through herodotus book, the english patient reveals his own history. Herodotus, an asian greek, was born in around 484 bc, just before the persian war. I managed to get through volume one and someday may take on volume two. The focus of the history is the story of the persian wars, but the extensive and richly detailed background information put greece in its proper historical perspective. Histories book 2 customs and animals of egypt summary. Herodotus claims that since this legendary king 330 pharaohs have ruled he does not mention all of them, but gives some attention to the great conqueror sesostris, who has conquered the whole world.

Egyptians, preferring cleanliness to comeliness, practice circumcision. When a man has killed one of the sacred animals, if he did it with malice prepense, he is punished with death. An account of egypt by herodotus pdf, epub, mobi download. He traveled along the coast of asia minor to the northern islands and to the shore of the black sea. Herodotus is called the father of history, since rather than write history as an epic, he approached his work as a research project. The internet classics archive the history of herodotus. The history of herodotus by herodotus written 440 b. Reading herodotus, one can often get bogged down in the loops of geography, people, history, culture and meandre through miles of esoterica. Herodotus uncle was an epic poet who was often compared to the great epic poet homer. Book ii the histories also known as the history of herodotus is considered the founding work of history in western literature. Yet he is also known to some as the father of lies. Arabian hills had quarries which supplied most of the stone used to build the pyramids. The first book was full of crazy and probably some history snuck in there too.