At the beginning of the histories, herodotus sets out his reasons for writing it. The two kings debate whether a hierarchical or egalitarian military arrangement produces better fighters. The persian king xerxes with his mighty army bridges the hellespont and invades greece, killing the spartans arrayed against him at thermopylae. Xerxes then following demaratus advice, darius judged his plea to be just and declared him king. This logos opens with evil omens, which xerxes prefers to ignore.
His goal no longer is the punishment of athens, but the subjugation of europe. Herodotus the great greek historian was born about 484 bce, at halicarnassus in caria, asia minor, when it was subject to the persians. In book 7, herodotus examines xerxes hubris and how this trait leads the persian empire into destruction because xerxes tried. The book moves ahead in a majestic trajectory to ultimately describe the persiangreek war, with xerxes leading his great force into greece. He travelled widely in most of asia minor, egypt as far as assuan, north africa, syria, the country north of the black sea, and many parts. Artemisia advises that he leave mardonius in command, since then xerxes will have nothing to lose even if mardonius fails. The biblical writers borrowed from it to create characters such as the judges samson. Thoughts on book seven of the histories of herodotus. Sparta was a military citystate with two kings that claimed to be the descendent of the demigod hercules. Artabazanes was the eldest of the first family, and xerxes of the second. The internet classics archive the history of herodotus. Here, herodotus inserts a marvelous catalogue of all troops that took part in xerxes invasion of greece.
The history of herodotus by herodotus, part of the internet classics archive. Herodotus herodotus was an ancient greek historian who lived in the 5th century bce. Herodotus 484425 bce the greek historian who wrote extensively on the persian empire, here describes persian customs as they would have been practiced around the year 430 bce at susa and other persian communities. In very rough terms, he was a contemporary of esther. Herodotus has been criticized by ancient as well as modern writers for errors. His offer metes him land, the title of guest friend, and xerxes goodwill. He was a young boy during the persian war, and interviewed greek veterans of the persian war to get the information he needed for his history. This rests on an interpretation of herodotus which states he was a. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. An indication of persian wealth from the book of esther. The young king inherited a solid empire, which was greater than any before in history. Herodotus was a greek historian who was born around 484 bc and died somewhere around 425 bc. Xerxes set out in the spring of 480 bc from sardis with a fleet and army which herodotus estimated was roughly one million strong along with 10,000 elite warriors named the immortals. Xerxes followed this counsel, and darius, persuaded that he had justice on his.
Some submitted to persia thinking they wouldnt get hurt. In book 3, herodotus tells of the arrival of a samian embassy to. According to the greek historian herodotus, xerxes first attempt to bridge the hellespont ended in failure when a storm destroyed the flax. Sekunda, marathon 490 bc westport, ct and london, 2005, 25. What are artabanus two main arguments against xerxes plan to invade greece. While they all knew it was coming, they didnt see it in the same way. Xerxes i of persia, son of darius i of persia, and king of persia, encounters pythius on his way to invade greece c. Over which body of water did xerxes have a huge bridge built. Herodotus the histories, book 7, polymnia 155 persian. Xerxes according to herodotus encyclopaedia iranica. Herodotus writes a dialogue between the persian king xerxes and the exiled spartan king demaratos in book 7. 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.
November 19 book 7 all what is the attitude of herodotus towards xerxes and how is this similar or different from other leaders. Which pass in thessaly did the greeks first send a force of 10,000 men to defend. Xerxes advanced, and the greeks finally sent 10,000 men. These being not of the same mother were at strife with one another, artobazanes contending that he was the eldest of all the sons, and that it was a custom maintained by all men that the eldest should have the rule, and xerxes arguing that he was the son of atossa the daughter of cyrus, and that. The story of xerxes eunuch hermotimus, and the horrible revenge he got on the man who castrated him 1046. Here is my estimate of the value of the bribe haman offered and king xerxes declined. Darius is exceedingly angry when informed of the defeat at marathon. He describes the rise of the lydian empire under croesus, who first subdued the greek settlements on the. The size of the army of xerxes in the invasion of greece 480 bc. Herodotus the histories, book 7, polymnia 155 persian preparations. Herodotus adequately foreshadows what is going to occur in the future through artabanus speech. Commentary on herodotus book 6 leiden and boston, 2005, 38990.
Indeed, his empire does fall as a result of misinterpretation and inability to save his empire. Herodotus the histories, book 7, polymnia 8239 battle of thermopylae. Once the 7 process of crossing over into europe was over, xerxes looked at his army. The quarrel over succession by two of darius sons, artabazanes and xerxes 2. Xerxes expedition into greece, battle of thermopylae the histories the.
From the hellespont, his army moves to the west along the thracian shores, until the soldiers reach doriscus, where the great king counts all his troops. Midway between sestos and madytus in the hellespontine chersonese, and right over against abydos, there is a rocky tongue of land which runs out for some distance into the sea. Greek researcher, often called the worlds first historian. The following is an excerpt from his book the histories that describes the persian army at. This place is called thermopylae by most of the hellenes, but by the natives and. Herodotus claims that dieneces made many such sayings, and if this is the case it would make him especially spartan, for the spartans valued the laconic phrase dry wit, expressed in as few words as possible. What role does herodotus see the gods and fate as playing in xerxes decision to invade greece. Named polymnia after the greek muse of sacred poetry. The principal source on xerxes is herodotus, histories, but it ends with the failure of xerxes invasion. Here are presented the results of the enquiry carried out by herodotus of halicarnassus.
King xerxes lay encamped in trachis in malis and the hellenes in the pass. This is an electronic edition of the complete book complemented by author biography. More recent estimates place the persian force at around 60,000 combatants. The cambridge companion to herodotus edited by carolyn dewald june 2006. This expedition against athens threatened all of greece. I really enjoyed this book because it is the first book of history ever written by man. These two, therefore, being the sons of different mothers, were now at variance.
Artabanus wants nothing more than for xerxes to heed his words, but this does not come to pass as is evidenced by xerxes reply, you are a coward and spiritless 7. After that, xerxes sent a force of 10,000 medes and cissians to take the. Herodotus the histories, book 7, polymnia 567 persians cross into europe. Herodotus, the histories, book 1, chapter 1, section 0. Herodotus notes that while xerxes ostensibly meant to punish athens, his real intent was to conquer all of greece. 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 provides detail on many aspects of this conflict, which the greeks eventually won, after battles at thermopylae, salamis, and platea. Buy herodotus ebooks to read online or download in pdf or epub on your pc, tablet or mobile device. After this brigade of 10,000 came a 10,000strong contingent of persian. However, xerxess mother, was atossa, daughter of cyrus, the one whod. When xerxes, king of persia, crosses the hellespont at the head of a.
See how to cite these pages in books, term papers, etc. Herodotus excerpts from book vii of the histories translated and edited by a. Croesus is taking the gods portion and acting arrogant or hubristic. Jove, youve taken on the form of a persian named xerxes to lead the entire human race to destroy greece. Prior to that were the illiad and the oddyse by homer during the 700s b. The passage, from book i of his histories, is interesting in the way herodotus contrasts the behavior and values of the persians with those of the greeks, with the. Does he portray xerxes as a simple despot, or is there more to him. According to this account, what are the differences between the greeks and the persians.
The battle of thermopylae was fought between an alliance of greek citystates, led by king leonidas i of sparta, and the achaemenid empire of xerxes i over the course of three days, during. Why did artabanus sleep in xerxes bed, in xerxes pajamas. On the march, xerxes comes to kelainai where the skin of marsyas is hung see metamorphoses book vi for the story of marsyas and meets pythios who shows hospitality to the persians and offers them wealth in their quest. Pythius is a lydian mentioned in book vii of herodotus histories, chh. Book seven herodotus seventh book brings together many of the strands developed in previous books of hubris, greek development and the clash of civilizations. In the histories, he describes the expansion of the achaemenid empire under its kings cyrus the great, cambyses, and darius i the great, culminating in xerxes expedition to greece 480 bce, which met with disaster in the naval engagement at salamis and the battles at plataea and mycale. Xerxes consults artemisia about mardonius offer 101. Herodotus book 7, why our church no longer plays bethel or hillsong music, pastor explains false teachings duration. This book features a table of contents linked to every chapter. So its fitting that, through herodotus book, the english patient reveals his own history.
64 698 634 55 192 1158 215 319 1549 150 160 301 258 411 1150 367 1363 1461 1267 854 1186 1007 1491 1193 1031 1327 1443 1319 157 1191 742 1161 990 295 1297 382 1077 1257 922