Cavalry (84). 53 In Hdt. It is a turning point in the Congo's history. Demaratus explains the Spartan military code: no retreat (104). 50 Erected doubtless by the Samothracians to protect their possessions on the mainland. In each episode the history of a theme was explored. 7.3. The Subject-Matter of The Histories 3. It may be remembered that Herodotus probably deals with Egyptian chronology in the same way, making a sequence out of lists of kings some of whom were contemporaries. Perseus provides credit for all accepted The opinion of Hdt. Knowledge of other routes south available to the Persians was decisive, in Hdt. Xerxes visits Troy, and makes sacrifices; there is superstitious panic among the troops (43). Purchase a copy of this text (not necessarily the same edition) from Hdt. The The Histories Community Note includes chapter-by-chapter summary and analysis, character list, theme list, historical context, author biography and quizzes written by community members like you. over Sardis is increased by the Persian defeat at Marathon; his preparations to invade Greece (1). 68 Silver, lead, and perhaps copper mines in Attica, from which the state drew an annual revenue. Delays in Macedonia; the ambassadors sent to demand surrender return to Xerxes (131). Hdt. The main characters of this classics, non fiction story are,. 67 Lit. The head of Leonidas is impaled on a stake by Xerxes (238). Exhortations of Xerxes to the Persian commanders (53). The advance to Acanthus and the recruitment of locals (115-116). The story of a rapist punished. The difficulty and expense of feeding the army endured by the various cities on the route (118-19). 66 Cp. Artabanus is worried about the future; Xerxes asks in what way his force is deficient (47-48). This is the first history book in Western history. Histories Book 4 Summary & Analysis. The Greek fleet, encouraged, resumes its station at Artemisium. 14 In spite of the incredulity of antiquity the canal was no doubt actually made and used. 3.10) Pericles used the same simile in a funeral oration, referring to the State's loss of its young men. On the day they are in the market, Mobutu, who has run away and is in hiding, dies. Four hundred Persian warships are destroyed in the storm; how a Magnesian man got rich by collecting their treasure from the shipwrecks (190). Another marine fights fiercely and becomes a respected P.O.W. Most historians think the real total was at the most 200,000. Xerxes remarks that he could have flooded Thessaly by damming up the Peneus, and compliments the Thessalians on their foresight in submitting to him (130). From an angry conversation they passed by degrees to long and bitter speeches. An XML version of this text is available for download, Syracuse grows rapidly via incorporation of peoples from other cities (156). Death of Hippocrates. Of course if ἐπιλεξάμενος could mean “selecting from,” the difficulty might be removed; but I do not think it can. But it is strange that Perseus, being commonly held great-grandfather of Heracles, is here made to marry the granddaughter of Belus, who in Hdt. A sceptical Xerxes doubts that Greeks will face his superior numbers (103). bridge were ἐπικαρσίαι, and those of the lower or S.W. A storm destroys a number of Persian ships off the coast of Magnesia (188). Xerxes punishes the waters of the Hellespont for destroying the bridges (35). 85 The Carthaginians invaded Sicily with a force drawn from Africa and the western Mediterranean. 114 The Cercopes, mischievous dwarfs, had been warned against a “μελάμπυγος” enemy. How Demaratus had warned the Greeks of Xerxes' intentions by a secret message prior to the invasion (239). For a discussion of the various difficulties and interpretations of the whole passage, see How and Wells' notes, ad loc. Bridges and supply dumps (25). 1.146; Hdt. Ida; a storm kills many men (42). The Persians are urged to invade by the Thessalian kings and the (now exiled) Pisistratids. 72 In 448, apparently. Hdt. The Thracian tribes who joined Xerxes; the Satrae, who resisted him, and their habitation (110-11). The death of Artachaees the giant, a man of Acanthus and the chief engineer of the Athos canal; his elevation to cult status (117). Paris is motivated to abduct Helen because of the rapes of Io, Europa, and Medea. Remarks on slander. 2.171. Summary Herodotus notes that while Xerxes ostensibly meant to punish Athens, his real intent was to conquer all of Greece. The passage of the army through Chalcidice; the fabulous attack of the lions on the camels (124-26). Verified Purchase. 1.7 and Aristot. 7.220, where Herodotus mentioned the bare fact of the Spartans getting early intelligence of Xerxes' plans against Greece. In Aristoph. 5.97) ten drachmae per head would be only 50 talents; far too small a sum for the building of 200 ships; Herodotus cannot mean more than that the Laurium money was a contribution towards a ship-building fund. ("Agamemnon", "Hom. The army is counted: the total is 1,700,000 men (60; but the figure is too high. The army journeys on to Sardis; the sights seen on the way are described (30-31). 54 About three miles above Eion on the Strymon. The bridges over the Hellespont are begun, then ruined by a storm (33-34). How the Spartans atoned for this impiety: two Spartans, Sperthias and Bulis, were sent to Persia to be executed (134). Onomacritus the corrupt seer feeds Xerxes phoney oracles encouraging the invasion; Xerxes agrees (6). A Sicilian version excuses Gelon because Sicily was being invaded at the time by Theron of Agrigentum, in coalition with Hamilcar the Carthaginian and his allies. Structure and Themes in The Histories 5. Herodotus The Histories Book One Book Two Book Three Book Four Book Five Book Six Book Seven Book Eight Book Nine. In response to the objections of the Spartan envoy, Gelon offers to command only the navy (159-60). ; 80 Red Sea islanders. Progress through Thrace; rivers and lakes are drained dry (108-9). Doubtless the explanation lies in the division of his army into three parallel columns (Hdt. 8 i.e. Human sacrifice by inhumation at the city of Nine Ways (Amphipolis) (114). Queen Artemisia of Halicarnassus; her wisdom and courage (99). The event took place probably between 461 and 450, when Athens and Argos were allied against Sparta. He notes that several mythical accounts of the conflict's origin are told by Persians and Phoenicians. 29 Probably what is called Mal-Tepe, on the promontory of Nagara. He has been called the “Father of History”, … 113 This is Steins interpretation; others make οὐδὲν χρηστὴ refer to the ἀτραπός, meaning there “pernicious.”. Summary. Xerxes reviews the troops on land and sea (100). There seems to be no explanation of the matter except Dr. Macan's theory that Herodotus made a mistake. How Leonidas got to be king of Sparta on his brothers' deaths. In time human sacrifice is avoided by the substitution of a ram; but even then the first-born child must leave the country. The canal by Mt. 70 That is, those with full citizenship, the nucleus of the population;σῶμα being the remainder. Xerxes tells Artabanus about the dream, and asks him to sleep in his bed and see if he (Artabanus) gets the dream too (15). 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