Herodotus facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Herodotus
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| Ἡρόδοτος | |
A Roman copy (2nd century CE) of a Greek bust of Herodotus from the first half of the 4th century BCE
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| Born | c. 484 BCE |
| Died | c. 425 BCE (aged approximately 60) |
| Occupation | Historian |
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Notable work
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Histories |
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Herodotus (born around 484 BCE, died around 425 BCE) was an ancient Greek historian and geographer. He came from the city of Halicarnassus, which was part of the Persian Empire (today it's Bodrum, Turkey). Later, he became a citizen of Thurii in modern Calabria, Italy.
Herodotus is famous for writing a book called Histories. This book gives a detailed report of the Greco-Persian Wars. He was the first writer to carefully investigate historical events. Because of his important work, the ancient Roman speaker Cicero called him "The Father of History".
The Histories mainly talk about the lives of important kings and famous battles. These include battles like Marathon, Thermopylae, and Salamis. Herodotus also added information about different cultures, places, and how history was written. This extra information makes his book a great source for learning about the ancient world.
Some people have criticized Herodotus for including "legends and fanciful accounts" in his work. Another historian, Thucydides, even said he made up stories for fun. However, Herodotus explained that he wrote down what he saw and what he was told. Many parts of his Histories have since been proven true by modern historians and archaeologists.
Contents
Herodotus's Life Story
Most of what we know about Herodotus comes from his own writings. We also have some information from later sources, like the Suda. This was an encyclopedia written in the 11th century.
Growing Up in Halicarnassus
Herodotus was born in Halicarnassus around 485 BCE. This city was in Anatolia, which is now part of Turkey. The Suda says his family was important. His parents were Lyxes and Dryo, and he had a brother named Theodorus. He was also related to Panyassis, a famous poet of that time.
Halicarnassus was under the rule of the Persian Empire. This meant Herodotus was a Persian subject. As a young boy, he might have heard stories from people who saw events in the empire. He also might have heard about Persia getting ready to invade Greece.
Herodotus wrote his Histories in the Ionian dialect. This is interesting because Halicarnassus was a Dorian city. The Suda says he learned Ionian while living on the island of Samos. He supposedly went there with his family to escape a harsh ruler named Lygdamis. Lygdamis was the grandson of Artemisia I of Caria.
The Suda also claims that Herodotus later returned home. It says he led a revolt that removed the ruler. However, recent discoveries show that the Ionian dialect was used in Halicarnassus. So, he didn't necessarily need to learn it elsewhere. Also, the Suda is the only source that says he was a hero who freed his hometown. This makes that story less certain.
Herodotus's Journeys
Herodotus traveled a lot, and his writings show this. Halicarnassus was a port city that looked outwards to the world. It had strong trade links with Egypt. This might have helped Herodotus's family have contacts in other countries. These contacts could have made his travels and research easier.
Herodotus visited Egypt, probably after 454 BCE. He might have traveled with Athenians. He then likely went to Tyre and then to Babylon along the Euphrates river.
Later, around 447 BCE, he moved to Periclean Athens. He openly admired the people and democratic government of Athens. In Athens, he learned a lot about the city's places and its important citizens. He often wrote about the Alcmaeonids, a powerful family in Athens.
Some ancient writers say that the Athenian assembly gave Herodotus money for his work. They say he received 10 talents, which was a large sum.
Later Years and Legacy
Around 443 BCE, Herodotus moved to Thurii. This city was a new Greek colony in modern Calabria, Italy. Some parts of his Histories suggest he wrote about Magna Graecia (ancient Greek areas in Southern Italy) from his own experiences there.
It's not clear exactly when or where Herodotus died. He might have returned to Athens and died during a plague. Or he might have died in Macedonia or back in Thurii. His book doesn't contain anything that can be dated after 430 BCE. So, people generally think he died not long after that, perhaps before he turned 60.
Sharing His Stories
In Herodotus's time, authors shared their work by reading it aloud to crowds. These readings often happened at popular festivals. Some parts of Herodotus's book seem to be written for these public performances. He would present his research, sometimes criticizing older ideas and sharing his own. This was a way to impress the audience.
One famous story says Herodotus read his entire Histories at the Ancient Olympic Games. The crowd supposedly cheered loudly at the end. Another story says he waited for shade before reading, and everyone left. This led to the saying "Herodotus and his shade," meaning someone who misses a chance by delaying.
There's also a story about a young Thucydides (another famous historian) being in the audience. He supposedly cried during Herodotus's reading. Herodotus then told Thucydides's father, "Your son's soul yearns for knowledge." This shows how much Herodotus's work could inspire others.
Herodotus's Place in History
Herodotus stated the goal of his Histories at the very beginning of his book. He wanted to record the great deeds of both Greeks and non-Greeks. He also wanted to explain why they fought each other. The original title of his work meant "researches" or "inquiries."
Historians Before Herodotus
Herodotus's book is the oldest complete Greek prose work that we still have. However, he wasn't the very first historian. An ancient critic named Dionysius of Halicarnassus listed seven writers who came before Herodotus. These earlier works were simpler stories about cities and people. They sometimes included legends and were often charming. Herodotus's own work also has some of these qualities.
One of the most well-known earlier historians was Hecataeus of Miletus. Only small pieces of his writings survive today. But they give us an idea of the kind of historical writing that existed before Herodotus.
Critics of Herodotus
Because Herodotus included many strange stories and folk tales, some critics called him "The Father of Lies." Even people living at the same time as him made fun of his work. One modern expert wondered if Herodotus left his home because his own people made fun of his writings.
His most important critics were in Athens. The Athenian historian Thucydides called Herodotus a "story-teller." Thucydides preferred to write history in a very controlled way. Herodotus, with his many side stories, seemed less in control. Also, Thucydides focused on the history of the Greek city-states. Herodotus, who grew up in the Persian Empire, was more interested in how different civilizations interacted. This was a more relevant topic for Greeks living in Anatolia.
See also
In Spanish: Heródoto para niños
- Al-Masudi, known as the Herodotus of the Arabs
- Herodotus Machine
- Historiography (the history of history and historians)
- Life of Homer (Pseudo-Herodotus)
- Sostratus of Aegina
Images for kids
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Romanticized statue of Herodotus in his hometown of Halicarnassus, modern Bodrum, Turkey
