Image of Herodotus of Halicarnassus

Timeline

Lifetime: 484 BCE - 425 BCE Passed: ≈ 2448 years ago

Title

Greek Historian

Country/Nationality

Persian Empire
Wikipedia

Herodotus of Halicarnassus

Herodotus was an ancient Greek writer and geographer who was born in the ancient Greek city of Halicarnassus, part of the former Persian Empire (now modern-day Bodrum, Turkey).

Credited as being the first Greek historian, Herodotus is known for having written the book The Histories—a detailed account of views regarding the Greco-Persian Wars. He is widely considered the first writer to treat historical subjects using a method of systematic investigation. He is also referred to as "The Father of History", a title first conferred on him by the esteemed Ancient Roman orator Cicero.

His Histories primarily deals with the lives of prominent kings of his time, as well as famous battles; such as those of Marathon, Thermopylae, Artemisium, Salamis, Plataea, and Mycale. His work also contains important deviations from the main topics (cultural, ethnographical, geographical, historiographical, and other forms of deviations) that form a defining and essential part of the narrative & that provide readers with a wellspring of additional information.

Herodotus has been criticized for his inclusion of "legends and fanciful accounts" in his work. Authors such as fellow Ancient Greek historian Thucydides have accused him of making up stories for entertainment purposes. In response, Herodotus has explained that he reported what he "saw and [what was] told to him." In spite of this, a sizable portion of the information Herodotus has provided has since been confirmed and found credible by modern historians and archaeologists.

Books by Herodotus of Halicarnassus

Herodotus' Histories Vol 1 Cover image

Herodotus' Histories Vol 1

History Non-Fiction
Epic Warfare Travel

The Histories of Herodotus of Halicarnassus is considered the first work of history in Western literature. Written about 440 BC, the Histories tell the story of the war between the Persian Empire and the Greek city-states in the 5th century BC. Herod...

Herodotus' Histories Vol 2 Cover image

Herodotus' Histories Vol 2

History Non-Fiction
Warfare Travel Antiquity

The Histories of Herodotus is considered the founding work of history in Western literature. Written in 430 BC in the Ionic dialect of classical Greek, The Histories serves as a record of the ancient traditions, politics, geography, and clashes of va...

Herodotus' Histories Vol 3 Cover image

Herodotus' Histories Vol 3

History Non-Fiction
Warfare Travel Antiquity

The Histories of Herodotus of Halicarnassus is considered the first work of history in Western literature. Written about 440 BC, the Histories tell the story of the war between the Persian Empire and the Greek city-states in the 5th century BC. Herod...

An Account of Egypt by Herodotus Cover image

An Account of Egypt by Herodotus

Non-Fiction Travel
Egypt Culture Geography

HERODOTUS was born at Halicarnassus, on the southwest coast of Asia Minor, in the early part of the fifth century, B. C. Of his life we know almost nothing, except that he spent much of it traveling, to collect the material for his writings, and that...