Facts about Herodotus
Herodotus of Halicarnassus (in Greek, ???????? ?????????????, Herodotos Halikarnasseus) was a Dorian Greek historian who lived in the fifth century B.C.E.
Herodotus was either exiled or left Hallicarnassus voluntarily at the time of Panyasis’ execution.
Skulls are rarely visible on a battlefield for more than two or three years after a battle, making it probable that Herodotus visited Egypt during the reign of Inarus (460-454 B.C.E.
The little that is known of the life of Herodotus has been mostly gleaned from his own works.
Herodotus has earned the twin titles The Father of History and The Father of Lies.
That island was an important member of the Athenian confederacy, and in making it his home Herodotus would have put himself under the protection of Athens.
Halicarnassus became a voluntary member of the Athenian confederacy, and Herodotus could now return and enjoy the rights of free citizenship in his native city.
At some point, Herodotus became a logios, a reciter of logoi or stories, written in prose.
Herodotus' method of comparing all known theories on a subject shows that such hydrological speculation existed in ancient Greece.
In 431 B.C.E., the Peloponnesian War broke out between Athens and Sparta, and it may have been the this war that inspired Herodotus to collect his stories into a continuous narrative.
When Herodotus quitted Halicarnassus on account of the tyranny of Lygdamis, about the year 457 B.C.E., he went to Samos.
Herodotus seem to have made most of his journeys between the ages of 20 and 37 (464 - 447 B.C.E.).
After Herodotus reached the age of 40, there was little further information about him.
According to Suidas, Herodotus was himself a rebel against Lygdamis; but no other author confirms this.
Herodotus recorded much information current about the geography, politics, and history as understoodin his own day.
Herodotus' intention to preserve the memory of the past as a salutary, objective record, rather than a self-serving annal in the defense of a political regime, was a landmark achievement.
Like Homer, Herodotus presents the Greek foe, in his case the Persian invaders, objectively and without the querulous abuse ancient chroniclers would typically employ to define the enemy.
Herodotus recorded many details about contemporary life in the countries which he visited, creating an invaluable source for later historians and archaeologists.
Despite his colorful distractions and informality of style, Herodotus remains the authority for the great Persian War, the primary source of even the most skeptical of modern historians.
Herodotus is perceived in many lights, from being devious and conscious of his fictions, to being gullible and misled by his sources.
At the time of Herodotus’ birth, Halicarnassus was ruled by a Queen Artemisia, who was succeeded by her son Pisindelis (born c. 498 B.C.E.).
Herodotus appeared anxious, having lost his political status at Halicarnassus, to obtain such status elsewhere.
Herodotus traveled across Asia Minor and European Greece more than once, and visited all the most important islands of the Archipelago, Rhodes, Cyprus, Delos, Paros, Thasos, Samothrace, Crete, Samos, Cythera and Aegina.
Discoveries made since the end of the nineteenth century have helped to rehabilitate Herodotus' reputation.
Accordingly, in the spring of the following year Herodotus sailed from Athens with the colonists who went out to found the colony of Thurii, and became a citizen of the new town.
Historians question what city Herodotus used as his headquarters while he was making all his travels.
Up to the time of the execution of Panyasis, which is placed by chronologists in or about the year 457 B.C.E., Herodotus probably resided at Halicarnassus.
Herodotus had a brother Theodore and an uncle or cousin named Panyasis, who was an epic poet and important enough to be considered a threat and was accordingly put to death by Lygdamis.
Herodotus, like all ancient Greek writers and poets, composed his work in the shadow of Homer.
Some, however, argue that Herodotus exaggerated the extent of his travels and completely fabricated sources.
Herodotus' history recounts the Persian invasions of Greece in 490 and 480 B.C.E., the heroic Greek defense against the invaders, and the final Greek victory.
Herodotus has been criticized for including myths and legends in his history to add interest to his accounts.
Herodotus had resided in Samos for seven or eight years, until Lygdamis was expelled from the throne and he was able to return to Hallicarnassus.
Herodotus (5th century bc), Greek historian. Known as 'the Father of History'. He was the first historian to collect his materials systematically, test their accuracy to a certain extent, and arrange them in a well-constructed and vivid narrative.