Many scholars refer to him as the father of history in western culture. The numbers in the text are the chapters from which the quotes are taken. We may think all the famous ancient greeks came from athens, but its not true. Pharaoh, by boleslaw prus, incorporating the labyrinth scenes inspired by herodotus description in book ii of the histories. This may seem like a diversion from his topic of the great wars between the greeks and the persians, but its a pleasant diversion. Dec 11, 2002 the writings of herodotus concerning ancient egypt contain a great deal of information about the particulars of egyptian society, geography, and religion.
The egyptians in agreement with their climate, which is unlike any other, and. Oct 31, 2018 get 2 free audible books this is the third volume of the 15volume series of the worlds story. Histories book 2 the history of egypt summary course hero. Book 2 of the history, which describes the egyptian land and people, illustrates herodotus s skill as a narrator as well as his weaknesses as a historian. Herodotus attempts to relate the whole history of the kings of egypt, although he does not describe all 350 pharaohs he claims have ruled the country. Godley, read by librivox volunteers, proofed, coordinated, and produced by karen merline. The explanation is that the ancient greeks believed that the barbarians on the edges of the earth were the opposite of the civilized people in the middle of the terrestrial disk.
Herodotus often accepted stories and reputations uncritically and reported them as facts. Herodotus and a courtesan from naucratis classical inquiries. Euterpe on the death of cyrus, cambyses his son by cassandane daughter of pharnaspes took the kingdom. This woman, according to the reportage of some greeks as opposed to others metexeteroi. Herodotus claims that since this legendary king 330 pharaohs have ruled he does not mention all of them, but gives some attention to the great conqueror sesostris, who has conquered the whole world. There is a custom, too, which no greeks except the lacedaemonians have in. Herodotus book 2 discussion questions reading odyssey. Nov 21, 2017 im going to be telling you stories from the oldest book of history that we have. Book i 299k book ii 249k book iii 221k book iv 230k book v 162k book vi 174k book. Elizabeth eltze herodotus histories, book 2, section 86 amphora. Herodotus s histories dealt with the clash of civilisations east v west. Egyptian monuments were brought by roman legionnaires, officials, servants etc.
Herodotuss subject in his history is the wars between greece and persia 499479 bce and their preliminaries. This is the story which i heard from the priests of hephaestus2 temple. With these, he discusses in detail such varied matters as hygiene, sex, culture, animals, religion, geographical features, and so on. Connecting egyptian religion and customs to that of the greeks in which herodotus friendly manner towards egypt can be felt. The level of trustworthy detail improves as the account gets closer to the time in which herodotus lived. The histories of herodotus of halicarnassus is considered the first work of history in western literature. Widely considered one of the first serious works of history, historieswritten in the 5th century bce by the greek scholar herodotus is a highly influential account of the grecopersian wars. His great history, the first major prose work in world literature, is an account of his world at the time of the persian wars. The priests told me that min was the first king of egypt, and that first he p387. When cyrus had brought his life to an end, cambyses received the royal power in succession, being the son of cyrus and of cassandane the daughter of pharnaspes, for whose death, which came about before his own, cyru. Book 2 of the history, which describes the egyptian land and people, illustrates herodotuss skill as a narrator as well as his weaknesses as a historian. The role of oracles and dreams in herodotus the history. Herodotus was a greek historian who lived in the 5th century bc from 484 b.
Our mission is to engage people with cultural heritage and to improve history education worldwide. Herodotus histories book ii classical wisdom weekly. In the first logosof book two, he gives a description of the country, the desert, and the river nile. Cambyses, by the advice of a certain egyptian, who was angry with amasis for having torn him from his wife. Thucydides, the younger man by about 15 years, produced a forthright account.
Thalia the abovementioned amasis was the egyptian king against whom cambyses, son of cyrus, made his expedition. The history of herodotus by herodotus the internet classics archive. The egyptians in agreement with their climate, which is unlike any other, and with the river, which shows a nature different from all other rivers, established for themselves manners and customs in a way opposite to other men in almost all matters. The history book ii great books of the western world. The thebans, and such as imitate them in their practice, give the following account of the origin of the custom. The history of herodotus book i the first book of the histories, called clio this is the showing forth of the inquiry of herodotus of halicarnassos, to the end that1 neither the deeds of men may be forgotten by lapse of time, nor the works 2 great and marvellous, which have been produced some by hellenes and some by barbarians, may. His plan to conquer egypt gives herodotus the opportunity to dedicate three logoito the ancient kingdom on the boards of the nile. Mar 27, 2018 herodotus is fascinated by the interplay of nature and culture. Now the egyptians, before the reign of their king psammetichus, believed themselves to. In particular, passage eightysix describes the practice of an ancient ritual that has fascinated people for millennia. The heliopolitans have the reputation of being the best skilled in history of all the egyptians. The greek historian herodotus specifically uses it to describe all of subsaharan africa. Then, herodotus returns to the egyptian customs, and explains. Herodotus was born at halicarnassus modern day bodrum, a city of mixed peoples including greeks and carians, on the fringe of the persian empire.
This is the story which i heard from the priests of hephaestus temple at memphis. Nov 14, 2018 reading the histories of herodotus, book ii, i was truly surprised to see the direct link between the rituals. In the first place, if an egyptian touches a hog in passing, he goes to the river and dips himself in it, clothed as he is. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the history of herodotus volume 2. Herodotus made a trek to the egypt of his day 400s b. Herodotus, later famous as a historian to the point of becoming known by his admirers as the father of history, was born in halicarnassus, now bodrum, turkey, in about 484 b. Strange stories of early egypt by herodotus audiobook youtube. Herodotus on the egyptians ancient history encyclopedia. Books viix contain the history of the wars, culminating in an account of the. The history book ii book 2 is named after the greek muse euterpe. Ii, 1089, the sesostris logos also exemplifies the culturehero motif. He was the first historian known to collect his materials systematically, test their accuracy and arrange them in.
His book about the wars between the persians and the greek city states was a collection of his historiahis inquirieswhich is where we get the very word history from yet he is also known to some as the father of lies. The internet classics archive the history of herodotus. Strange stories of early egypt by herodotus audiobook. The following is comprised of excerpts from his book. The history of herodotus by herodotus, part of the internet classics archive. The history of herodotus volume 2 kindle edition by. The story of how the egyptians known as asmacks, or deserters, came to. Apart from that, say the priests, nothing else was different. The work, as we have it, is divided into nine books, named after the nine muses, but this division is probably due to the alexandrine grammarians. This quotation from herodotus, a greek who traveled in egypt, is about how the nile river enabled ancient egyptian civilization to develop and succeed. Written about 440 bc, the histories tell the story of the war between the persian empire and the greek citystates in the 5th.
Herodotus s account of egyptian history is thorough, and probably rests on egyptian records and stories about their rulers. The history of herodotus volume 2 kindle edition by herodotus, macaulay, g. The subject of the history of herodotus is the struggle between the greeks and the barbarians, which he brings down to the battle of mycale in 479 b. Moreover the naming of almost all the gods has come to hellas from egypt. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. An account of egypt, by herodotus project gutenberg. You may copy it, give it away or reuse it under the terms of the project gutenberg license included with this ebook or online at. Herodotus traveled extensively around the ancient world, conducting interviews and collecting stories for his book.
Egyptians did practice some of the most commonly known acts like circumcision and immersion the preritual self washing. Herodotus histories book ii the second book of the histories, called euterpe 1. He has become known as the father of history for his major work the histories. And its actually on topic because its an exploration of. Books iv describe the background to the grecopersian wars. In egyptian, the goat and pan are both called mendes.
Translator tom holland argues that the father of history is not only hugely entertaining but has an amazing capacity to. Quite a few comments have been posted about the history of herodotus. The latin name libya referred to the region west of the nile valley, generally corresponding to modern northwest africa. 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. He appears to have tried to ascertain as best as he could what the actuality was and what hearsay or rumor was. Cassandane had died in the lifetime of cyrus, who had made a great mourning for her at her death, and had commanded all the subjects of his empire to observe the like. Gathering research from his travels around egypt, africa, and asia, herodotus recorded his observations and. Herodotus describes the birth and rise to power of cyrus, who liberated persia from the medes, and the subsequent expansion of the persian empire until cyrus death during a war with the massagetae. In book 2, herodotus discusses the geography, culture, and history of egypt. Herodotus was a greek writer and geographer credited with being the first historian. The history of herodotus by herodotus, part of the internet.
Herodotus s subject in his history is the wars between greece and persia 499479 bce and their preliminaries. As with the earlier mentions of egypts cultural and economic bounty, the point is to. Written in 440 bc in the ionic dialect of classical greek, the histories serves as a record of the ancient traditions, politics, geography, and clashes of various cultures that were known in western asia, northern. Herodotus book also contains ethnographic descriptions of the. In the history itself, herodotus ranges widely geographically, and considers many different countries. The history of herodotus has been divided into the following sections. His plan to conquer egypt gives herodotus the opportunity to dedicate three logoi to the ancient kingdom on the. Hellenon, commissioned the building of the third and smallest of the three pyramids at the site now known as giza. Like many important ancient greeks, herodotus was not only not born in athens but wasnt even born in what we think of as europe. In the next logos, herodotus tells us about the customs of the egyptians. The project gutenberg ebook of an account of egypt, by herodotus this ebook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. There is, however, a great deal of information that can be gained from looking at what the writings suggest about herodotus of harlicannassus himself, as well as his greek culture. I owe it to tell what is being told, but i by no means owe it to believe it.
Two of herodotus histories consists mainly of a discussion of the cultures and. 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. The writings of herodotus concerning ancient egypt contain a great deal of information about the particulars of egyptian society, geography, and religion. Cambyses, the son of this lady and of cyrus, regarding the ionian and aeolian greeks as vassals of his father, took them with. His plan to conquer egypt gives herodotus the opportunity. In book 2 herodotus takes us on a travel tour of egypt.
As it has survived, the history is divided into nine books the division is not the authors. This is the main reason why clearly identifiable peoples like the assyrians gradually enter the account. He was born in the essentially dorian hellenic or greek, yes. Called the father of history by cicero, the greek historian herodotus born in 484 b.
In recorded egyptian history there have been 341 generations, each one producing a king and a high priest. The internet classics archive the history of herodotus by. Unlike book 1, book 2 s recollections of kings were less specific and more sparse but he does include descriptions of animals and their role in egyptian society which i found interesting and new. To read the history herodotus only book is to seek ones roots as a member of western democratic civilization. Herodotus portrays the conflict as one between the forces of slavery the persians on the one hand, and freedom. Get 2 free audible books this is the third volume of the 15volume series of the worlds story. It is a temple of latona, situated in the midst of a great city on the sebennytic mouth of the nile, at some distance up the river from the sea. Creation, by gore vidal, interpreting many scenes from the persian viewpoint.
Jan 18, 2012 the egyptians in agreement with their climate, which is unlike any other, and with the river, which shows a nature different from all other rivers, established for themselves manners and customs in a way opposite to other men in almost all matters. These words uttered and this occasion having arisen, led cambyses the son of cyrus against egypt, moved to very great anger. He was the first historian known to collect his materials systematically, test their accuracy and arrange them in a vivid narrative. Its simply called, the histories, and it was written two and a half thousand years ago by a greek, named herodotus. A major impression herodotus wishes to get across is that egypt is very old. He traveled over much of the known ancient world, making trips to places such as southern italy, lower egypt, and the caucasus. The historian, herodotus wrote about flying reptiles. Herodotus lays out the history of egypt until the reign of amasis, the pharaoh that cambyses will defeat in histories. It is in part a gripping and much revered tale of colossal confrontation between freedomloving greekspeaking peoples the athenians, spartans, and others and the seemingly unstoppable forces of the persians. As a son of a prominent family herodotus received a good education sufficient to allow him to eventually gain an extensive familiarity with the literature of.
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