Herodotus Sparknotes

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Herodotus, the Greek historian is known for being the “father of history.” Well known for a unique style of writing, Herodotus uses analytical value in his writings, while giving clearance to different opinions. His trips from Athens, Egypt, Asian Minor and the region of Europe provide him information on the accounts of the people in Greece and Persia. In “The Histories” Herodotus describes the life, conflicts, and events of Greece, Asia, and Egypt. Herodotus begins with a preface and explains the conflicts that the Greeks will face with the Persians. Throughout The Histories, the reader can find Herodotus writings to be confusing. He often gets off the main point to introduce minor characters involved in the theme. This sort of narrative …show more content…

In Book Five, Herodotus begins with Persian and Greeks conflicts, a Oracle, Persian conquer over the Thracians, and then breaks away to make known to the readers about Thracian customs. It is customary for a man to have many wives; and if he dies, his wives enter an intense competition, in which is friends decide who was loved the most by the husband. Whichever wife is chosen as the most loved is shortly honored, slaughtered, and buried by her husband. A short explanatory story like this is one example of the many stories that Herodotus throws in throughout The Histories, even if it’s between main ideas. Herodotus splits The Histories into nine parts or books as there called. The Persian-Greek wars is for the most part an underlining theme throughout each book, but other themes like retribution and vengeance, pride of hubris, wheel of Fortune, oracles, that Herodotus goes by. In Book 1 a theme of retribution and vengeance and wheel of fortune that the reader can conclude from Herodotus writings as a symbol that humanity in the universe is constantly moving and fortune is a cycle. Most if not all the themes appear in the first book and do not reappear until book

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