Herodotus — Attic red-figure pottery painting

Ἡρόδοτος Herodotus (c. 484–425 BC)

The Histories

The father of history. Where Thucydides gives realpolitik analysis, Herodotus gives court intrigue, hubris narratives, and the stories people retell at dinner. His account of the Persian Wars — the civilization between Greece and China — connects all three classical worlds.

Interactive Greek

Every word carries its dictionary headword and definition. Hover to explore the original language — no lexicon required.

Episodes

1
Croesus and the OracleBook I, Chapters 26–91
2
The Rise and Fall of CyrusBook I, Chapters 95–216
3
Xerxes' Hubris: The Bridge and the CrossingBook VII, Chapters 33–56
4
ThermopylaeBook VII
5
SalamisBook VIII