Histories Read online

  General histories of Greece

  A. R. Burn, Persia and the Greeks (2nd ed.), London 1984

  J. B. Bury and R. Meiggs, History of Greece, London 1975

  Modern books on Herodotus

  A. de Sélincourt, The World of Herodotus, London 1962

  J. Gould, Herodotus, Weidenfeld and Nicolson 1989

  R. W. Macan, Herodotus and Thucydides, Cambridge University Press 1927

  J. L. Myres, Herodotus, Father of History, Oxford University Press 1953

  J. Wells, Studies in Herodotus, Basil Blackwell 1923

  A Note on the Text

  Rawlinson’s translation of Herodotus first appeared in 1858, when it was published in four volumes, including very extensive footnotes and a variety of essays and appendices. In 1910, the Everyman edition of the translation was issued, in which the notes were much reduced and the extraneous material was omitted. A few extra footnotes were supplied by the editor, E. H. Blakeney: these are here enclosed in square brackets.

  The present volume reprints the Everyman text, with a few modernisations of spelling or orthography. The only significant change is the restoring of the Greek names of deities (as they appeared in Herodotus’ text) in place of their Roman equivalents, which Rawlinson had used throughout.

  Contents

  Book One

  Clio

  1–5 Causes of the war between Greece and Persia – Mythic

  6–25 Causes of the war between Greece and Persia – Historic – Aggressions of Croesus – Previous Lydian History

  26–28 Conquests of Croesus

  29–33 Visit of Solon to the court of Croesus

  34–45 Story of Adrastus and Atys

  46–55 Preparations of Croesus against Cyrus – Consultation of the oracles

  56–58 Croesus seeks a Greek alliance – Hellenes and Pelasgi

  59–64 State of Athens under Pisistratus

  65–68 Early History of Sparta

  69–70 Alliance of Croesus with Sparta

  71 Croesus warned

  72–85 Croesus invades Cappadocia – His war with Cyrus

  86–87 Danger and deliverance of Croesus

  88–89 His advice to Cyrus

  90–91 His message to the Delphic oracle

  92 His offerings

  93 Wonders of Lydia

  94 Manners and customs of the Lydians

  95 History of Cyrus – Old Assyrian Empire – Revolt of Media

  96–107 Early Median History

  108–122 Birth and bringing-up of Cyrus

  123–124 Incitements to revolt

  125–126 Cyrus sounds the feelings of the Persians – their Ten Tribes

  127–130 Revolt and struggle

  131–140 Customs of the Persians

  141 Cyrus threatens the Ionian Greeks

  142–151 Account of the Greek settlements in Asia

  152 Sparta interferes to protect the Greeks

  153–157 Sardis revolts and is reduced

  158–160 Fate of Pactyas

  161–170 Reduction of the Asiatic Greeks

  171–176 The Carians, Caunians, and Lycians attacked – their customs – they submit to the Persians

  177 Conquests of Cyrus in Upper Asia

  178–187 Description of Babylon

  188–190 Cyrus marches on Babylon

  191 Fall of Babylon

  192–193 Description of Babylonia

  194–200 Customs of the Babylonians

  201 Expedition of Cyrus against the Massagetae

  202 The River Araxes

  203–204 The Caspian

  205–206 Tomyris – her offer to Cyrus

  207–208 Advice given by Croesus, adopted by Cyrus

  209–210 Dream of Cyrus

  211–214 Two battles with the Massagetae – Defeat and death of Cyrus

  215 Manners and customs of the Massagetae

  Book Two

  Euterpe

  1. Accession of Cambyses – he invades Egypt

  2. Description of Egypt – Antiquity

  3. Seats of learning

  4. Inventions, etc.

  5–13. Description of the country

  14. Agriculture

  15–18. Boundaries

  19–27. The Nile – Causes of the inundation

  28. Sources

  29–31. The Upper Nile

  32. The interior of Libya

  33–34. Comparison of the Nile and Ister

  35–36. Customs of the Egyptians – their strangeness

  37–48. Religious customs

  49–57. Connection of the religions of Egypt and Greece

  58–64. Egyptian Festivals

  65–67. Sacred animals

  68–70. The Crocodile

  71. The Hippopotamus

  72. Otters, fish, etc.

  73. The Phoenix

  74–75. Sacred and winged serpents

  76. The Ibis

  77–80. Daily life of the Egyptians

  81. Dress

  82. Divination

  83. Oracles

  84. Practice of Medicine

  85–90. Funerals

  91. Worship of Perseus

  92–95. Customs of the marshmen

  96. Egyptian boats

  97. Routes in the flood-time

  98. Anthylla and Archandropolis

  99. History of Egypt – Mên

  100–101. His successors – Nitocris – Moeris

  102–110. Sesostris – his expeditions – his works in Egypt

  111. His son, Pheron

  112–120. Proteus – story of Helen

  121–122. Rhampsinitus

  123. Doctrine of metempsychosis

  124–126. Cheops – his pyramid

  127–128. Chephren

  129–133. Mycerinus

  134–135. His pyramid – history of Rhodopis

  136. Asychis

  137–140. Anysis – Sabaco

  141. Sethos – invasion of Sennacherib

  142–143. Number of the kings

  144–146. Greek and Egyptian notions of the age of the gods

  147–152. The Dodecarchy

  154–157. Psammetichus

  158–159. Neco, his son

  160. Psammis, son of Neco

  161–169. Apries, son of Psammis – his deposition

  170. Tomb of Osiris

  171. Egyptian mysteries

  172–177. Reign of Amasis

  178–182. His favour to the Greeks

  Book Three

  Thalia

  1–3. Causes of quarrel between Persia and Egypt – Nitetis story

  4. Aid lent by Phanes

  5–9. Passage of the Desert

  10. Invasion of Egypt – Psammenitus king

  11. Murder of the children of Phanes – Battle of Pelusium

  12. Egyptian and Persian skulls

  13. Siege and capture of Memphis – submission of the Libyans and Cyrenaeans

  14–15. Treatment of Psammenitus

  16. Treatment of the body of Amasis

  17–18. Expeditions planned by Cambyses

  19. Phoenicians refuse to attack Carthage

  20–24. Embassy to the Ethiopians

  25. Expedition fails

  26. Failure of the expedition against Ammon

  27–29. Severities of Cambyses towards the Egyptians

  30–35. His outrageous conduct towards the Persians

  36. His treatment of Croesus

  37–38. His madness

  39�
��43. History of Polycrates – his connection with Amasis

  44. He sends ships to assist Cambyses

  45. Revolt of the crews – Samos attacked

  46–47. Aid sought from Sparta and Corinth

  48–53. Story of Periander

  54–56. Siege of Samos

  57–59. Fate of the rebels

  60. Wonders of Samos

  61. Revolt of the Magi – usurpation of the Pseudo–Smerdis

  62–66. The news reaches Cambyses – his wound, speech, and death

  67. Reign of the Magus

  68–69. His detection by Otanes

  70. Otanes conspires – arrival of Darius

  71–73. Debate of the conspirators

  74–75. Fate of Prexaspes

  76–79. Overthrow of the Magi

  80–82. Debate on the best form of government

  83. Decision of Otanes

  84. Privileges of the Six

  85–87. Darius obtains the kingdom

  88. His wives

  89–93. Division of the Empire into twenty Satrapies

  94–97. Amount of the tribute

  98–105. Customs of the Indians

  106–116. Productiveness of the earth’s extremities

  117. The river Aces

  118–119. Fate of Intaphernes

  120–125. Story of Oroetes and Polycrates

  126–128. Punishment of Oroetes

  129–130. Democedes of Crotona cures Darius

  131. His former history

  132–133. His influence – he cures Atossa

  134. Atossa at his instigation requests Darius to invade Greece

  135–138. Persians sent to explore the coasts – Democedes escapes

  139–149. Persian expedition against Samos to establish Syloson

  150–158. Revolt and reduction of Babylon by the stratagem of Zopyrus

  159. Punishment of the rebels

  160. Reward of Zopyrus

  Book Four

  Melpomene

  1. Expedition of Darius against Scythia – its pretext

  2–4. Previous history of the Scythians – their war with their slaves

  5–7. Traditions of their origin – their own account

  8–10. Traditions of their origin – Greek version of the same

  11–12. Traditions of their origin – account preferred by the author

  13–16. Story of Aristeas

  17–20. Description of Scythia

  21–27. Neighbouring nations Sauromatae, Budini, Argippaei, Issedones, and Arimaspi

  28–31. Climate of Scythia

  32–36. Stories of the Hyperboreans

  37–41. Universal geography – Description of Asia

  42–43. Universal geography – Circumnavigation of Libya

  44. Universal geography – Voyage of Scylax

  45. Origin of the names Europe, Asia, Libya

  46–47. Remarkable features of Scythia – the people

  48–50. The rivers – the Ister and its affluents

  51. The Tyras

  52. The Hypanis

  53. The Borysthenes

  54–58. The Panticapes, Hypacyris, Gerrhus, Tanais, etc.

  59. Religion of the Scyths – Gods

  60–61. Sacrifices

  62–63. Worship of Ares, etc.

  64–66. War-customs

  67–69. Soothsayers

  70. Oaths

  71–73. Burial of the kings, etc.

  74–75. Use of hemp

  76–80. Hatred of foreign customs – stories of Anacharsis and Scylas

  81. Population

  82. Marvels

  83–85. Preparations of Darius

  86. Size of the Euxine, Propontis, etc.

  87–92. March of Darius to the Ister

  93–96. Customs of the Thracians

  97–98. Darius at the Ister

  99–101. Size and shape of Scythia

  102–117. Description of the surrounding nations, Tauri, etc.

  118–119. Consultation of the kings

  120. Plans of the Scyths

  121–140. March of Darius through Scythia, and return to the Ister

  141–143. Passage of the Ister and return to the Hellespont

  144. Saying of Megabazus

  145–149. Libyan expedition of Aryandes – Founding of Thera

  150–155. Theraeans required by the oracle to colonise Libya – two accounts

  156. Occupation of Platea

  157. Settlement at Aziris

  158. Colonisation of Cyrene

  159–164. History of Cyrene from its foundation to the death of Arcesilaus III

  165. Application of Pheretima to Aryandes

  166. Fate of Aryandes

  167. Expedition against Barca

  168–181. Account of the Libyan tribes from Egypt to Lake Tritonis

  182–185. The three regions of Northern Libya

  186–190. Customs of the Libyans

  191–192. Contrast of eastern and western Libya

  193–196. Account of the western tribes

  197. Four nations of Libya

  198–199. Productiveness of Libya

  200–203. Account of the expedition against Barca

  204. Fate of the Barcaeans

  205. Death of Pheretima

  Book Five

  Terpsichore

  1–2. Thracian conquests of Megabazus

  3–8. Customs of the Thracians

  9–10. Region north of Thrace

  11. Coës and Histiaeus rewarded

  12–14. Story of Pigres and Mantyes

  15. Megabazus reduces the Paeonians

  16. Customs of the Paeonians

  17–21. Submission of Macedonia – story of the ambassadors

  22. Hellenism of the royal family of Macedon

  23–24. Recall of Histiaeus

  25. Appointment of Artaphernes and Otanes

  26–27. Conquests of Otanes

  28–29. Troubles arise in Ionia – previous history of Miletus

  30–34. Aristagoras’ expedition against Naxos

  35. Message of Histiaeus

  36. Revolt of Aristagoras

  37–38. Fate of the tyrants

  39–48. Aristagoras goes to Sparta – Recent history of Sparta

  49–54. Aristagoras fails to persuade Cleomenes

  55–96. He goes to Athens – Recent history of Athens – Murder of Hipparchus – Expulsion of Hippias – Cleisthenes – attempts of Sparta – Theban and Aeginetan wars, etc.

  97. Aristagoras obtains aid from Athens

  98. Escape of the Paeonians

  99–101. Attack on Sardis, which is taken and burnt

  102. Retreat and defeat of the Greeks

  103. Spread of the revolt to Caria and Caunus

  104–115. Revolt and reduction of Cyprus – Darius and Histiaeus

  116–117. Persians recover the Hellespont

  118–121. War in Caria

  122–123. Persian successes in Aeolis and Ionia

  124. Aristagoras resolves on flight

  125. Advice of Hecataeus

  126. Flight and death of Aristagoras

  Book Six

  Erato

  1–3. Histiaeus comes down to the coast

  4. Conspiracy discovered at Sardis

  5. Histiaeus sails to the Hellespont

  6–15. Miletus threatened by the Persians – the two fleets – battle of Lade

  16. Misfortunes of the Chians

  17. D
ionysius the Phocaean commander

  18. Fall of Miletus

  19–20. Punishment of the Milesians

  21. Sorrow of Athens

  22–25. Fate of the Samians – seizure of Zancle

  26–30. Fate of Histiaeus

  31–32. Punishment of the rebels

  33. Phoenician fleet ravages the Chersonese

  34–40. Chersonesite kingdom of the Cimonidae

  41. Flight of Miltiades to Athens

  42. New settlement of Ionia by the Persians

  43–45. Expedition of Mardonius fails

  46–47. Suspected revolt of Thasos

  48–49. Envoys of Darius demand earth and water – submission of Aegina and the islands generally

  50. Cleomenes attempts to punish the Aeginetans

  51. Cleomenes’ feud with Demaratus

  52–59. The double royalty at Sparta – descent – privileges of the kings

  60. Spartan customs

  61–63. Story of Ariston

  C64–70. Demaratus, deprived of his crown, flies to Persia

  71. Leotychides made king

  72. Fate of Leotychides

  73. Aeginetans forced to give hostages

  74–75. Fate of Cleomenes

  76–84. Various causes assigned for his insanity

  85–86. Aeginetans demand back their hostages – story of Glaucus

  87–93. War between Aegina and Athens

  94. Expedition of Datis and Artaphernes

  95–99. Course of the expedition

  100–101. Preparations of the Eretrians – siege and surrender of Eretria

  102. Persians land at Marathon

  103–104. Account of Miltiades

  105–106. Pheidippides sent to Sparta – appearance of Pan

  107. Dream of Hippias

  108. Plataeans join the Athenians – previous connection of the two nations

  109–110. Division among the Athenian generals – Miltiades and Callimachus

  111. Preparations for battle

  112–114. Battle of Marathon

  115–116. Attempt to surprise Athens

  117. Story of Epizelus

  118–119. Return of the expedition to Asia

  120. Spartans visit Marathon

  121–124. Charge made against the Alcmaeonidae

  125. Previous history of the family – favours of Croesus

  126–130. Marriage of Megacles with Agarista

  131. Descent of Pericles

  132–135. Expedition of Miltiades against Paros

  136. Trial of Miltiades – his death