Herodotus and the dating of the battle of thermopylae volume 26 issue 2 kenneth s. The army is led by leonidas, a descendant of the mythical hero heracles. Site contains many greek and latin texts, translations and related. Simultaneously, the greek army set off to thermopylae. Xerxes according to herodotus encyclopaedia iranica. The history of herodotus, parallel englishgreek index. For how long was the second persian invasion of greece delayed. At the same time that the greek army was preparing to guard the pass at thermopylae, the greek fleet prepared to meet the persians at artemisium, where the wide thracian sea contracts until the passageis but narrow 7. Herodotus the histories, book 7, polymnia 8239 battle of. In fact, herodotus account of the battle, in book vii of his histories, is such an important source that paul cartledge wrote. Herodotus provides detail on many aspects of this conflict, which the greeks eventually won, after battles at thermopylae, salamis, and platea. Thermopylae and herodotus wenxin zheng exchange student, nanjing university, china battle of thermopylae, which occurred ten years after the battle of marathon in the first bohemia war, is another famous historical clash between the persian empire and ancient greece.
In this course, dr emma aston university of reading explores book 7 of herodotus histories. For at sparta, said demaratus, byway of suggestion, the law is that if a king has. Macaulay, 1890, full text etext at the history of herodotus, parallel english greek index sacred texts classics. He travelled widely in most of asia minor, egypt as far as assuan, north africa, syria, the country north of the black sea, and many parts of the aegean sea and the mainland of greece. On the beach at euboea, themistocles plans to split the ionian greeks and carians from the persian coalition 19. Family history of leonidas, the spartan basileusand commander 204. The greek army at thermopylae is very small compared to the over five million herodotus counts among the persians. The history of herodotus, parallel english greek, tr. This 147page guide for histories by herodotus includes detailed chapter summaries and analysis covering 9 chapters, as well as several more indepth sections of expertwritten literary analysis. Leonidas decides to use theban troops to test their loyalty 205. News of the defeat at thermopylae reaches the greek. Herodotus the histories, book 7, polymnia 8239 battle of thermopylae.
Herodotus, greek author of the first great narrative history produced in the ancient world, the history of the grecopersian wars. Pharaoh, by boleslaw prus, incorporating the labyrinth scenes inspired by herodotus description in book ii of the histories. On the battle of thermopylae itself, two principal sources, herodotus and simonides accounts, survive. Like many important ancient greeks, herodotus was not only not born in athens but wasnt even born in what we think of as europe. The roster of the greek contingents at thermopylae 20. The phocians guarded the path that was discovered to the persians by. This expedition against athens threatened all of greece. According to this account, what are the differences between the greeks and the persians. The width of the pass at thermopylae, according to herodotus pray to the winds. Herodotus and the dating of the battle of thermopylae.
Creation, by gore vidal, interpreting many scenes from the persian viewpoint. Few history books since can compare for sheer drama with herodotuss narrative of the persian invasions of greece. Herodotus on thermopylae, with chris carey classics. Herodotus magnificent writing have vividly explained one of the most exceptional battles, in addition to showing the world the incredible greek society, and the ever so. Here we get the most bodacious recount of the battle of thermopylae and the noble 300. Supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides for challenging works of literature. Anastasia bakogianni joins professor chris carey at ucls department of greek and latin to talk about his forthcoming commentary on herodotus book 7. The edsitement launchpad for this activity includes selected passages from book 7 of herodotus histories. Named polymnia after the greek muse of sacred poetry.
The young king inherited a solid empire, which was greater than any before in history. By slandering the greeks you incite the king to send this expedition. The histories of herodotus of halicarnassus is considered the first work of history in western literature. The emphasis on storytelling in the battles of herodotus histories books 7 9. Herodotus was a greek writer and geographer credited with being the first historian. Demaratus, the exking of sparta, supports the claim of xerxes. When do the battles at thermopylae and artemisium take place. Histories book 7 the battle of thermopylae summary course hero. He leonidas now came to thermopylae, with a picked force of the customary three hundred, and those that had sons, mainly to motivate the other greeks to join forces. He was born in the essentially dorian hellenic or greek, yes. See all books authored by herodotus, including the histories, and selections from herodotus, and more on. Kendrick pritchett, the greek state at war berkeley, 1974. Naxos at this time is recorded as being the wealthiest of the greek islands.
However it is reported also that leonidas himself sent them away, having a care that they might not perish, but thinking that it was not seemly for himself and for the spartans who were present to leave the. While xerxes is still at sardes, sparta organizes the greek cities in a military league. This place is called thermopylae by most of the hellenes, but by the natives and. The book moves ahead in a majestic trajectory to ultimately describe the persian greek war, with xerxes leading his great force into greece.
Histories book 7 the battle of thermopylae summary. The internet classics archive the history of herodotus. The battles between the persian empire and ancient greece 60 words 6 pages. The battle of thermopylae in which the greeks hold the pass for 3 days. But to athens and sparta xerxes sent no heralds to demand earth, and this was the reason. Herodotus the great greek historian was born about 484 bce, at halicarnassus in caria, asia minor, when it was subject to the persians. King xerxes lay encamped in trachis in malis and the hellenes in the pass. It is in part a gripping and much revered tale of colossal confrontation between freedomloving greek speaking peoples the athenians, spartans, and others and the seemingly unstoppable forces of the persians. Having stated this at the beginning of the twentysecond logos, herodotus feels compelled to express an opinion which he knows to be unpopular. At sparta too advised demaratus it was customary that if sons were born before. An account of the persian war on greece, including the naval battle at salamis, the battle with athens at marathon. We begin by thinking about herodotus as a historian, the aims in his histories, and the extent to which the histories represents both a continuation of and a break from the traditions of greek historiography and mythography. Herodotus refers to thermopylae 31 times, mainly in book 7.
Unveiled in 1997, it depicts eros, the oldest of the gods. The paper also argues that plataea, as the last major land battle on greek soil, serves as a climax for herodotus narrative. Full audio books for everyone earns money off of the above links. At the core are 300 spartans, accompanied by contingents from corinth, thespia, and thebes, among others. By and large, the battle of thermopylae from herodotus the histories was an extremely notable and remarkable battle for the history of the west, as well as the world. His goal no longer is the punishment of athens, but the subjugation of europe. Herodotus excerpts from book vii of the histories translated and edited by a. The history of herodotus by herodotus, part of the internet classics archive. To read the history herodotus only book is to seek ones roots as a member of western democratic civilization. The emphasis on storytelling in the battles of herodotus.
Sparta was a military citystate with two kings that claimed to be the descendent of the demigod hercules. Nominally, xerxes expedition was directed against athens, but its real objective was the conquest of the whole of greece. A highpoint in herodotus histories, the subject of this book is the inexorable march of the persian forces against greece, which culminates in the famous battle at thermopylae. In this section, herodotus relates the invasion of the greek mainland by the persian king xerxes in 480 b. The persian king xerxes with his mighty army bridges the hellespont and invades greece, killing the spartans arrayed against him at thermopylae.
The thespians held eros above all other gods, likely because he had no parents. While they all knew it was coming, they didnt see it in the same way. Gates of fire, by stephen pressfield, has the battle of thermopylae book vii as its centrepiece. The greek forces at thermopylae, when the persian army drew. He remains the leading source of original information not only for greek history between 550 and 479 bce but also for much of that of western asia and of egypt at that time.
King leonidas of sparta and the battle at thermopylae. Herodotus the persian wars godleybook vii wikisource, the. At sparta too advised demaratus it was customary that if sons were born. Here we get the most bodacious recount of the battle of thermopylae. How leonidas got to be king of sparta on his brothers deaths. The battle of thermopylae from herodotus the histories.
Herodotus notes that while xerxes ostensibly meant to punish athens, his real intent was to conquer all of greece. He then uses each battle to show the superiority of greek courage and strategy against the persians. Instantly he sent off messengers to make proclamation through the. His accounts of the great battles of marathon and thermopylae. Yet the greeks are accustomed to wage wars, as i learn, and they do it most. Off to the side of the larger statue of leonidas at thermopylae, there is a monument to the 700 thespians who died alongside the spartans. Some submitted to persia thinking they wouldnt get hurt.