Herodotus, an ancient Greek historian, was born in 484 B.C. Herodotus was an ancient Greek historian who was born in the city of Halicarnassus, now Bodrum, Turkey, in Caria. This is a region in southwestern Asia Minor, modern-day Turkey. We don't know much about his life, but we do know some details about how he came to be known as the "father" of history and inspired new disciplines and generations of historians.
Where did Herodotus come from?
While Halicarnassus was established by the ancient Greeks. Caria was a separate city-state from the Greeks with its own language, culture, and governance. Christopher Baron, a professor of classicals at the University of Notre Dame, suggests that Herodotus might have had some Carian ancestry. Baron shared his thoughts with All About History magazine via email that "Perhaps this mixed background was one of his inspirations about the world."
Herodotus later settled in Thurii, a Greek town in southern Italy. He died there in the 420s B.C.
The National Archaeological Museum of Naples, Italy holds a bust depicting Herodotus. Image credit: Leemage/Corbis via Getty Images
What is the reason Herodotus wrote "Histories"
According to the British Library, Herodotus wrote "Histories", in the second half the fifth century B.C. It is the first historical narrative to be published in the world. It describes many historical events including the Ionian Revolt (499 B.C. ), and the nomadic Scythian horsesmen from Eurasia.
Herodotus began the nine-book series by writing, "This is Herodotus' display of his inquiry, so that man's actions not be forgotten in the past and that great and remarkable deeds, some performed by the Hellenes and some by the barbarians not lose their glory" (Translation by A. D. Godley via perseus.tufts.edu ). He also wrote that he wanted explanations for why the Persians and Greeks went to war in 490 B.C. 479 B.C. But, "Histories", covers many other topics in addition to this story.
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Herodotus's term for his work was "historia," and it eventually came to refer to history as we know it today. Baron stated that Herodotus "investigates the causes of past events, and presents a narrative of them." Herodotus was more interested in political and military narratives than he was in the social and religious customs of other peoples. He provides detailed descriptions of the religious and social customs of other people ("ethnography") and man-made wonders (for example, the walls at Babylon and the pyramids of Egypt) as well as the natural world (the causes for the annual flooding on the Nile).
Relief of Immortals in the Apadana Palace (Iran). Herodotus tells the story of the famous Persian soldiers in "Histories." (Image credit: Vivienne Sharp/Heritage Images/Getty Images)
Herodotus is not a firsthand witness to the great events he describes. He traveled the world and spoke with local people, asking questions everywhere he went. He did this to obtain the accounts he would include into "Histories".
Can Herodotus really be trusted?
Both modern and ancient critics believe Herodotus' reporting was unreliable. According to Will Durant's book, "The Life of Greece", historian Will Durant (Simon & Schuster 2011, 2011), Strabo, an ancient geographer (63 B.C.-A.D.23), complained that Herodotus' reporting is "much nonsense". Additionally, Marcus Tullius Cicero, a Roman politician and orator (106 B.C.-43 B.C. Cicero said that Herodotus was the "father" of history and that there were many tall tales within his work.
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Baron stated that there are many things that Herodotus wrote that aren't true. There are also stories that are mythical or legendary today. Although Herodotus' method of recording history is different than modern historians, it doesn't necessarily mean that he's a liar. He was objective in his collection and made every effort to obtain them from diverse sources. "The idea that Herodotus intentionally told lies is based upon a misinterpretation of his goals and approach. Baron stated that he was keen to find the truth but also knew how difficult it could be.
Herodotus' place in history
Herodotus' writings are notable for their exploration of many stories that go beyond the main topic of "Histories". "Reading Herodotus requires patience," Baron said. Some readers feel that he takes too much time to get to the point. Most scholars would agree that these frequent digressions have a point. All that background information helps to explain what happened, and is also highly entertaining.
Herodotus' dramatic and compelling writings about the Persian and Greek wars are a large part of Herodotus’. The Battle of Marathon (490 B.C.), which saw the Athenian hoplites running, is one of the most famous stories from "Histories". The Spartans' last stand at the Battle of Thermopylae (480 B.C.) These events are first described in Herodotus’ records.
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Herodotus depicts Diomedes as the messenger who, according to Herodotus died after running to Athens in order to report the victory of the Greeks at Marathon in 490 B.C. (Image credit: Ullstein Bild/Ullstein Bild via Getty Images)
Herodotus is the "father of History" title. His material is not considered history today, but a lot of it would be. Baron stated that "history" was not a genre before Herodotus. "I believe that he is the first historian because he set himself the task of explaining past events and keeping them in mind.
Baron believes Herodotus is still relevant for the 21st Century. He said that Herodotus' open-mindedness could still be a model for historians today. This was due to his broad view of history and willingness to assess foreign cultures in his own way.
Additional resources
Tom Holland, an ancient historian expert, has translated Herodotus’ "The Histories" into English.
This Ted-Ed video by Mark Robinson explains why Herodotus has been called the "father" of history.
