[SunkenCiv]

The original version has been bouncing around a succession of hard drives around here for many years; the original is truncated, they had a system failure a few years after I'd d/led it. Anyway, this may come in handy for the entire Herodotus-reading world (must number in the dozens, maybe even hundreds). ;')

[uglybiker]

I’ll have to read this later when I’m not on my phone.

[Politicalkiddo]

I’m actually in the middle of reading this. Thanks for the resource. :)

[ForYourChildren]

Thanks for the interesting post!

[LadyDoc]

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=AKXpoUSq67Q

I brought my copy of Herodatus with me when I retired.

but someone posted a good audiobook reading on youtube.

[aquila48]

Bookmark

[Greetings_Puny_Humans]

I actually have read Herodotus, and even once wrote a paper demonstrating that Shakespeare’s Macbeth was likely inspired by the story of Croesus and the Delphi Oracle. The paper was nominated for an award offered by my university. But it so happens I had two other papers nominated at the same time, and I think they thought it would look weird if they gave the same person 1st and second place in the same category. Consequently, I only won 1st place in two categories that year.

[Dr. Sivana]

Anyway, this may come in handy for the entire Herodotus-reading world (must number in the dozens, maybe even hundreds). ;')

My whole class was assigned Herodotus in the early '80s. Prof Amy Kass is still teaching at U of Chicago, and I wouldn't be surprised if it still gets assigned. My first A paper was on part of that book, a story about some bloke whose brother was caught in a trap while stealing. Said bloke cut off brother's head to avoid identification. Eventually , similar tricks pile up and the King is so impressed with the fellow's cleveness that he gets to marry his daughter. A good read, though likely spotted with hyperbole by modern standards. Another take away, Egyptians were weird and effeminate.

[zeugma]

If you want high quality public domain books, the best source is Project Gutenberg.

[ForYourChildren]

In the summer of 480 BC, the Persian army, alleged by the ancient sources to have numbered over one million, but some estimate much less, marched towards Greece and met 300 Spartans at a pass in Thermopylae.

The leader of the barbarians, Xerxes, asking the leader of the Spartans to “Hand over your arms”. Leonidas’ famous response was for the Persians to “Come and take them.”

[Another great quote relates to when one of the soldiers complained that “Because of the arrows of the barbarians it is impossible to see the sun”, Spartan leader Leonidas replied: “Won’t it be nice, then, if we shall have shade in which to fight them?”]

The vastly outnumbered 300 Spartans held off the Persians for seven days.

On a biblical note, the book of Esther describes what happens during the time of Xerxes reign. Esther is the Jewish queen of the Persian king Ahasuerus. Ahasuerus is traditionally identified with Xerxes.

The battle of Thermopylae takes place between chapters 1 and 2 of the book. It would be included in the “after these things” (2:1).

In the third year of his reign (1:3), Ahasuerus had a “Pep Rally Party” to entice the various kings in his empire to join him on a military expedition to Greece (Esther 1:3-22). At this lavish banquet, each participant got their own gold vessels (1:7). Each vessel was individually hand crafted and different from any other. This banquet was designed to encourage these kings to “sign up for a Greek vacation” with their armies!

{the above has been plagiarized from numerous sources...}

[mrsmith]

The greatest book(s) of man by man ever written.

The proof- man is today exactly as Herodotus described him almost 2500 years ago save for the influence of our Savior.

The ‘offended a god’ explanations are as good a justification today for the media’s memes as they were then LOL!