Sunday, June 21, 2015

Book Review: The Histories by Herodotus



Cicero called Herodotus the “Father of History” and the author composed his histories around 440 BC, The Histories is The earliest surviving work of nonfiction and proceeds from the Trojan War through a monumental account of the war between the Persian empire and the Greek city states in the fifth century BC, recording the events shaping Western civilization.

The History of Herodotus is divided into nine books, or chapters, each with a name of one of the nine Muses:Cleio, Euterpe, Thaleia, Melpomene, Terpsichore, Erato, Polymnia, Ourania and Calliope. Their names were given at random without a link to the content of each book.
Scholars believe that it wasn't Herodotus who bestowed these names but rather a later copyist.

The book isn't always an easy read and jumps a but.  But it's a fascinating study and well worth the effort.

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