The Progenitor of Written Antiquity

What if studying humanity was enjoyable and humorous? Often times history texts are difficult to read or so boring to read that it does not captivate the reader’s attention; not so with Herodotus’ Histories. This ancient storyteller has a special gift of being able to take the facts of what is known to have happened and mix it up with the myths, legends, and sagas of the past, most of which are truly plausible, if not proven to be true, to create a fascinating account of the archaic times, people, and places. Herodotus was the first man to compile bits and pieces of the world’s oral anecdotes and recorded them for all posterity to read. It is his writings that have set into motion the copying down of historical events, successfully informing the mankind.

Herodotus was born in 484BC and grew up in Halicarnassus (this town is in modern-day Turkey). His family was well-to-do and thus his education was highly thought of and promoted. In his childhood he was able to travel throughout the ancient Greek and Persian world that he lived in. During his peregrinations Herodotus studied the manners, customs, and religions of the various people groups that he journeyed amongst. He also picked up stories and yarns that the citizenry told and mentally added to his plethora of oral narrations. He was again abroad in his adult years when he was exiled for a number of years. It was during this time that he died at the age of about 60 (the exact year of his death is unknown).

Often dubbed “The Father of History,” Herodotus is the first of the ancient writers to record the history of humanity from the archaic past up through the current events his lifetime. The Histories is a compilation of the oral stories that Herodotus had learned from the people and traditions that surrounded him and committed to memory. Because he gathered all the information he wrote about directly from the people, saw the places, or experienced the situations, he is considered a primary source and his work is considered very accurate, but certainly not faultless. One of the main points of criticism, is that Herodotus so skillfully wove the facts in amongst the folklore tales, that it can be difficult to distinguished and truth sifted out.

Although it contains some questionable “facts,” Herodotus’ writing has withstood the test of time, one of the finest evaluations of illustrious literature. Renowned books remain on the uber-long list of classics because they are widely read, understandable, and well loved; Herodotus’ writing fulfills all three of these qualifications. Today, The Histories of Herodotus, is still one of the best and oldest books available for people to study the ancients. The wealth of information, and amusement, accessible at the turn of a page is remarkable. Reading once through a book as chalk-full of “dates and dead people” as this one, will enhance anyone’s cornucopia of quintessential knowledge.

Herodotus’ erudite knowledge of the ancient times is displayed in his researching of the details and specifics of the oral legends and fables that he learned. Creatively woven into the stories, the customs, ceremonies, and traditions of the ancient civilizations are known today because of the treasury of information found in Herodotus’ classic tome. The Histories have been read by people all over the world; read in different languages and by people of all ages and historic backgrounds. By writing down his knowledge of the cultures surrounding him, The Father of History profoundly influenced the generations extending from the mid 400’s BC until the present age.