Herodotus · 5th century BC

Histories

Name: Histories
Author: Herodotus

Ἱστορίαι

The Histories of Herodotus, written in the third quarter of the fifth century BC and later divided into nine books named after the Muses, tell how the Persian empire grew from Cyrus to Xerxes and how the Greeks resisted it at Marathon, Thermopylae, Salamis and Plataea. Herodotus begins with the mythical abductions of Io, Europa, Medea and Helen, and on the way he records the story of Croesus and Solon, Arion and the dolphin, Gyges and the wife of Candaules, the birth of Cyrus, the customs and gods of Egypt and Scythia, and the oracles of Delphi, which make the work one of the richest sources for Greek religion and legend. Macaulay's translation (1890) carries the traditional book and chapter numbers, and each chapter of the English is shown against the Greek chapter with the same number.

Read from the start

Text: Greek original with English translation, 339 passages, about 284100 words in English.
Translator: G. C. Macaulay (1890)
Edition: A. D. Godley (ed.), Herodotus, Loeb Classical Library, 4 vols, London: Heinemann; Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1920-1925 (Greek text as digitised by Perseus)
Cite as: Herodotus, Histories 1.1 (by book, chapter)

Contents · 339 passages

1.1–5The abductions of Io, Europa, Medea and Helen1054 words
1.6–14Gyges and Candaules' wife1689 words
1.15–22Alyattes, Miletus and Thrasybulus1043 words
1.23–25Arion and the dolphin632 words
1.26–28Croesus conquers the Greeks of Asia479 words
1.29–33Croesus and Solon1511 words
1.34–45Atys and Adrastus1946 words
1.46–49Croesus tests the oracles668 words
1.50–55Croesus' gifts to Delphi and the oracle of the mule1003 words
1.56–58The Pelasgians and the Hellenes523 words
1.59–64Pisistratus becomes tyrant of Athens1518 words
1.65–66Lycurgus and the Spartan laws567 words
1.67–68The bones of Orestes at Tegea718 words
1.69–72Croesus allies with Sparta; Sandanis' warning853 words
1.73–75The eclipse of Thales and the crossing of the Halys899 words
1.76–81The battle of Pteria and the camels at Sardis1300 words
1.82–83The battle of the three hundred at Thyrea630 words
1.84–85The fall of Sardis522 words
1.86–88Croesus on the pyre947 words
1.89–91Croesus' advice to Cyrus and his reproach to Apollo972 words
1.92–94Croesus' offerings, the tomb of Alyattes and Lydian customs976 words
1.95–101Deioces and the rise of the Medes1146 words
1.102–106Phraortes, Cyaxares and the Scythians in Asia800 words
1.107–113Astyages' dreams and the infant Cyrus1645 words
1.114–116Cyrus, king of the village boys712 words
1.117–119Astyages' banquet for Harpagus779 words
1.120–122Astyages sends Cyrus home759 words
1.123–130Cyrus revolts against Astyages1679 words
1.131–140The customs of the Persians1682 words
1.141–148The Ionians and the Panionion1418 words
1.149–153The Aeolian cities and the Spartan warning to Cyrus742 words
1.154–161Pactyas' revolt and the suppliant at Cyme1409 words
1.162–165Harpagus and the flight of the Phocaeans702 words
1.166–169The Phocaeans in Corsica and the battle of Alalia567 words
1.170–172Bias and Thales advise the Ionians; the Carians and Caunians727 words
1.173–176The Lycians and the conquest of Caria and Lycia846 words
1.177–183The city of Babylon1215 words
1.184–187Semiramis and Nitocris of Babylon1062 words
1.188–191Cyrus takes Babylon882 words
1.192–195Babylonian wealth, crops and leather boats1036 words
1.196–200The customs of the Babylonians1046 words
1.201–204The Massagetae and the river Araxes662 words
1.205–208Tomyris and Cyrus; the advice of Croesus935 words
1.209–214Cyrus' dream and his death at the hands of Tomyris1103 words
1.215–216The customs of the Massagetae371 words
2.1–3Psammetichus and the oldest language682 words
2.4–14Egypt as the gift of the Nile2119 words
2.15–19Where Egypt begins: the Ionians and the Nile mouths1115 words
2.20–27Why the Nile floods in summer1166 words
2.28–34The sources of the Nile and the Nasamonians1920 words
2.35–40Egyptian customs and the sacrifice of oxen1388 words
2.41–42Sacred cows and the ram of Zeus666 words
2.43–45Heracles, the ancient Egyptian god728 words
2.46–48Mendes, the pig and the festival of Dionysus653 words
2.49–53Melampus and the names of the gods938 words
2.54–57The Oracles of Dodona and Ammon: the two doves581 words
2.58–64Egyptian festivals: Bubastis, Sais and the fight at Papremis1057 words
2.65–67Sacred animals of Egypt: cats, dogs and their burial622 words
2.68–70The crocodile in Egypt633 words
2.71–76The river-horse, the phoenix and the winged serpents787 words
2.77–84Egyptian diet, songs, mourning custom and medicine952 words
2.85–90Mourning and embalming in Egypt900 words
2.91Perseus at Chemmis329 words
2.92–95The fen-dwellers: lotus bread, fish and gnat nets991 words
2.96–98Nile boats and Egypt under the flood486 words
2.99–101Min, queen Nitocris and king Moris621 words
2.102–106Sesostris conquers Asia and Europe; the Colchians876 words
2.107–110Sesostris, his brother's fire and the digging of the canals652 words
2.111Pheros, the king who threw a spear at the Nile357 words
2.112–115Helen in Egypt: Proteus and Alexander871 words
2.116–120Homer, the Trojan war and the truth about Helen1132 words
2.121Rhampsinitus and the treasure thief1564 words
2.122–123Rhampsinitus plays dice with Demeter in Hades389 words
2.124–128Cheops, Chephren and the building of the pyramids976 words
2.129–133Mycerinus, the golden cow and the oracle of doom869 words
2.134–135Rhodopis and the pyramid of Mycerinus581 words
2.136–140Asychis, Anysis and the Ethiopian Sabacos1083 words
2.141Sethos and the mice that defeated Sennacherib332 words
2.142–146Three hundred and forty-one generations and the age of the gods1017 words
2.147–150The twelve kings, the Labyrinth and Lake Moeris1176 words
2.151–154Psammetichus, the bronze helmet and the men of bronze851 words
2.155–157The oracle of Leto at Buto and the floating island573 words
2.158–160Necho, the canal to the Red Sea and the Eleians716 words
2.161–163Apries and the revolt of Amasis624 words
2.164–168The seven classes of Egypt and the warrior districts493 words
2.169–171The fall of Apries and the royal tombs at Sais514 words
2.172–174Amasis, the golden foot-basin and the bow716 words
2.175–177Amasis' monuments and the law on livelihood576 words
2.178–180Amasis, Naucratis and the Hellenion380 words
2.181–182Amasis, Ladike of Cyrene and his offerings in Hellas443 words
3.1–4Why Cambyses marched against Amasis962 words
3.5–9The road to Egypt and the pledges of the Arabians824 words
3.10–13Cambyses defeats the Egyptians and takes Memphis788 words
3.14–15Psammenitus and the beggar867 words
3.16–19Amasis' corpse and Cambyses' three planned expeditions814 words
3.20–24The Long-lived Ethiopians and the table of the Sun1118 words
3.25–26Cambyses' failed marches on Ethiopia and the Ammonians577 words
3.27–29Cambyses and the Apis bull461 words
3.30–33Cambyses kills his brother Smerdis and his sister898 words
3.34–36Cambyses, the son of Prexaspes and Croesus925 words
3.37–38Cambyses mocks the Egyptian temples; custom is king408 words
3.39–43Polycrates and the ring1063 words
3.44–46The Samian exiles appeal to Sparta469 words
3.47–49Why the Spartans and Corinthians attacked Samos491 words
3.50–53Periander and his son Lycophron1197 words
3.54–56The Spartan siege of Samos330 words
3.57–60The Samians at Siphnos and Cydonia, and the works of Samos762 words
3.61–64The false Smerdis seizes the throne986 words
3.65–67The death of Cambyses856 words
3.68–69Otanes discovers the false Smerdis657 words
3.70–73The seven conspirators resolve to strike980 words
3.74–79Prexaspes' confession and the killing of the Magians1281 words
3.80–82The Persian debate: democracy, oligarchy or monarchy1107 words
3.83–88Darius becomes king: the neighing horse1049 words
3.89–96Darius' twenty satrapies and the tribute of the empire1103 words
3.97–101Tribute-free gifts and the peoples of India819 words
3.102–105The gold-digging ants of India629 words
3.106–109The ends of the earth: India, Arabia and the winged serpents747 words
3.110–116Cassia, cinnamon and the edge of Europe837 words
3.117–119The river Akes and the fate of Intaphrenes902 words
3.120–122Why Oroetes plotted against Polycrates655 words
3.123–126The death of Polycrates658 words
3.127–128Darius and the death of Oroetes505 words
3.129–132Democedes of Croton heals Darius768 words
3.133–135Atossa urges Darius to attack Hellas754 words
3.136–138Democedes escapes at Croton667 words
3.139–141Syloson's cloak and Darius' promise615 words
3.142–143Maeandrius and the rule of Samos479 words
3.144–149The Persians take Samos901 words
3.150–154Babylon revolts and the mule of Zopyrus661 words
3.155–160Zopyrus and the capture of Babylon1385 words
4.1–4Darius and the Scythians' rebellious slaves668 words
4.5–7Targitaus and the golden gifts of the Scythians490 words
4.8–10Heracles and the snake-woman of Scythia686 words
4.11–12The Cimmerians and the Scythians' arrival474 words
4.13–16Aristeas of Proconnesus and his disappearances664 words
4.17–22The peoples of Scythia from the Borysthenes northward711 words
4.23–27The bald Argippaei and the Issedonians715 words
4.28–31The Scythian winter, mules and the feathers575 words
4.32–36The Hyperboreans and their offerings to Delos835 words
4.37–41The shape of Asia and Libya423 words
4.42–45Necho, Sataspes and Scylax: the voyages round Libya and Asia1139 words
4.46–50The Scythian way of war and the river Ister846 words
4.51–58The rivers of Scythia859 words
4.59–63The gods and sacrifices of the Scythians783 words
4.64–66Scalps and skull-cups: Scythian customs of war497 words
4.67–70Scythian diviners, the sick king and oaths637 words
4.71–75Scythian royal burial and the hemp vapour bath1022 words
4.76–77Anacharsis and the Scythians' dislike of foreign customs444 words
4.78–80Scyles, the Scythian king who loved Greek ways899 words
4.81–82The bronze bowl of Ariantas and the footprint of Heracles392 words
4.83–88Darius sets out and crosses the Bosphorus894 words
4.89–93Darius marches through Thrace to the Ister506 words
4.94–96Zalmoxis and the immortal Getae529 words
4.97–98Coes advises Darius to keep the Ister bridge489 words
4.99–101The size and shape of Scythia566 words
4.102–109The Tauri, Neuri, Budini and other neighbours of Scythia856 words
4.110–117The Amazons and the origin of the Sauromatae1139 words
4.118–119The Scythians ask their neighbours for help572 words
4.120–125The Scythians retreat before Darius1095 words
4.126–130Idanthyrsus answers Darius764 words
4.131–135The Scythian gifts and Darius' flight by night877 words
4.136–144Histiaeus and the broken bridge over the Ister1355 words
4.145–149The Minyans in Sparta and Theras' colony1033 words
4.150–153Battus, the Delphic oracle and the fisherman Corobius741 words
4.154–158Phronime, Battus and the founding of Cyrene1038 words
4.159–161Battus the Prosperous, Apries and Demonax631 words
4.162–167Arcesilaus, Pheretime and the Persian army from Egypt1093 words
4.168–176The Libyan tribes from Egypt to the Gindanes968 words
4.177–180The Lotus-eaters, Jason's tripod and the festival of Athena672 words
4.181–185The salt hills and oases of Libya919 words
4.186–190The customs of the nomad Libyans618 words
4.191–194The Maxyans and the wild animals of Libya501 words
4.195–199The island of Cyrauis, silent trade and the lands of Libya836 words
4.200–205The siege of Barca and Pheretime's revenge980 words
5.1–2Megabazus conquers Perinthus349 words
5.3–10The customs of the Thracians916 words
5.11–17Histiaeus at Myrcinus and the removal of the Paeonians1250 words
5.18–22Alexander of Macedonia and the Persian envoys1022 words
5.23–27Histiaeus is summoned to Susa and Otanes takes command832 words
5.28–34Aristagoras and the failed expedition to Naxos1436 words
5.35–38Aristagoras begins the Ionian revolt787 words
5.39–48Cleomenes, Dorieus and the Spartan colonists1517 words
5.49–51Aristagoras asks Sparta for help979 words
5.52–54The Royal Road from Sardis to Susa541 words
5.55–61Hipparchus, the Gephyraeans and the Phoenician letters733 words
5.62–65The Alcmaeonids at Delphi and the end of the Pisistratids885 words
5.66–69Cleisthenes and the ten Athenian tribes842 words
5.70–76Cleomenes and Isagoras in Athens1195 words
5.77–81Athens defeats Boeotia and Chalcis; Thebes calls on Aegina780 words
5.82–89Damia and Auxesia and the feud between Aegina and Athens1602 words
5.90–91Sparta plans to restore Hippias501 words
5.92–93Socles of Corinth, Cypselus and Periander1865 words
5.94–96Hippias, Sigeum and the war with the Mytilenians444 words
5.97–99Aristagoras persuades Athens to send ships659 words
5.100–102The burning of Sardis468 words
5.103–104Caria and Cyprus join the revolt333 words
5.105–107Darius, the Athenians and Histiaeus635 words
5.108–115Onesilus and the battle in Cyprus1194 words
5.116–123The Persians against the Carians and the coast cities828 words
5.124–126The death of Aristagoras318 words
6.1–5Histiaeus, Artaphrenes and the shoe628 words
6.6–10The Persians advance on Miletus685 words
6.11–17The Battle of Lade1196 words
6.18–21The fall of Miletus514 words
6.22–25The Samians at Zancle689 words
6.26–30The capture and death of Histiaeus740 words
6.31–33The Persians take the islands and the Hellespont441 words
6.34–41Miltiades and the Chersonese1350 words
6.42–45Mardonius and the storm at Mount Athos699 words
6.46–47Thasos and its gold mines272 words
6.48–51Earth and water: Cleomenes at Aegina461 words
6.52–55The origin of the two Spartan kings773 words
6.56–60The privileges of the Spartan kings951 words
6.61–66Ariston, Demaratus and the plot of Cleomenes1235 words
6.67–72Demaratus and his mother; flight to Darius1123 words
6.73–75The madness and death of Cleomenes600 words
6.76–84Cleomenes at Argos1355 words
6.85–86Leotychides, Aegina and the story of Glaucus967 words
6.87–93Nicodromus and the war between Athens and Aegina883 words
6.94–99Datis and Artaphrenes sail against Eretria and Athens888 words
6.100–102The fall of Eretria417 words
6.103–107Miltiades, Pheidippides and the dream of Hippias1031 words
6.108–110The Plataeans, and Miltiades persuades Callimachus921 words
6.111–117The Battle of Marathon931 words
6.118–120After Marathon: Datis, the Eretrians and the Spartans490 words
6.121–124The Alcmaeonids and the shield at Marathon526 words
6.125Alcmaeon and the gold of Croesus327 words
6.126–131Agariste's suitors and Hippocleides1170 words
6.132–136Miltiades at Paros893 words
6.137–140The Pelasgians and the conquest of Lemnos943 words
7.1–7Darius dies and Xerxes becomes king1294 words
7.8–9Xerxes proposes the invasion of Hellas1269 words
7.10–11Artabanus warns Xerxes against the invasion1519 words
7.12–19The dreams of Xerxes and Artabanus1831 words
7.20–25The canal through Mount Athos1029 words
7.26–32The march to Sardis and the wealth of Pythius954 words
7.33–36Xerxes bridges the Hellespont683 words
7.37–39The eclipse and the son of Pythius679 words
7.40–44The royal procession from Sardis to Abydos789 words
7.45–52Xerxes weeps and Artabanus warns him again1504 words
7.53–57Xerxes crosses the Hellespont748 words
7.58–60The army is numbered at Doriscos507 words
7.61–70The land-army of Xerxes: Persians to Ethiopians1055 words
7.71–83The land-army of Xerxes: Libyans to the Immortals1096 words
7.84–88The cavalry of Xerxes500 words
7.89–99The fleet of Xerxes and Artemisia1182 words
7.100–105Xerxes questions Demaratus about the Spartans1422 words
7.106–107Mascames of Doriscos and Boges of Eion339 words
7.108–117Xerxes marches through Thrace to Acanthos1127 words
7.118–120The cost of feeding the army of Xerxes517 words
7.121–127The fleet and army reach Therma; lions attack the camels877 words
7.128–130Xerxes at the Peneus and the origin of the Thessalian gorge744 words
7.131–137Earth and water, and Sperthias and Bulis1159 words
7.138–139The Athenians as saviours of Hellas487 words
7.140–144The Delphic oracles and the wooden wall1133 words
7.145–147The Hellenic alliance and the Persian spies631 words
7.148–152The Argives and the Persian war1168 words
7.153–156Gelon becomes ruler of Syracuse889 words
7.157–162Gelon and the Greek envoys1319 words
7.163–167Cadmus of Cos and Hamilcar at Himera846 words
7.168–171Corcyra and Crete hold back; Minos in Sicily1015 words
7.172–174The Greek force at Tempe564 words
7.175–177Thermopylae and Artemision: the Greek positions642 words
7.178–183The prayer to the Winds and the clash off Sciathus755 words
7.184–187The numbers of the army of Xerxes756 words
7.188–192The storm at Sepias and Boreas827 words
7.193–195Aphetai and the Persian ships captured at Artemision464 words
7.196–201Xerxes at Alos and the plain of Malis957 words
7.202–207The Greeks at Thermopylae under Leonidas830 words
7.208–212The Persian scout and the first attacks at Thermopylae1044 words
7.213–218Ephialtes betrays the path over the mountain840 words
7.219–222Leonidas dismisses the allies629 words
7.223–228The last stand at Thermopylae947 words
7.229–233Aristodemus the survivor and the Thebans670 words
7.234–238Demaratus advises Xerxes; the body of Leonidas1069 words
7.239Demaratus' secret warning to Sparta338 words
8.1–3The Greek fleet at Artemision and the command dispute388 words
8.4–5Themistocles and the Euboeans' bribe339 words
8.6–18The sea battles of Artemision1875 words
8.19–23Themistocles' message to the Ionians800 words
8.24–26Xerxes and the dead of Thermopylae505 words
8.27–33The Thessalians and the Phocians978 words
8.34–39The Persians at Delphi766 words
8.40–41The Athenians abandon Attica359 words
8.42–48The Greek fleet assembles at Salamis761 words
8.49–55The Persians take the Acropolis of Athens970 words
8.56–63Themistocles persuades Eurybiades to fight at Salamis1252 words
8.64–65The cry of Iacchus and the sons of Aeacus542 words
8.66–69Artemisia advises Xerxes against a sea-battle877 words
8.70–74The wall across the Isthmus and the peoples of Peloponnese724 words
8.75–83Sicinnus and Aristides before Salamis1398 words
8.84–86The Battle of Salamis begins432 words
8.87–88Artemisia at Salamis464 words
8.89–96The rout of the Persian fleet at Salamis1351 words
8.97–99Xerxes plans his flight and the Persian couriers447 words
8.100–103Mardonius and Artemisia advise Xerxes to retreat996 words
8.104–106Hermotimus and Panionius574 words
8.107–110The Hellenes pursue the Persians to Andros1004 words
8.111–112Themistocles demands money from the islands392 words
8.113–114Mardonius chooses his army; the Spartan demand for Leonidas385 words
8.115–120The retreat of Xerxes1014 words
8.121–125The spoils and Themistocles honoured at Sparta656 words
8.126–129Artabazus besieges Potidaea734 words
8.130–132The fleets at Samos and Delos672 words
8.133–135Mys consults the oracles for Mardonius497 words
8.136–139Perdiccas and the Macedonian kings849 words
8.140–144Alexander's offer to Athens and the Athenian reply1546 words
9.1–5Mardonius returns to Athens and the stoning of Lycidas619 words
9.6–8The Athenian envoys at Sparta671 words
9.9–11Chileus of Tegea and the Spartan march539 words
9.12–15Mardonius retires to Thebes610 words
9.16The banquet of Attaginus at Thebes399 words
9.17–18The Phocians and Mardonius' cavalry486 words
9.19–25Masistius and the cavalry at Plataea1100 words
9.26–27The Tegeans and Athenians dispute the wing950 words
9.28–32The armies at Plataea993 words
9.33–35Tisamenus the diviner and Melampus625 words
9.36–40Hegesistratus escapes from the Spartans762 words
9.41–43Mardonius and Artabazus disagree676 words
9.44–47Alexander's night warning at Plataea765 words
9.48–50Mardonius' challenge and the spring Gargaphia578 words
9.51–57The retreat to the Island and Amompharetus1268 words
9.58–64The Battle of Plataea1276 words
9.65–70The rout of the Persians and the storming of their camp1086 words
9.71–75The heroes of Plataea: Aristodemus, Callicrates and Sophanes862 words
9.76–77Pausanias and the woman of Cos422 words
9.78–79Pausanias refuses to mutilate Mardonius' body430 words
9.80–84The spoil of Plataea and Pausanias' two banquets812 words
9.85–88The burial of the dead and the siege of Thebes629 words
9.89Artabazus' flight to Asia281 words
9.90–92The Samian envoys appeal to the Hellenes at Delos448 words
9.93–95Evenius of Apollonia and the sacred sheep701 words
9.96–99The Persians at Mycale and the appeal to the Ionians828 words
9.100–105The Battle of Mycale994 words
9.106The Hellenes and the fate of Ionia after Mycale319 words
9.107–113Xerxes, Masistes and Amestris' revenge1500 words
9.114–121The siege of Sestos and the death of Artayctes1115 words
9.122Cyrus and the Persians' hard land267 words

English translation by G. C. Macaulay (1890). Original text: A. D. Godley (ed.), Herodotus, Loeb Classical Library, 4 vols, London: Heinemann; Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1920-1925 (Greek text as digitised by Perseus).

Greek text and translation from the Perseus Digital Library, Tufts University, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Perseus Digital Library, Greek text); translation public domain. Introductions, summaries and notes © GreekMythology.com.

Histories

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