While they all knew it was coming, they didnt see it in the same way. Herodotus the great greek historian was born about 484 bce, at halicarnassus in caria, asia minor, when it was subject to the persians. This expedition against athens threatened all of greece. The name of it is gates of fire written by steven pressfield. Essays require a lot of effort for successful completion. Herodotus book 7 discussion questions reading odyssey. Histories book 7 the battle of thermopylae summary. Herodotus on thermopylae, with chris carey youtube. Strangely enough, its a book of historical fiction. Often the persians and their allies outnumber, sometimes vastly, the greeks, such as at thermopylae where 5 million persians herodotus, 7. Demophilos, according to herodotus, was the commander of a contingent of 700 thespians at the battle of thermopylae 480 bc.
Herodotus the histories, book 7, polymnia 8239 battle of thermopylae. To the rest of the peloponnesians then it seemed best that they should go to the peloponnese and hold the isthmus in guard. Herodotus s depiction of the battle of thermopylae 1278 words 6 pages. The greek army at thermopylae is very small compared to the over five million herodotus counts among the persians. Find a summary of this and each chapter of histories. The biblical writers borrowed from it to create characters. This place is called thermopylae by most of the hellenes, but by the natives and their. Prior to that were the illiad and the oddyse by homer during the 700s b. Some submitted to persia thinking they wouldnt get hurt.
Herodotus notes that while xerxes ostensibly meant to punish. Herodotus excerpts from book vii of the histories translated and edited by a. Quite a few comments have been posted about the history of herodotus. The rest 298 stayed made the famous last stand and xerxes took no prisoners. West of thermopylae rises a lofty and precipitous hill, impossible to climb, which runs up into the chain of oeta.
Herodotus is entertaining idea that people are in a place where they can do anything 1. Thoughts on book seven of the histories of herodotus. Herodotus was able to write this account of the grecopersian wars by traveling throughout greece and asia minor. This place is called thermopylae by most of the hellenes, but by the natives and their neighbors pylae.
The internet classics archive the history of herodotus. The main event of book seven, of course, is the battle of thermopylae, during which an elite force of 300 spartans, accompanied by thespians fighting voluntarily and thebans fighting involuntarily, hold off the mighty persian army at a narrow coastal pass just south of thessaly on the greek mainland. Here we get the most bodacious recount of the battle of thermopylae. Explore the site of a battle at thermopylae, described by herodotus, and the subject of two 21st century movies. By and large, the battle of thermopylae from herodotus the histories was an extremely notable and remarkable battle for the history of the west, as well as the world. King xerxes lay encamped in trachis in malis and the hellenes in the pass. Herodotus and the dating of the battle of thermopylae. At the beginning of the histories, herodotus sets out his reasons for writing it. However i will not reckon them as either fewer or more, but take them at an equal number. It was fought between the citizens of athens, aided by. Named polymnia after the greek muse of sacred poetry.
The emphasis on storytelling in the battles of herodotus. Herodotus returns to the conflict over samos and the affairs of polycrates, its ruler. It alcorcon spain windows 7 hyper growth hair mount elgon roses kenya africa 2638 pillsbury hum connection mashup maker freelance makeup artists tool and accessories 21 november bigg boss 7 episode 45 in and out orem utah hours the british crowns royal veto of colonial legislation tracker dryden flight research center salary requirements. Although herodotus account is all that has come down to us, the story would certainly have been a part of the oral tradition of the people of. The battle of thermopylae, and what part herodotus. The history of herodotus by herodotus written 440 b.
Then, hearing that the persian was in pieria, they broke up from the isthmus and set out with their army to thermopylae and their fleet to. Sample of apa paper how to cite from a book of essays. Sparta was a military citystate with two kings that claimed to be the descendent of the demigod hercules. Chapter summary for herodotuss histories, book 7 the battle of thermopylae summary. The spartans had killed some envoys from xerxes who were offering a.
Herodotus versus the legend a narratological comparison of herodotus and diodorus on thermopylae narrative and identity in thermopylae herodotus 7. Whats the best book youve read on the battle of thermopylae. Few history books since can compare for sheer drama with herodotuss narrative of the persian invasions of greece. This will give 5,283,220 as the whole number of men brought by xerxes, the son of darius, as far as sepias and thermopylae. Here we get the most bodacious recount of the battle of thermopylae and the noble 300 spartans who. He travelled widely in most of asia minor, egypt as far as assuan, north africa, syria, the country north of the black sea, and many parts. The books that tend to have been put online here, or those that have been linked, tend to be those entire books that are often assigned to students in college classes to be read along with the more usual excerpted texts. The extent of the greeks geographical knowledge of the world can be reconstructed from considering regions and places mentioned by contemporary authors. Kevin drum mentions the weird schizophrenic nature of 24 today while jack bauer is a conservative torture lovers wet dream who does what he has to to keep us safe, dammit, the political storylines centered in the white house almost always show rightwingers as insane. According to herodotus, one of the spartans had been sent to thessaly before the battle as a sort of an ambassadorspy. The ancient greek traveler and geographer pausanias.
The battle of thermopylae from herodotus the histories. Having stated this at the beginning of the twentysecond logos, herodotus feels compelled to express an opinion which he knows to be unpopular. Herodotus claims to have traveled extensively around the ancient world, conducting interviews and collecting stories for his book, almost all of which covers territories of the persian empire. Why does everyone know the greek defeat at thermopylae, but victories like salamis and plataea remain obscure. The modern reader of the text of herodotus will have no trouble recognising the spartans here called lacedaemonians, and might well know that there were not many of them, and that only 300 of them faced the persians at the battle of thermopylae in 480 bce.
Was the battle of thermopylae militarily significant or merely symbolic. Herodotus magnificent writing have vividly explained one of the most exceptional battles, in addition to showing the world the incredible greek society, and the ever so. Summary of and commentary on herodotus histories, book 7, 2015 your bibliography. Herodotus and the 300 at thermopylae 221 is on the march, which likewise lists a great number of peoples, but also includes some description of the peoples themselves, especially the armament they carry. Remember that herodotus was born c 484 bce, and the battle of thermopylae was fought in 480 bce, just a few years later. Herodotus counts by generations, for example the kings of the mermnads dynasty, ruling from c. Herodotus states that an eclipse occurred at salamis, in 480, when xerxes began his march 7. The battle for the west is one of those greatly accessible, pleasantly reading, and yet academically meaty history books. A highpoint in herodotus histories, the subject of this book is the inexorable march of the persian forces against greece, which culminates in the famous battle at thermopylae. Demophilus and his men fought at the battle and at the end they stood along with the 300 spartans at the last stand, all were killed. Here are presented the results of the enquiry carried out by herodotus of halicarnassus. The quarrel over succession by two of darius sons, artabazanes and xerxes 2. Nominally, xerxes expedition was directed against athens, but its real objective was the conquest of the whole of greece.
Gyges, ardys, sadyattes ii, alyattes and finally, his son croesus who we look at in some detail. This chapter outlines the epic backdrop to the battle of thermopylae, and includes a catalogue of epic echoes throughout herodotus book 7 as well as a detailed discussion of herodotus battle narrative. The battle at thermopylae first, a word about the badasses from sparta and athens. His goal no longer is the punishment of athens, but the subjugation of europe. After being persuaded to send an expedition against hellas, xerxes first marched against the rebels in the year after darius death. He would have been able to ask the survivors of the battle directly, or speak to others who had done so when he was too young. Herodotus excerpts from book vii of the histories translated and. Ramsey parra llrn 151 01 300 scholars, artists, authors, and filmmakers in recent years have been interested in herodotus s depiction of the battle of thermopylae, creating several different versions and interpretations of the story across multiple forms of media. The battle of marathon took place in 490 bc, during the first persian invasion of greece. The width of the pass at thermopylae, according to herodotus pray to the winds. Thermopylae was a very narrow pass that would prevent the persians from using their cavalry in battle. At the end of his book, 50 books on world war ii recommended by john keegan.
This likely nonexistent oracle was carefully placed in the narrative by herodotus anachronistically in order to place greater value on the notion of leonidas choosing to stay for distinction for the spartans alone herodotus 7. We have therefore to add to the sum already reached an exactly equal amount. The decision is taken to guard the pass of thermopylae instead 175. This place is called thermopylae by most of the hellenes, but by the natives and. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Jan 10, 2018 the battle of marathon athens vs persia wiki.
Herodotus book also contains ethnographic descriptions of the peoples. Understand how the geography of the area has changed, and consider how the retelling of stories leads to the writing of history. Summary of and commentary on herodotus histories, book 7. Histories book 7 the battle of thermopylae summary course hero. Decision games publishes board and computer games on military history and through strategy tactics press publishes magazines, games, books, and other media on. He well uses both modern and ancient sources to tell the story not just of the battle of thermopylae, but also of the whole war in which it took place. We begin by thinking about herodotus as a historian, the aims in his histories, and the extent to which the histories represents both a continuation of and a break from the traditions of greek historiography and mythography. In this course, dr emma aston university of reading explores book 7 of herodotus histories. I know this book is fiction, but it is on the usmc commandants reading list, is taught to the corps of cadets at west point, annapo. There was also the battle of thermopylae which is the basis of the extremely historically accurate 2006 movie 300. However it is reported also that leonidas himself sent them away, having a care that they might not perish, but thinking that it was not seemly for himself and for the spartans who were present to leave the post to which they had come at first to keep guard there. Cavaignac believes it is actually the eclipse of 2 october and xerxes was starting out, not from sardis, but from therma.
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