The Histories Herodotus Summary

Herodotus, the Greek historian is known for being the “father of history.” Well known for a unique style of writing, Herodotus uses analytical value in his writings, while saying different opinions. His trips from Athens, Egypt, Asian Minor and the region of Europe provide him information on the accounts of the people in Greece and Persia. In “The Histories” Herodotus describes the life, conflicts, and events of Greece, Asia, and Egypt. Herodotus spent a majority of his life writing this book. His propose of writing it was to describe the history of the Greeks and the Persian Wars. Along the way Herodotus tells unbelievable stories that will leave you speechless, but there are some that will leave you scratching your head begging the question …show more content…
Herodotus informs the readers about religion, the holy animals, and speculates the source of the Nile. Without a map in front of you it is hard to grasp the details, and this version of the book does great to include them in the first few pages. Interestingly, what was striking about the Egyptians was the reversal of mankind. For instance, the women would urinate standing up, while the men would sit down. Certainly this is something most modern people that study anything ancient would think is ridiculous, but who knows it maybe accurate or Herodotus might be exaggerating a story he was told like many other stories. Herodotus openly says he got his information from Egyptian priest and is skeptical over what they told him “of course, I don’t believe this stuff for a minute, but this is the story I was told in Egypt and what would you have me do? I have to tell you what I was told.” (Herodotus). He begins to give his version of the Trojan War different from the story told by Homer that he took from Egyptian priest. He tells us that the Egyptians believed that Paris and Helen were stuck in Egypt and not in Troy during the Trojan