The Essential Herodotus

WILLIAM A. JOHNSON, Professor of Classical Studies at Duke University, works broadly in the cultural history of Greece and Rome. He has lectured and published on Herodotus, Hesiod, Plato, Cicero, Pliny (both Elder and Younger), Gellius, Lucian and on a variety of topics relating to books and readers, both ancient and modern. Recent work has focused on establishing deep contextualization for specific ancient reading communities, with particular attention to the relationship between literary texts and social structure. His books include Readers and Reading Culture in the High Empire, a Study of Elite Reading Communities (Oxford, 2010); Ancient Literacies (with Holt Parker; Oxford, 2009), Bookrolls and Scribes in Oxyrhynchus (Toronto, 2004).

• Preface: About the Translator: Introduction: Maps: Central Persons in Herodotus: The Great Kings of Persia (The Achaemenids): Time Line: THE RESEARCHES OF HERODOTUS OF HALICARNASSUS BOOK 1 Prologue Proem: The Opening Sentence The Snatchings of Women Croesus and Tales of Lydia Croesus Gyges and the Wife of Candaules Early Kings of Lydia: Ardys, Sadyattes, Alyattes, & the War against Miletus Periander at Corinth: Arion and the Dolphin Croesus and Solon Atys and Adrastus Croesus Tests the Oracles Croesus Seeks an Ally Background: Athens Background: Sparta Croesus Attacks Cyrus Cyrus Counterattacks: The Siege of Sardis Croesus on the Pyre Cyrus and Croesus The Marvels and Customs of Lydia Tales of Cyrus and the Rise of the Persians Cyrus the Great Background: Deioces, and the Rise of the Medes The Birth and Upbringing of Cyrus The Punishment of Harpagus How Cyrus Became King Cyrus's Last Campaign The Land of the Massagetae Cyrus Attacks the Massagetae The Marvels and Customs of the Massagetae BOOK 2 Cambyses and Tales of Egypt Cambyses Psammetichus and the Antiquity of Egypt Physical Geography of Egypt The Nile River The Marvels and Customs of Egypt The Kings of Egypt BOOK 3 Cambyses Invades Egypt The Causes for the Invasion Preparations for the Invasion The Attack on Egypt Cambyses and the Apis Bull The Madness of Cambyses Crisis and Constitutional Debate A False Smerdis Declares Himself King and Cambyses Dies The Seven Overthrow the Magi: The Constitutional Debate BOOK 4 Darius Invades Scythia Why Darius Attacked Scythia Origins of the Scythians The Marvels and Customs of Scythia Darius Prepares to Invade Darius Crosses the Ister Physical Geography of Scythia and Its Neighbors Excursus: Sauromatae and the Amazons The Neighboring States Take Counsel The Scythians Lead and the Persians Follow Darius Challenges the Scythians to Fight Darius Retreats and the Scythians Give Chase The Ionians at the Bridge and Darius's Arrival BOOKS 5 AND 6 The Ionian Revolt Aristagoras Visits Sparta Athens and the Burning of Sardis Histiaeus Hoodwinks Darius The Persians Move to Reestablish Control Even as the Revolt Spreads Histiaeus Joins the Revolt Sea Battle at Lade and the Fall of Miletus The Fate of Histiaeus The Final Subjugation of Ionia BOOK 6 The First Invasion of Greece: Mardonius and Marathon The Invasion of Europe: Mardonius's Misadventure Subjugation of the Cyclades Subjugation of Eretria The Battle of Marathon BOOK 7 Xerxes Invades Greece Darius Decides upon a Full-Scale Invasion Council of the Persians Xerxes and the Dream Xerxes Prepares to Invade Bridging the Hellespont Xerxes Marches into Europe Xerxes Counts and Reviews the Host Xerxes and Demaratus Artemisium and Thermopylae Council at the Isthmus Artemisium Thermopylae The Greek forces: Xerxes and Demaratus: BOOK 8 Salamis The Greeks Evacuate Athens The Greek Fleet The Persians Occupy Attica and Burn Athens The Greeks Deliberate. Themistocles Tries to Persuade Eurybiades Signs from the Gods The Persians Deliberate. Artemisia Tries to Persuade Xerxes The Greek Resolve Wavers. Themistocles' Message to Xerxes The Battle of Salamis Xerxes Decides to Return to Susa BOOK 9 Coda Bibliography: Note on the Selections: Note on the Text: Acknowledgments: Photo Credits: Pronouncing Glossary/Index:

This well-judged selection and charming translation splendidly brings out the variety and delights of Herodotus' text. It embraces not only the famous battle accounts (Marathon, Salamis) but also the less familiar, equally captivating ethnographic narratives, from the marvels of Lydia to the romantic liaisons of Amazons and Sauromatae and the Scythians' cannabis use. Helpful subtitles and introductions to each section will prove invaluable to the general reader who is encountering Herodotus for the first time." - Emily Baragwanath, University of North Carolina