Herodotus

Herodotus - the Father of History, Career and Family

Violet FieldHome › GreekHerodotus483 BC1,099 views

0 based on 0 rates
Herodotus Biography Stories 

Herodotus's Personal Details

Herodotus was a Greek historian widely referred to as 'The Father of History'

InformationDetail
Birthday483 BC
NationalityGreek
FamousIntellectuals & Academics, Historians, the Father of History
SiblingsTheodorus
Known asHalikarnassoslu Herodotus, Halikarnassoslu Herodot
Birth PlaceHalicarnassus
GenderMale
FatherLyxes
MotherDryo
Born inHalicarnassus
Famous asThe Father of History
Died at Age58

Herodotus's photo

Who is Herodotus?

Herodotus was a Greek historian widely referred to as 'The Father of History'. He lived in the fifth century BC and was a contemporary of Socrates. A major figure in Greek history, he was the first historian known to have broken from Homeric tradition to treat historical subjects as a method of investigation. He collected his materials systematically and critically, and then proceeded to arrange them into a historiographic narrative. Even though he is known to have produced only one work, ‘The Histories’, a record of his "inquiry" on the origins of the Greco-Persian Wars, this single work is regarded as the first great narrative history produced in the ancient world. He was believed to be a wide traveler, wandering over a large part of the Persian Empire, covering Egypt and Elephantine, and also visited numerous other places like Libya, Syria, Babylonia, Susa in Elam, Lydia, and Phrygia. He spent several years of his life exploring far away kingdoms and empires, and gained extensive experience and knowledge. One of the Herodotus’ remarkable features was that he narrated history in a storyteller’s manner, often inserting amusing anecdotes and interesting dialogues. Even though some of his accounts are believed to be inaccurate, he remains the leading source of original information of Greek history for the period between 550 and 479 BC.

// Famous Historians

Niccolò Machiavelli

Niccolò Machiavelli

Niccolo Machiavelli was an Italian politician, historian and philosopher who is widely known as a founder of modern political science.

David McCullough

David McCullough

David McCullough, known as the ‘master of the art of narrative history’, is an American author, narrator, historian and lecturer. Check out this biography to get detailed information on his life.

Noam Chomsky

Noam Chomsky

Chomsky is an American linguist, political theorist, and activist, often referred to as "the father of modern linguistics”. Check out this biography to know about his childhood, family life, achievements and other facts related to his life.

Childhood & Early Life

Not much is known about Herodotus' life. Scholars often turn to his own writing for information about his life. He is believed to have been born at Halicarnassus around 484 BC.

According to some sources, he was the son of Lyxes and Dryo, and the brother of Theodorus, and was also related to Panyassis, an epic poet of the time. His family was an influential one.

His writings reveal love for the island of Samos which is taken as an indication that he might have lived there in his youth. There is a chance that his family was involved in an uprising against Lygdamis, leading to a period of exile on Samos. The family, influential as it was, might have even had a personal hand in the tyrant's eventual fall.

Later Years

Herodotus probably began travelling as a young man. He went to Egypt sometime after 454 BC or possibly earlier. According to his eye-witness accounts, he might have been associated with Athenians.

He is believed to have travelled next to Tyre and then down the Euphrates to Babylon. During this time he became involved in local politics which made him unpopular in Halicarnassus. So he migrated to Periclean Athens, a city known for its democratic institutions, in 447 BC. There he became acquainted with leading citizens such as the Alcmaeonids clan.

He soon became a respected citizen in the region and was granted a financial reward by the Athenian assembly in recognition of his work. He migrated to Thurium as part of an Athenian-sponsored colony in 443 BC, or shortly afterwards.

He visited many places over his lifetime. In addition to Egypt, he also visited Libya, Syria, Babylonia, Susa in Elam, Lydia, and Phrygia. He also travelled up the Hellespont (now Dardanelles) to Byzantium and went to Thrace and Macedonia. In addition he journeyed along the northern shores of the Black Sea as far as the Don River and some way inland.

He was a prolific writer, best known for ‘The Histories’, his narrative on the Greco-Persian Wars. The work is believed to have taken several years of his later life though it is not known when, where, or in what order it was written. It is probable that he began working on it much earlier in life though it was completed only during his last years.

His seminal work covers the wars between Greece and Persia (499–479 BC) and their preliminaries. ‘The Histories’ is divided into nine books, each describing a different aspect of the wars. The work also contains considerable material on the description of geography, social structure, and history of the Persian Empire.

Even though he is acclaimed as an important Greek historian, the accuracy of his works has been controversial since his own era. Several prominent personalities like Cicero, Aristotle, Josephus, Duris of Samos and Plutarch have commented on this controversy. However, modern historians and philosophers generally take a more positive view.

Major Works

Herodotus’ ‘The Histories’ is now considered the founding work of history in Western literature. The seminal work is a record of the ancient traditions, politics, geography, and clashes of various cultures that were known in Western Asia, Northern Africa and Greece at that time. The work is also credited to have established the genre and study of history in the Western world.

Personal Life & Legacy

A wide traveler, he was blessed with an eye for detail. He had a keen interest in learning about the customs and rituals of the regions he visited, and the history of his fellow citizens. He was also a great story teller who wrote his treatises in a narrative, easy to read style. He is believed to have died around 425 BC in Thurii, Calabria or Pella, Macedon.

// Famous Intellectuals & Academics

Bertil Gotthard Ohlin

Bertil Gotthard Ohlin

Bertil Gotthard Ohlin was a famous Swedish economist. This biography profiles his childhood, family life & achievements.

Emily Greene Balch

Emily Greene Balch

Emily Greene Balch was an American economist, sociologist and pacifist who won the 1946 Nobel Peace Prize. This biography of Emily Greene Balch provides detailed information about her childhood, life, achievements, works & timeline.

Martin Buber

Martin Buber

One of the greatest philosophers to have ever walked on earth, Martin Buber contributions to philosophy is a long-standing one. Explore all about his profile, childhood, life and timeline here.

Herodotus biography timelines

  • // 484 BC
    Not much is known about Herodotus' life. Scholars often turn to his own writing for information about his life. He is believed to have been born at Halicarnassus around 484 BC.
  • // 454 BC
    Herodotus probably began travelling as a young man. He went to Egypt sometime after 454 BC or possibly earlier. According to his eye-witness accounts, he might have been associated with Athenians.
  • // 443 BC
    He soon became a respected citizen in the region and was granted a financial reward by the Athenian assembly in recognition of his work. He migrated to Thurium as part of an Athenian-sponsored colony in 443 BC, or shortly afterwards.
  • // 425 BC
    A wide traveler, he was blessed with an eye for detail. He had a keen interest in learning about the customs and rituals of the regions he visited, and the history of his fellow citizens. He was also a great story teller who wrote his treatises in a narrative, easy to read style. He is believed to have died around 425 BC in Thurii, Calabria or Pella, Macedon.

// Famous Greek peoples

Solon

Solon

Solon was an Athenian lawmaker, poet and politician. He is considered as one of the ‘Seven Wise Men’ in Greek culture. This biography provides detailed information about his childhood, life, career, works, achievements and timeline.

Pericles

Pericles

Pericles was an important Greek statesman, orator, patron of the arts, politician, and general of Athens who lived from 495–429 B.C. Check out this biography to know about his childhood, life, achievements, works & timeline.

Aeschylus

Aeschylus

Aeschylus was an eminent Greek tragedian. Go through this biography to know in details about his childhood, life, profile, and timeline.

Pythagoras

Pythagoras

Pythagoras of Samos was a Greek mathematician and philosopher. Read on to learn more about Pythagoras’s profile, childhood, life and timeline.

Hipparchus

Hipparchus

Hipparchus was a Greek astronomer and mathematician. This biography profiles his childhood, life, achievements and timeline.

Socrates

Socrates

Socrates was one of the most influential Greek philosophers of the ancient era. Check out this biography to know about his childhood, family life, achievements and fun facts about him.

Herodotus's FAQ

  • When was Herodotus died?

    Herodotus was died at 2020-04-14

  • Where was Herodotus died?

    Herodotus was died in Thurii

  • Which age was Herodotus died?

    Herodotus was died at age 58

  • Where is Herodotus's birth place?

    Herodotus was born in Halicarnassus

  • What is Herodotus nationalities?

    Herodotus's nationalities is Greek

  • Who is Herodotus siblings?

    Herodotus's siblings is Theodorus

  • Who is Herodotus's father?

    Herodotus's father is Lyxes

  • Who is Herodotus's mother?

    Herodotus's mother is Dryo

  • How famous is Herodotus?

    Herodotus is famouse as The Father of History