The Histories of Herodotus

by Herodotustranslated by Henry Cary “This is a publication of the researches of Herodotus of Halicarnassus, in order that the actions of men may not be effaced by time, nor the great and wondrous deeds displayed both by Greeks and barbarians deprived of renown; and among the rest for what cause they waged war upon each other.” So begins The Histories of Herodotus and what is considered the founding work of history in Western literature. The word history actually derives its modern meaning from Herodotus’ only work, and rightly so. Devoting his life to the recording of the Greco-Persian Wars, Herodotus took down “histories,” Greek for “inquiries,” and told the story of his travels through the Persian territories, recording myths and legends as he went. Funnily enough, Thucydides, the author of The History of the Grecian War and considered the father of “scientific history,” was born about twenty years after Herodotus. He scorned his predecessor for using myths, legends, and morality to