The battle ends with the retreat of those Persian ships not yet destroyed; another prophecy is fulfilled (96). Aristides (the Athenian politician) arrives at Salamis and tells Themistocles that the Greek fleet is hemmed in (79). This chapter examines Herodotus' reshaping of Proteus to fit his historiographical narrative. The popular story that he swam 10 miles under water is doubted by Hdt. At night, the Persian navy is beset by violent storms. Dispensator Humanitatum 1,101 views 11:26 Ancient Rome in … I wish historians nowadays would be as honest as Herodotus was in his time. Casualties occur on both sides; but the Greeks' ability to swim saves many of them (89). Themistocles visits Sparta and is greatly honored there (124). How Artemisia escaped death by ramming a ship of her own side (87). Xerxes swallows the bait. Alexander addresses the Athenians, urging them to accept an honorable settlement with Xerxes or face destruction (140). In the ensuing battle, the Greeks capture 30 Persian ships before sailing away. Have study documents to share about Histories? Catalogue of Greek naval forces at Salamis (43-48). The angry refusal of the Phocians is motivated by hatred of Thessaly, not by Panhellenic feeling (30). Eurybiades the Spartan is in command of the fleet; why the allies were unwilling to have an Athenian in command, and why they later changed their minds (2-3). On the beach at Euboea, Themistocles plans to split the Ionian Greeks and Carians from the Persian coalition (19). Arguably, it also rests in Themistocles (c. 524–460 BCE), who is just the cunning leader the Greeks need. Themistocles argues for the strategic advantages of fighting in the narrow waters near Salamis (60). However, the rivalry between the Greek cities continues even when they are united against a common enemy. July 2013) This link contains a free pdf copy of Herodotus Book I: Greek Text with Facing Vocabulary and Commentary, 2nd ed. Various oracular seats visited by Mys; why the Thessalians are not allowed to consult the oracle of Amphiaraus (134). When a messenger arrives to inform the Greeks of the defeat at Thermopylae, the Greek navy retreats from Artemisium. The Greeks at Salamis learn that Xerxes is in Athens; Thespia and Plataea are destroyed. Accessed December 23, 2020. https://www.coursehero.com/lit/Histories/. The council at Salamis votes to retreat to the isthmus (56). The Persian army retreats north to Thessaly; Mardonius selects his troops (113). In The Histories, he describes the expansion of the Achaemenid Empire under its kings Cyrus the Great, Cambyses, and Darius I the Great, culminating in Xerxes ' expedition to Greece (480 BCE), which met with disaster in the naval engagement at Salamis and the battles at Plataea and Mycale. Herodotus' Histories is the first major surviving prose work from antiquity. - An Athenian story, that the Corinthians tried to sail away from the battle and had to be turned back by divine intervention, is firmly rejected by Hdt. The Spartans must have command of the fleet even though Eurybiades seems an inferior commander to Themistocles. Two Persian captains who distinguished themselves (85). Book 1 - CLIO Book 2 - EUTERPE Book 3 - THALIA Book 4 - MELPOMENE Book 5 - TERPSICHORE Book 6 - ERATO Book 7 - POLYMNIA Book 8 - URANIA Book 9 - CALLIOPE Brief history of Persia - tiny index to Herodotus Hdt knows a story that Xerxes sailed all the way home in a ship, and made his retinue jump overboard to lighten the vessel in a storm (118). Some Athenian exiles in Xerxes' camp sacrifice on the Acropolis; the miraculous growth of an olive tree at the Erectheum (54-55). Heroism of the Chians in a losing cause; they brought 100 ships with 40 epibatai on each (15). The English Patient quizzes about important details and events in every section of the book. Book 8 - URANIA [8.1] THE Greeks engaged in the sea-service were the following. Course Hero, Inc. The Persian fleet retreats (107). Olynthus falls (127). To read The History (Herodotus' only book) is to seek one's roots as a member of Western democratic civilization. Herodotus describes the fighting in the Persian camp at great length, pointing out that the Spartans are unable to take it until the Athenians have arrived. The Persian Campaigns Against the Scythians. The Athenians reject Mardonius' offer, citing their faith in their bravery and in the gods (143). Dionysius escapes to Sicily with three captured ships and becomes a pirate (17). In Course Hero. Further evidence in support of Hdt. The Greek fleet retreats southwards (18). The Thessalians demand surrender, and threaten to have the Persians overrun tiny Phocis, the site of the oracle at Delphi (29). Herodotus wrote and compiled a history of the wars of the Grecians and Persians of the fifth century b.c.e. How the gods attacked the Persian troops, and (with the help of the Delphians) drove them off (37-39). Xerxes consults Artemisia about Mardonius' offer (101). Themistocles allegedly has an ulterior motive, namely the future good will of Xerxes, should he need it. Thermopylae has fallen, and the plan must change. 43 - Peloponnesians; 44 - Athenians (and how the Plataeans got left behind); 45 - Megarians, etc. The oligarch (supporter of rule by a few, especially the aristocracy but could also be the best educated) points out the inherent danger of democracy -- mob rule. A hasty decision to evacuate Attica is carried out (41; but epigraphical evidence (the "Decree of Themistocles") may be proof that the decision had in fact been made much earlier). A deserter jumps off a Persian ship and informs the Greeks of the Persian plans and situation. Artemisia advises that he leave Mardonius in command, since then Xerxes will have nothing to lose even if Mardonius fails; Xerxes agrees (102-3). Mardonius sends his agent Mys ("Mouse") to consult the oracles (133). Herodotus has been called the “father of history.”An engaging narrator with a deep interest in the customs of the people he described, he remains the leading source of original historical information not only for Greece between 550 and 479 BCE but also for much of western Asia and Egypt at that time. His Histories primarily deals with the lives of Croesus, Cyrus, Cambyses, Smerdis, Darius, and Xerxes and the battles of Marathon, Thermopylae, Artemisium, Salamis, Plataea, and Mycale ; however, his many cultural, ethnographical, geographical, historiographical, and other digressions form a defining and essential part of the Histories and contain a wealth of information. The popular story that he swam 10 miles under water is doubted by Hdt. The History of Herodotus By Herodotus Written 440 B.C.E Translated by George Rawlinson Table of Contents Book IV Melpomene After the taking of Babylon, an expedition was led by Darius into Scythia. Original article by Herodotus. The Persian fleet advances; Persians occupy the northern tip of Euboea (23). The march of Xerxes back to the Hellespont, and the many deaths in the army from plague and hunger (115). The story of the the Thracian king who blinded his sons for serving with Xerxes (116). The fleet commanders are urged by the Ionians to sail against the Persians at Samos; but mutual fear keeps both fleets on opposite sides of the Aegean (132). Disposition of ships (from Greek perspective): Athenians on the right against Phoenicians, Spartans on the left against Ionians. (17 mb, .pdf -- rev. An earthquake, and prayers (64). Themistocles argues for sailing to the Hellespont and breaking the bridges; Eurybiades argues against this, because Xerxes would be more dangerous if trapped in Europe (108). One oracle was delivered to Mardonius in Carian (135). Download a PDF to print or study offline. Herodotus records the size and composition of the Greek fleet—271 ships in total. An embassy is sent by the Thessalians to the Phocians; how the Phocians had hurt the Thessalians in their border war before the Persian invasion (27-28).   Terms. Herodotus credits Themistocles with many of the triumphs that follow. Copyright © 2020. Herodotus'Histories, book 8. summary and comments by JonaLendering. A story about the boyhood of Alexander's ancestor, Perdiccas (137-38). This is why they avoid direct confrontation and instead try to launch hit-and-run attacks, or lure the Persians into narrow passages of water. In accordance with their plan, the Greeks sail to Artemisium, where they see the Persian fleet. A defense of the veracity of oracles (77). The Persians sack the temples of many cities, but the gods so favor Delphi that they send a landslide and thunderstorm to shoo the Persian armies away. Mardonius, to protect himself, urges Xerxes to keep fighting in Greece, or to go home and leave him, Mardonius, in command of 300,000 troops (100). The naval battle off Artemisium (8.1-39) Book Seven of Herodotus' Histories ended with a Greek defeat, but in Book Eight we will hear about Greek successes. Greek strategy: a tight circle of ships explodes outwards. "Histories Study Guide." Dispensator Humanitatum 2,662 views 15:27 Herodotus Book 8 - Duration: 11:26. In the next couple of days, more clashes ensue, with the final engagement the most even. (8) Next day, when the detachment fails to appear, the Greeks decide to attack the main fleet (9). Book Seven of Herodotus ' Histories ended with a Greek defeat, but in Book Eight we will hear about Greek successes. His account is confirmed by the crew of a ship from the island of Tenos; for this the Tenians were later inscribed on the Delphic victory tripod (82). The Persians find a few Athenians barricaded on the Acropolis, which these Athenians think is the oracle's "wooden wall" (51). Her luck in getting away with this, as Xerxes was watching from shore (88). Twenty-third logos: the naval battle off Artemisium (8.1-39) Book Seven endedwith a Greek defeat, but in Book Eight we will hear about Greek successes. In response to the Spartan envoys, the Athenians remind them of the sacrifices Athens has made for Greece, and urge the Spartans to prepare to fight a major land battle in Boeotia. This battle forms the centre-piece of book VIII of Herodotus ' reshaping of to... Demand by the Ionian Greeks to defect ( 22 ) 60 ) to prevent this (. Believed ( 81 ) Olynthus ( 126 ) ( 87 ) major surviving prose work from antiquity protect... 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