HEROD'OTUS, the oldest Greek historian, and for this reason usually styled the "father of history," was b. at Halicarnassus, in Carla, 484 B.C. He appears to have early formed the resolution of writing a historical work on an extensive scale, and with this view determined to visit and observe with his own eyes the most remote countries and nations. Although the dates and extent of his travels are involved in obscurity, and sometimes even in contradictions in the ancient narratives, we gather from his own statements that in his early youth he visited the islands and coasts of Asia Ninor; that subsequently he devoted particular attention to Egypt, which was at that time little known; that he next visited Palestine and Phenicia; and finally penetrated as far east as Babylon and Susa. We are also informed that he sailed through the Hellespont into the Black sea, and visited all the countries situated on its shores. After his return. he appears to have resided for a time at Athens. He speaks of having seen the propylaa, i.e., the entrances to the Acropolis, which were not finished till the outbreak of the Peloponnesian war (431 B.c.). He also interested himself warmly in the politics of his native city, was instrumental in delivering it from the tyranny of Lygdamis, a vassal of Persia; but being what we should call " a moderate liberal," he had the misfortune to offend the extreme or popular party, and in consequence withdrew to Thurii, in Italy, whither many of his fellow-citizens had previously proceeded. Here, in all probability, he wrote his immortal work in the decline of his life. Lucian, an indifferent authoriiv on such a subject, states that about the year 456 B.C. he read the nine books before tire Greeks assembled at the Olympic games, but this is contradicted by the numerous allu sions in the history to incidents of later occurrence—for example, the revolt of the Medes against Darius Nothus (400-408 B. C.). The statement of Pliny that it was com posed in his old age at Thurii is the most probable, and it best agrees with the unfinished programme of the work, and its abrupt termination, as if the author were prevented by death from finishing it as he intended, According to Suidas, he died and was buried at Thurii about 408 B.C.
The purpose of Herodotus in jtis history is to describe the war between the Persians and the Greeks—the struggle for supremacy between Europe and Asia, between civiliza tion and barbarism, between freedom and despotism. Herodotus, wishing to indicate that the antipathy between the two was not the result of any accidental quarrel, but of a deep-rooted difference of character, traces it back to the mythical ages. This was the only way in which a man in his time could express what we mean when we speak of the differences of race. In the course of his history, he gives an account of the various countries which he had visited. Wherever he gives the results of his own observations and inquiries, he exhibits a wonderful accuracy and impartiality; and when he does not do this, he is generally careful to say so. He has been accused of credulity, and it is certain that he too readily accepted statements on the authority of others, but that he was personally a keen intelligent observer of what he saw is beyond all dispute. Herod otus wrote in the Ionic dialect, but Attic, Doric, and epic forms occur in his work. The style is marked by an easy grace and lively vigor, and everywhere there is the presence of a reverent spirit, giving a certain air of moral dignity to the entire composi• tion. The first edition (in Latin), by Laurentius Vilna, appeared at Venice in 1474; the first in the original Greek at Venice in 1502. The chief modern editions are those of Schweighauser (6 vols., Strasb. and Paris, 1806), Gaisford (4 vols., Oxford, 1824), Bithr (Leip. 1830-34), and Muller (Paris, 1844). The best school editions are those of Matthite (2 vols., Leip. 1825), Bekker (Berlin, 1833 and 1845), G. Long (Lend. 1830), and Negris (Ed in. 1834).. A variety of translations of the writings of Herodotus have likewise been published, as well as of historical and geographical treatises calculated to facilitate the study of the celebrated historian.