Transcriber's Note.
Apparent typographical errors have been corrected. The inconsistent use
of hyphens has been retained, as has the use of both "king" and "King".
Small capitals have been replaced by full capitals, while italics are
indicated by _underscores_. A phrase in black letter font is indicated
by +plus signs+.
An advertisement for another work by the same author has been shifted to
the back of the book.
The illustration titled "ALPHABET" does not identify which alphabet it
is, but it appears to illustrate Egyptian hieroglyphics.
The "Synchronistical Table of the Principal Events in Herodotus" towards
the end of the book extends over two pages in small font: one on the
Greeks and one on the "Barbarians". The text on the Persian Empire is
spread over several columns on the second page. In this version the
table on each page has been split into two, and the text on the Persian
Empire placed at the end.
[Illustration: THE PYRAMIDS AND SPHINX.]
THE
BOYS' AND GIRLS'
HERODOTUS
BEING
PARTS OF THE HISTORY OF HERODOTUS
EDITED FOR BOYS AND GIRLS, WITH AN INTRODUCTION
BY
JOHN S. WHITE, LL.D.
HEAD-MASTER, BERKELEY SCHOOL; EDITOR OF THE BOYS' AND GIRLS' PLUTARCH
_WITH FIFTY ILLUSTRATIONS_
NEW YORK & LONDON
G. P. PUTNAM'S SONS
+The Knickerbocker Press+
1884
COPYRIGHT BY
G. P. PUTNAM'S SONS
1884
INTRODUCTION.
Imagine yourself in the city of Athens near the close of the year 446
B.C. The proud city, after many years of supremacy over the whole of
Central Greece, has passed her zenith, and is surely on the decline. She
has never recovered from the blow received at Coronea. The year has been
one of gloom and foreboding. The coming spring will bring the end of the
five years' truce; and an invasion from the Peloponnesus is imminent.
But, as the centre of learning, refinement, and the arts, the lustre of
her fame is yet undimmed, and men of education throughout the world deem
their lives incomplete until they have sought and reached this
intellectual Mecca. During this year a stranger from Halicarnassus, in
Asia Minor, after many years of travel in Asia, Scythia, Libya, Egypt,
and Magna Græcia, has taken up his abode at Athens. He is still a young
man, hardly thirty-seven, yet his fame is that of the first and greatest
of historians. Dramatists and poets immortal there have been, but never
man has written such exquisite prose. Twenty centuries and more shall
wear away, and his history will be read in a hundred different tongues,
as well as in the beautiful and simple Greek that he wrote. His name
will grow into a household word; the school-boy will revel in his
delightful tales, and wise men will call him the Father of History! For
weeks the people of Athens have listened entranced to the public reading
of his great work, and now the Assembly has passed a decree tendering to
him the city's thanks, together with a most substantial gift in
recognition of his talents—a purse of money equal to twelve thousand
American dollars.
Such is the account which Eusebius gives, and others to whom we may
fairly accord belief; and it adds no slight tinge of romance to the
picture to discover among the listening throng the figure of the boy
Thucydides, moved to tears by the recital, who then and there received
the impulse that made of him also a great student and writer of history.
Herodotus, noticing how intensely his reading had affected the youth,
turned to Olorus, the father of Thucydides, who was standing near, and
said: "Olorus, thy son's soul yearns after knowledge."
Herodotus was born at Halicarnassus, 484 B.C., and died at Thurium in
Italy, about the year 425. As in the case of Plutarch, our knowledge of
his personal history is very meagre, aside from the little we glean from
his own writings. His parents, Lyxes and Rhœo, appear to have been of
high rank and consideration in Halicarnassus, and possessed of ample
means; and his acquaintance both at home and in Athens was of the best.
A lover of poetry and a poet by nature, the whole plan of his work, the
tone and character of his thoughts, and a multitude of words and
expressions, show him to have been perfectly familiar with the Homeric
writings. There is scarcely an author previous to his time with whose
works he does not appear to have been thoroughly acquainted. Hecatæus,
to be sure, was almost the only writer of prose who had attained any
distinction, for prose composition was practically in its infancy; but
from him and from several others, too obscure even to be named, he
freely quotes, while the poets, Hesiod, Olen, Musæus, Archilochus, the
authors of the "Cypria" and the "Epigoni," Alcæus, Sappho, Solon, Æsop,
Aristeas, Simonides of Ceos, Phrynichus, Æschylus, and Pindar, are
referred to, or quoted, in such a way as to show an intimate
acquaintance with their works.
The design of Herodotus was to record the struggles between the Greeks
and barbarians, but, in carrying it out, as Wheeler, the English analyst
of the writings of Herodotus, has happily expressed it, he is
perpetually led to trace the causes of the great events of his history;
to recount the origin of that mighty contest between liberty and
despotism which marked the whole period; to describe the wondrous
manners and mysterious religions of nations, and the marvellous
geography and fabulous productions of the various countries, as each
appeared on the great arena; to tell to an inquisitive and credulous
people of cities vast as provinces and splendid as empires; of
stupendous walls, temples and pyramids; of dreams, omens, and warnings
from the dead; of obscure traditions and their exact accomplishment;—and
thus to prepare their minds for the most wonderful story in the annals
of men, when all Asia united in one endless array to crush the states of
Greece; when armies bridged the seas and navies sailed through
mountains; when proud, stubborn-hearted men arose amid anxiety, terror,
confusion, and despair, and staked their lives and homes against the
overwhelming power of a foreign despot, till Heaven itself sympathized
with their struggles, and the winds and waves delivered their country,
and opened the way to victory and revenge.
The personal character of Herodotus, reflected from every page that he
wrote, renders his vivid story all the more happily suited to the
reading and study of boys and girls. He is as honest as the sun; equally
impartial to friends and foes; candid in the statement of both sides of
a question; and an artist withal in the gift of delineating a character
or a people with a few rapid strokes, so bold and masterly that the
sketch is placed before you with stereoscopic distinctness. For so early
a writer he presents a surprising unity of plan, combined with a variety
of detail that is amazing. What if he does crowd and enrich his story
with a world of anecdote? What if he feels bound always to paint for you
the customs, manners, dress, and peculiarities of a people before he
begins their history? This very biographical style is the charm of his
pen. Like the flowers of the magnolia-tree, his bright stories and vivid
descriptions at times almost overwhelm the root and branch of his
narrative; yet, after all, we remember the magnolia more because of its
cloud of snowy bloom in the few fleeting days of May than for all its
green and shade in the other months.
Herodotus, to be sure, lacks that far-seeing faculty of discerning
accurately the real causes of great movements, wars, and migrations of
men—a faculty possessed pre-eminently by Thucydides and largely by
Xenophon, but he is equally far removed from the coldness of the one and
the ostentatious display of the other. He is above all things natural,
simple, and direct. "He writes," says Aristotle, "sentences which have a
continuous flow, and which end only when the sense is complete."
I have allowed Herodotus, as I did Plutarch, to tell you his story in
his own words, as closely as the English idiom can reproduce the spirit
and flow of the Greek, calling gratefully to my aid the labors of such
students, analysts, and translators of Herodotus as Rawlinson, Dahlmann,
Cary, and Wheeler; and I have discarded from the text only what is
indelicate to the modern ear, or what the young reader might find
tedious, redundant, or irrelevant to the main story. But so small a part
comes under this head, that I am sure I can fairly say to you: "This is
Herodotus himself." If you read him through and do not like him, who
will be the disappointed one? Not you, but I!
NEW YORK, _June 15, 1884_.
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER. PAGE
_BOOK I.—CLIO._
I. Origin of the War between the Greeks and Barbarians 1
II. History of Lydia 4
III. Origin of Athens and Sparta 17
IV. Conquest of Lydia by Cyrus 25
V. History of the Medes to the Reign of Cyrus 35
VI. The Asiatic Greeks and the Lydian Revolt 54
VII. The Conquest of Assyria and the War with the Massagetæ 65
_BOOK II.—EUTERPE._
I. Physical History of Egypt 83
II. Religion, Manners, Customs, Dress, and Animals
of the Egyptians 91
III. God-Kings Prior to Menes 107
IV. First Line of 330 Kings, only Three Mentioned 108
V. From Sesostris to Sethon 110
VI. Third Line from the Twelve Kings to Amasis 127
_BOOK III.—THALIA._
I. Expeditions of Cambyses 138
II. Usurpation of Smerdis the Magus and Accession of Darius 157
III. Indians, Arabians, and Ethiopians 169
IV. Reign of Darius to the Taking of Babylon 174
_BOOK IV.—MELPOMENE._
I. Description of Scythia and the Neighboring Nations 188
II. Invasion of Scythia by Darius 203
III. Description of Libya 210
_BOOK V.—TERPSICHORE._
I. Conquests of the Generals of Darius 219
II. The Ionian Revolt 229
_BOOK VI.—ERATO._
I. The Suppression of the Ionian Revolt 236
II. Expedition of Mardonius 246
III. Expedition of Datis and Artaphernes;
The Battle of Marathon 252
_BOOK VII.—POLYMNIA._
I. Death of Darius and Reign of Xerxes 261
II. Battle of Thermopylæ 280
_BOOK VIII.—URANIA._
I. The Invasion of Attica and the Battle of Salamis 292
II. Xerxes' Retreat 302
_BOOK IX.—CALLIOPE._
I. The War Continued; Battle of Platæa and Siege of Thebes 307
II. The Battle of Mycale 321
Synchronistical Table of the Principal Events in Herodotus 326
Herodotean Weights and Money, Dry and Liquid Measures,
and Measurements of Lengths 328
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
PAGE
The Pyramids and Sphinx _Frontispiece_
Offering at the Temple of Delphi 14
Athens from Mount Hymettus 19
Assyrian Warriors in a Chariot 38
Sphinx from S. W. Palace (Nimroud) 39
Egyptian Hare 47
Winged Human-Headed Lion 69
Sepulchral Vases 80
Map of Ægyptus 82
The Two Great Pyramids at the Time of the Inundation 85
Nile Boat 89
The Trochilus 98
Spearing the Crocodile 99
Head of Rameses II. 109
Bust of Thothmes I. 111
Paris Carrying Away Helen 113
Bes and Hi 117
The Great Pyramid, without the Surface Stone 119
Section of the Great Pyramid 121
Section of Gallery in Pyramid 123
Hall of Columns in the Great Temple of Karnak 125
Egyptian Bell Capitals 129
Harpoon and Fish-Hooks 129
Egyptian Helmets 131
The Great Sphinx 135
Egyptian Pottery 139
Sand Storm in the Desert 147
Attack on Fort 153
The Obelisk 155
Mameluke Tomb, Cairo 163
Egyptian War Chariot, Warrior, and Horse 167
Military Drum 171
Alphabet 175
Infantry Drilled by Sergeant 185
Light-Armed Troops Marching 187
Olive Trees 217
Head-Dress of a Riding Horse 221
Amphitheatre at Pola 241
Ruins of an Ancient Temple in Corinth 249
Tripolitza 267
The Tomb of Jonah, Konyunjik, and the Ruins Opposite Mosul 273
Bridge over the Gortynius 277
Cyclopean Walls at Cephalloma 281
Island and Castle of Corfu 283
Bridge at Corfu 287
Plains of Argos 289
Ancient Greek Walls Restored 293
Celes Ridden by a Cupid 303
Bœotia 309
Coat of Mail 311
The Fisherman 313
Juno 315
Elegant Vases and Amphoræ 317
Bas-Relief of the Muses 325
HERODOTUS.
_BOOK I. CLIO._
CHAPTER I.
ORIGIN OF THE WAR BETWEEN THE GREEKS AND BARBARIANS.
This is a publication of the researches of Herodotus of Halicarnassus,
made in order that the actions of men may not be effaced by time, and
that the great and wondrous deeds displayed both by Greeks and
barbarians[1] may not be deprived of renown; and, furthermore, that the
cause for which they waged war upon each other may be known.
The learned among the Persians assert that the Phœnicians were the
original authors of the quarrel; that they migrated from that which is
called the Red Sea to the Mediterranean and, having settled in the
country which they now inhabit, forthwith applied themselves to distant
voyages; and that they exported Egyptian and Assyrian merchandise,
touching at other places, and also at Argos. Argos, at that period,
surpassed in every respect all those states which are now comprehended
under the general appellation of Greece. They say, that on their arrival
at Argos, the Phœnicians exposed their merchandise for sale, and that on
the fifth or sixth day after their arrival, when they had almost
disposed of their cargo, a great number of women came down to the
sea-shore, and among them Io the daughter of the king Inachus. While
these women were standing near the stern of the vessel, and were
bargaining for such things as most pleased them, the Phœnicians made an
attack upon them. Most of the women escaped, but Io with some others was
seized. Then the traders hurried on board and set sail for Egypt. Thus
the Persians say that Io went to Egypt, and that this was the beginning
of wrongs. After this certain Greeks (for they are unable to tell their
name), having touched at Tyre in Phœnicia, carried off the king's
daughter Europa. These must have been Cretans. Thus far they say that
they had only returned like for like, but that after this the Greeks
were guilty of the second provocation; for having sailed down in a
vessel of war to Æa, a city of Colchis on the river Phasis, when they
had accomplished the more immediate object of their expedition, they
carried off the king's daughter Medea; and the king of Colchis, having
despatched a herald to Greece, demanded satisfaction and the restitution
of the princess; but the Greeks replied, that as they of Asia had not
given satisfaction for the stealing of Io, they would not give any to
them. In the second generation after this, Alexander, the son of Priam,
having heard of these events, was desirous of obtaining a wife from
Greece by means of violence, being fully persuaded that he should not
have to give satisfaction, since the Greeks had not done so. When,
therefore, he had carried off Helen, the Greeks immediately sent
messengers to demand her back again and require satisfaction; but when
they brought forward these demands they were met with this reply: "You
who have not yourselves given satisfaction, nor made it when demanded,
now wish others to give it to you." After this the Greeks were greatly
to blame, for they levied war against Asia before the Asiatics did upon
Europe. Now, to carry off women by violence the Persians think is the
act of wicked men; to trouble one's self about avenging them when so
carried off is the act of foolish ones; and to pay no regard to them
when carried off, of wise men: for it is clear, that if they had not
been willing, they could not have been carried off. Accordingly the
Persians say, that they of Asia made no account of women that were
carried off; but that the Greeks for the sake of a Lacedæmonian woman
assembled a mighty fleet, sailed to Asia, and overthrew the empire of
Priam. From this event they had always considered the Greeks as their
enemies: for the Persians claim Asia, and the barbarous nations that
inhabit it, as their own, and consider Europe and the people of Greece
as totally distinct.
Such is the Persian account; and to the capture of Troy they ascribe the
commencement of their enmity to the Greeks. As relates to Io, the
Phœnicians do not agree with this account of the Persians but affirm
that she voluntarily sailed away with the traders. I, however, am not
going to inquire further as to facts; but having pointed out the person
whom I myself know to have been the first guilty of injustice toward the
Greeks, I will then proceed with my history, touching as well on the
small as the great estates of men: for of those that were formerly
powerful many have become weak, and some that were formerly weak became
powerful in my time. Knowing, therefore, the precarious nature of human
prosperity, I shall commemorate both alike.
Crœsus was a Lydian by birth, son of Alyattes, and sovereign of the
nations on this side the river Halys. This river flowing from the south
between the Syrians[2] and Paphlagonians, empties itself northward into
the Euxine Sea. This Crœsus was the first of the barbarians whom we know
of that subjected some of the Greeks to the payment of tribute, and
formed alliances with others. He subdued the Ionians and Æolians, and
those of the Dorians who had settled in Asia, and formed an alliance
with the Lacedæmonians; but before his reign all the Greeks were free.