Masterpieces of Greek Literature Dr. Fredricksmeyer Dr. Fre
Herodotus. The Persian Wars
Books 2-9: including the Egyptian logos, the Debate over Constitutions, Xerxes and Greek victory
Book 2
Cambyses and his Egyptian campaign
Egyptian logos (paratactic organization)
ethnographic
Eyptians and Greek pantheon
most learned of all nations
cultural relativism
climate and character (Airs, Waters, Places)
reversal of customs in Egyptian culture
religiosity of Egyptians
vs. Greek human secularism
historical
imagninary pharoah Rhampsinitus' treasury and the 2 thieves
Egyptian cunning
cultural relativism
Book 3
Cambyses and his Egyptian campaign (ring composition)
hubris: Amasis, Apis, Smerdis
[campaign vs. the Ethiopians-story of the bow]
military disasters
Cambyses’ death
back to Persia-Darius and his assumption of power
Debate on Government: Democracy, Oligarchy, Monarchy
sophistic influence:
democracy-Otanes
oligarchy-Megabyzus
monarch-Darius
relative merits
relation to each other
ahistoricism/anachronism
Darius' assumes power
horse-natural supernaturalism
historical method
demise of Itraphernes and his wife's choice (cf. Antigone)
Book 4
Scythian logos
barbaric customs
hubris of Darius
bridges Bosphorus
cuts throats
North African logos
Book 5 (begins prelude to invasion)
Thracian logos
Ionian revolt (499)
Book 6
end of Ionian revolt
loss of Mardonius' fleet
Darius demands tokens of submission
Battle of Marathon (490 B.C.)
Miltiades' flanking maneuver
lopsided victory: 192 vs. 6400
Book 7
Darius dies
Xerxes
Mardonius vs. Artabanus-warning motif
Xerxes' hubris:
Mt. Athos
Hellespont
subject’s favorite son
catalogue of Persian massive forces-5 million!
Demaratus on Spartan martial prowess
Herodotus: Athen’s victory as divine will
Themistocles
oracle re wooden wall and Athenian thalassocracy
Battle of Thermopylae (480 B.C.)
King Leonidas
Ephialtes
Xerxes' further hubris
Book 8
Xerxes further hubris:
rape
slaughter suppliants in sancturaries
rob and burn temples, including Acropolis
Xerxes' reversal (tragic sequence)
Battle of Salamis (480)
postal service
Book 9
Persian final defeat (479)
Plataea
Mycale