Between school and work and all the other things life likes to toss out there, I’ve been squeezing in bits of Herodotus nearly every evening. I am reading book VII which contains the Battle of Thermopylae, and wow, is it good!
Herodotus starts with Xerxes deciding he is going to conquer all of Hellas. We are privy to all of the years of planning that goes into creating and moving an army of over 1,700,000 from Persia to Greece. There is advice not to go. There are dreams. There are signs and omens. There is pride, lots and lots of pride. Oedipus has nothing on Xerxes in the hubris department. He is so sure of ultimate victory that when a couple of spies from Athens and Sparta are caught, instead of killing them he has them shown around the entire land and sea encampment so they will know what they are up against and know that they cannot win. Xerxes hopes the Hellenes will be so afraid they will give up without a fight.
Cut away to Greece where Athens and Sparta have consulted the Oracle at Delphi and debated about what the prophecy means. Athens has decided that it means they are to attack Persia by sea. Conveniently they had just built a bunch of ships for a war against the Eginetans and so are now building more. Athens and Sparta have also realized that they won’t be able to beat the Persians if they can’t make up with all the surrounding states that they have happily been warring against off and on for years. So they are currently sending out envoys asking to let bygones be bygones. Unfortunately all these kings say, sure, we’ll help but I get to be in charge of the army. The Spartans of course get ruffled by this and basically say something such as “like hell you are!” And the kings then say it’s been nice knowing you.
Athens and Sparta will not back down against Persia even if they are the only ones willing to fight. They love their laws and freedoms too much and will bow to no one. Even when the spies were caught by the Persians and brought before Xerxes they refused to kneel.
The story is well told and I’m on pins and needles even knowing what the outcome will be. History doesn’t get much better than this!
😀 Now that’s an entertaining summary of an entertaining story! I look forward to the finale!
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You always write so well about Herodotus, Stefanie. I think you should rewrite him, lock stock and barrel and produce a new synopsis for publication! This sounds like the start of a really exciting movie, and I loved the bit where the kings say, nice knowing you. Hilarious!
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I’m missing Ancient Greece (I studied Classics at university) – I think I might do a Homer re-read this summer. I’ve only read bits of Herodotus here and there, but I’m quite tempted to read him in earnest now. I love yourm retelling of the Battle of Thermopylae!
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Interesting stuff! How great that ancient history can be so much fun …
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Sylvia, thanks. Herodotus and I will try not to disappoint 🙂
Litlove, gosh thanks. Herodotus for the modern age. Hmm, maybe Xerxes and the Spartans could settle their differences with a rap contest and some hip-hop dancing? 🙂
madwomansattic, I am very much enjoying ancient Greece. Since you like Homer you may be interested to know that Herodotus mentions Homer a few times and Xerxes even makes a pit stop at Troy or what used to be Troy.
Dorothy, I know. Who knew? Somehow history was never this much fun when I was in school.
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Stefanie–I can’t figure out why history suddenly became so interesting either. Ten years ago, I would never have touched any of the books I can’t dispense with now.
One thing I’ve noticed since reading so much classical literature is that I’m constantly amazed at how many allusions I must have been missing in the past. It totally illuminates what many difficult writers are trying to say when you’ve toured the mines from which they dig out their ideas.
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i have just finished marguerite yourcenar’s memoirs of hadrian, which is magical. now i want to delve some more into ancient greek and roman history, but it’s always difficult to know where to start with such a huge amount out there. for me, this is a very timely hint, thanks! i love reading about BC and early AD greece and rome as the characters are larger than life, and their lives seem lived on a larger scale than ours.
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JD, I wonder if it has to do with history not being just about dates and facts now? I mean when I was in school all that mattered was knowing the names of the important people/events and when they happened. There was very little story behind it. I know what you mean about finding all kinds of allusions, suddenly reading becomes so much deeper and richer.
estelle, I want to read Memoirs of Hadrian very much. It is hard to know where to start and wherever you start the original plan gets altered to add more!
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