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Herodotus, Histories — Book 1, passage by passage
The original Greek with a word-by-word English interlinear. Tap any passage.
- 1.0 This is the showing forth of the inquiry of Herodotus of Halicarnassus, so that… — The showing forth of an inquiry
- 1.8.1 Now this Candaules fell in love with his own wife, and being in love,… — The king who was in love with his wife
- 1.8.2 Not much time had passed (for it had to be that Candaules should come… — "Ears are less trustworthy than eyes"
- 1.8.3 But he cried out and said: "Master, what an unsound word you are speaking,… — "Along with her tunic, she takes off her shame"
- 1.8.4 "Long ago men discovered the fine rules from which we must learn; and among… — "Let each man look at what is his own"
- 1.9.1 So he said such things and fought it off, afraid that some harm might… — "She will not even know she was seen"
- 1.9.2 "For I will post you in the room where we sleep, behind the door… — The chair by the door
- 1.9.3 "When she steps from the chair to the bed and you are behind her… — "Behind her back"
- 1.10.1 Since he could not escape it, he was ready. And Candaules, when it seemed… — Gyges watched
- 1.10.2 When he was behind her back as she went to the bed, he slipped… — The queen saw him
- 1.10.3 For among the Lydians, and nearly among the other barbarians too, even for a… — Herodotus explains a custom
- 1.11.1 So for the moment, showing nothing, she kept still. But as soon as day… — She kept still
- 1.11.2 When Gyges arrived, the woman said this: "Now, Gyges, there are two roads before… — "Two roads lie before you"
- 1.11.3 "Yes, one of you must die: either he who planned this, or you, who… — "Either he who planned this, or you"
- 1.11.4 He could not persuade her, but saw that the necessity truly lay before him… — "He chooses to live"
- 1.11.5 She answered him: "The onset will come from the very place where he displayed… — "From the very place where he displayed me"
- 1.12.1 When they had arranged the plot and night had come (for Gyges was not… — Behind the same door
- 1.12.2 And after this, as Candaules slept, Gyges slipped out and killed him, and won… — Gyges takes the wife and the kingdom
- 1.23.1 Periander was the son of Cypselus, the one who revealed the oracle to Thrasybulus;… — The greatest marvel of Periander's day
- 1.24.1 This Arion, they say, who spent most of his time with Periander, longed to… — Arion goes west
- 1.24.2 So he set out from Tarentum, and, trusting no one more than Corinthians, hired… — A ship of Corinthians
- 1.24.3 He could not persuade them with this; instead the sailors ordered him either to… — "Kill yourself, or jump"
- 1.24.4 Driven to this dead end, Arion begged, since that was their decision, that they… — One last song
- 1.24.5 And they were delighted at the thought that they would hear the best singer… — The High Nome
- 1.24.6 They sailed away to Corinth; but a dolphin, they say, took him up and… — The dolphin
- 1.24.7 Periander, out of disbelief, kept Arion under guard and would not let him go,… — Periander holds an inquiry
- 1.24.8 That is the story the Corinthians and Lesbians tell; and there is a small… — A bronze man on a dolphin
- 1.29.1 To Sardis, then at the height of its wealth, came all the other wise… — The wise men come to Sardis
- 1.29.2 The Athenians themselves were not able to do it, for they were bound by… — Bound by oath
- 1.30.1 For these reasons, then, and to see the world, Solon went abroad and came… — The treasure-houses
- 1.30.2 When he had looked at everything and examined it as he had opportunity, Croesus… — "Who is the most blessed man you have seen?"
- 1.30.3 He asked this expecting to be the most blessed of men; but Solon, with… — "Tellus of Athens"
- 1.30.4 Croesus, amazed at what was said, asked sharply: "On what grounds do you judge… — Why Tellus
- 1.30.5 "For when the Athenians fought a battle against their neighbours at Eleusis, he came… — The death at Eleusis
- 1.31.1 When Solon had provoked Croesus by telling so much and so blessed about Tellus,… — "Cleobis and Biton"
- 1.31.2 "For these were Argives by birth; they had enough to live on, and besides… — The brothers under the yoke
- 1.31.3 "When they had done this and been seen by the whole festival, the best… — "Better for a man to be dead than alive"
- 1.31.4 "Their mother, overjoyed at the deed and at what was said, stood before the… — The mother's prayer
- 1.31.5 "After this prayer, when they had sacrificed and feasted, the young men fell asleep… — They never rose again
- 1.32.1 So Solon awarded the second prize for happiness to these; but Croesus, angered, said:… — "The divine is wholly jealous"
- 1.32.2 "For in a long time one can see many things one would not wish,… — Seventy years
- 1.32.3 "These seventy years make up twenty-five thousand two hundred days, if no leap month… — Counting the days
- 1.32.4 "Of all these days in the seventy years, which come to twenty-six thousand two… — "Man is wholly chance"
- 1.32.5 "To me you seem both very rich and king of many people; but the… — Rich, or lucky?
- 1.32.6 "The very rich but unblessed man surpasses the lucky one in two things only,… — What luck keeps away
- 1.32.7 "And if on top of this he also ends his life well, he is… — "Call him lucky, not blessed"
- 1.32.8 "Now to gather all these things is impossible for a human being, just as… — No country has everything
- 1.32.9 "Whoever of them goes on having the most and then ends his life with… — "Look to the end of everything"
- 1.33.1 Saying this to Croesus, he did not please him at all; Croesus made nothing… — Croesus sends Solon away
- 1.46.1 Croesus sat in great mourning for two years, bereft of his son. But afterwards… — Croesus looks east
- 1.46.2 So after this plan, he at once tested the oracles both among the Greeks… — Messengers to every oracle
- 1.46.3 These were the Greek oracles to which Croesus sent to consult them; to Ammon… — The plan of the test
- 1.47.1 He sent the Lydians off for the test of the oracles with these instructions:… — On the hundredth day
- 1.47.2 What the other oracles prophesied is not told by anyone; but at Delphi, as… — The Pythia answers
- 1.47.3 "I know the number of the sand and the measures of the sea; I… — "I know the number of the sand"
- 1.48.1 The Lydians wrote down what the Pythia had prophesied and went back to Sardis.… — Only Delphi
- 1.48.2 For when he had sent the envoys to the oracles, he watched for the… — The tortoise and the lamb
- 1.49.1 This, then, was the answer given to Croesus from Delphi. As for the response… — What Amphiaraus answered
- 1.50.1 After this he tried to win over the god at Delphi with great sacrifices:… — Croesus buys the god's favor
- 1.50.2 When the sacrifice was over, he melted down a vast quantity of gold and… — 117 bars of gold
- 1.50.3 He also had a lion made, of refined gold, weighing ten talents. This lion,… — The golden lion
- 1.51.1 When Croesus had finished all this, he sent it off to Delphi, and with… — Two bowls at the temple door
- 1.51.2 These too were moved when the temple burned down. The gold bowl now lies… — The gold and silver mixing-bowls
- 1.51.3 The Delphians say it is the work of Theodorus of Samos, and I think… — Theodorus's work, and the basins
- 1.51.4 This too is Croesus's gift. One of the Delphians inscribed it, wanting to do… — A Delphian's flattery
- 1.51.5 Croesus sent many other, less notable gifts along with these: round silver castings, and… — The golden breadmaker
- 1.52.1 These things he sent to Delphi. But to Amphiaraus, having learned of his courage… — Gifts for Amphiaraus
- 1.53.1 To the Lydians who were about to carry these gifts to the shrines, Croesus… — The question for the oracles
- 1.53.2 When they arrived where they had been sent, the Lydians dedicated the offerings and… — The envoys' message
- 1.53.3 They asked this; and the judgments of both oracles agreed on the same point,… — Destroy a great empire
- 1.54.1 When Croesus learned that the oracular responses had been brought back, he was overjoyed… — Croesus rewards Delphi
- 1.54.2 In return for these, the Delphians gave Croesus and the Lydians priority at the… — Delphi's privileges
- 1.55.1 Having rewarded the Delphians, Croesus consulted the oracle a third time; for since he… — A third question
- 1.55.2 The Pythia declares this to him: "But when a mule becomes king of the… — The riddle of the mule
- 1.56.1 When these verses reached him, Croesus was more delighted with them than with anything,… — Croesus seeks allies
- 1.56.2 Inquiring, he found the Lacedaemonians and the Athenians preeminent, the one of Dorian stock,… — Dorian and Ionian
- 1.56.3 In the time of king Deucalion it dwelt in the land of Phthiotis, and… — The wandering people
- 1.57.1 What language the Pelasgians spoke I cannot say for certain. But if I must… — What language did the Pelasgians speak?
- 1.57.2 and by the Pelasgians who settled at Placia and Scylace on the Hellespont, who… — Placia and Scylace
- 1.57.3 If, then, the whole Pelasgian people was really like this, the Attic people, being… — The Attic people changed tongues
- 1.58.1 But the Greek stock, it seems clear to me, has always used one and… — The Hellenic stock grows
- 1.59.1 Of these peoples, Croesus learned that the Attic one was held down and divided… — The cauldrons that boiled without fire
- 1.59.2 Chilon the Lacedaemonian, who happened to be there and saw the portent, advised Hippocrates… — Chilon's advice
- 1.59.3 Hippocrates was not willing to follow this advice of Chilon's; and after this there… — Peisistratus and the three factions
- 1.59.4 Having wounded himself and his mules, he drove the carriage into the marketplace as… — The wounded mules
- 1.59.5 And the Athenian people, deceived, gave him men chosen from the citizens, who did… — Club-bearers
- 1.59.6 Rising up together with Peisistratus, these men seized the Acropolis. There Peisistratus then ruled… — Peisistratus takes the Acropolis
- 1.60.1 And after not much time, Megacles's partisans and Lycurgus's, thinking alike, drive him out.… — Driven out, and a new quarrel
- 1.60.2 Beset by the feuding, Megacles sent a herald to Peisistratus, asking whether he wished… — Megacles's offer
- 1.60.3 Peisistratus having accepted the proposal and agreed to these terms, they then contrived, for… — The silliest trick
- 1.60.4 In the deme of Paeania there was a woman whose name was Phye, three… — Dressing up a goddess
- 1.60.5 O Athenians, receive Peisistratus with good will, whom Athena herself, having honored him most… — Athena's own gift
- 1.61.1 Having gotten back the tyranny in the manner that had been described, Peisistratus, according… — A marriage without children
- 1.61.2 At first the wife kept this hidden; but afterward, whether asked or not, she… — The wife tells her mother
- 1.61.3 Hippias's opinion having prevailed, to win the tyranny back again by force, they then… — Raising money for the third attempt
- 1.61.4 And afterward, not to make a long story of it, time passed, and everything… — Money and men for the return
- 1.62.1 Setting out from Eretria, in the eleventh year they came back, and they reached… — Back at Marathon
- 1.62.2 These, then, were gathering together; but the Athenians from the city, while Pisistratus was… — Too late to matter
- 1.62.3 And these, in full force, marched against those returning, and Pisistratus's party, as they… — Facing each other at Pallene
- 1.62.4 There, acting under divine guidance, a man came to Pisistratus, Amphilytus the Acarnanian, a… — The net is spread
- 1.63.1 Amphilytus, divinely inspired, declared this prophecy to him, and Pisistratus, grasping the oracle and… — The attack at breakfast
- 1.63.2 While these fled, Pisistratus devised there a very clever plan, so that the Athenians… — Sons on horseback
- 1.64.1 With the Athenians obeying, Pisistratus thus held Athens for the third time, and rooted… — A third time in Athens
- 1.64.2 (For Pisistratus had conquered this island too, by war, and entrusted it to Lygdamis.)… — Purifying Delos
- 1.64.3 And so Pisistratus was tyrant of the Athenians; and of the Athenians, some had… — Tyrant of Athens
- 1.86.1 Now the Persians took Sardis and captured Croesus himself, who had ruled fourteen years… — The fall of Sardis
- 1.86.2 He, having piled up a great pyre, made Croesus go up onto it, bound… — Cyrus builds a pyre
- 1.86.3 He indeed was doing this. But as Croesus stood on the pyre, even in… — Solon! Solon! Solon!
- 1.86.4 And when Cyrus heard this, he ordered the interpreters to ask Croesus whom he… — An answer no one understands
- 1.86.5 As they kept pressing him and causing him trouble, he told them then how… — The pyre already burning
- 1.86.6 And when Cyrus heard from the interpreters what Croesus had said, he repented and… — Cyrus repents
- 1.87.1 Thereupon, it is said by the Lydians, Croesus, having learned of Cyrus's change of… — A prayer to Apollo
- 1.87.2 He, weeping, called upon the god; and out of a clear and windless sky,… — The storm that saved him
- 1.87.3 "Croesus, who of men persuaded you to march against my land and become an… — Who persuaded you?
- 1.87.4 For no one is so foolish as to choose war instead of peace: in… — Sons bury fathers
- 1.88.1 He was saying this, but Cyrus freed him and seated him near himself, holding… — Seated beside Cyrus
- 1.88.2 Afterward, turning around and seeing the Persians sacking the city of the Lydians, he… — Speak, or stay silent?
- 1.88.3 "This great crowd, what are they doing with such urgency?" And he said, "They… — Not my city, but yours
- 1.89.1 Cyrus took to heart what Croesus had said; and having sent the others away,… — Your slave, speaking plainly
- 1.89.2 "The Persians are by nature violent men, and poor. So if you let them… — Violent and poor by nature
- 1.89.3 Station some of your spearmen as guards at every gate, to say to those… — A ruse at the gates
- 1.90.1 Hearing this, Cyrus was overjoyed, since it seemed to him that Croesus advised well;… — Cyrus offers any gift
- 1.90.2 And he said, "O master, you will please me most by letting me ask… — Croesus asks only this
- 1.90.3 And Croesus recounted to him his whole plan, and the oracles' answers, and especially… — Cyrus laughs and agrees
- 1.90.4 When Croesus heard this, sending some of the Lydians to Delphi, he instructed them,… — The fetters at the threshold
- 1.91.1 When the Lydians arrived and spoke the words they had been told to say,… — Even a god cannot escape it
- 1.91.2 Though Loxias was eager that the fall of Sardis should come in the time… — Three years, no more
- 1.91.3 But as much as the Fates yielded, he achieved and did Croesus a favor:… — What little the Fates allowed
- 1.91.4 As for the oracle he was given, Croesus is wrong to find fault with… — The empire he never named
- 1.91.5 As for what Loxias told him the last time he consulted the oracle, about… — The mule
- 1.91.6 For his mother was a Mede, daughter of Astyages king of the Medes, while… — His own fault
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