/lit/ - Literature

Brilliant

The story about Gyges is still one of my favourites; my only issue with the Histories is it had so many entertaining little tales it's hard to remember them all.

>>6798422
Candaules, the original cuck

>my only issue with the Histories is it had so many entertaining little tales it's hard to remember them all.
I have that problem too; or when Herodotus branches of on yet another hilarious or interesting story and I get enthralled with that, only to be ripped out of it and back to the "main branch" and I've already forgotten where we're at with the main branch, great confusing fun

>>6798430
I had no problem with the overall 'story' it's just there's so many entertaining tales and fun-'facts' such as the proto-antinatlist nomads. I found wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Histories_(Herodotus)#Storyline) to be good for keeping track on what's going on.

is that translation worth checking out in particular?

>>6798501
OP here: I just took it because it was the newest one and because Holland's Rubicon was good. Very easy to read, many modern words and sentence forms, I'd recommend it

You're welcome.

Herodotus is absolutely based, though if that's the version you got it's the wrong one. Get the landmark one.

One of my favorite bits is Croesus testing the oracles. It's like a scientific experiment of the supernatural...

"Treaties do not remain in effect without the force of strong obligations."

The speeches are awesome, too. I wish some contemporary historian would make up speeches.

Miltiades said to Kallimachos, “It is now up to you, Kallimachos, whether you will reduce Athens to slavery or ensure its freedom and thus leave to all posterity a memorial for yourself which will exceed even that of Harmodios and Aristogeiton. For from the time Athenians first came into existence up until the Athenians first came into existence up until the present, this is the greatest danger they have ever confronted. If they bow down before the Medes, it is clear from our past experience what they will suffer when handed over to Hippias; but if this city prevails, it can become the first among all Greek cities. I shall explain to you how matters really stand and how the authority to decide this matter has come to rest with you. We ten generals are evenly divided in our opinions, some urging that we join battle, others that we do not. If we fail to fight now, I expect that intense factional strife will fall upon the Athenians and shake their resolve so violently that they will medize. But if we join battle before any rot can infect some of the Athenians, then, as long as the gods grant both sides equal treatment, we can prevail in this engagement. All this is now in your hands and depends on you. If you add your vote for my proposal, your ancestral land can be free and your city the first of Greek cities. But if you choose the side of those eager to prevent a battle, you will have the opposite of all the good things I have described.”

The priests led Apis to Cambyses, and he, being somewhat insane, drew his dagger and struck it in the thigh, although he had aimed for its belly. Then he burst out laughing and said to the priests: “You are pathetic people! Is this what your gods are like, flesh and blood that can feel the prick of iron? Well, then, this god is worthy of you Egyptians. But do not think you will get away with making me a laughingstock.” Having said this, he instructed his men who were responsible for inflicting punishments to give the priests a good whipping, and then to kill any Egyptians they could find celebrating.

>tries to murder a god and whips all the priests
>"somewhat" insane

This same queen also devised a clever ruse. She had a tomb for herself built in midair above the portal over the most frequented gate of the city and had this inscription engraved on the tomb: “If any king of Babylon who comes after me needs money, let him open this tomb and take as much money as he wants. Let him not, however, open it unless he is truly in need. If he opens it for any other reason it will not go well with him.” This tomb remained undisturbed until the kingship passed to Darius, who thought it was just terrible not to use this gate and not to take the money that was lying there with its inscription inviting someone to take it. He refused to use the gate because if he drove through it, a corpse would be over his head. When he opened the tomb, however, he found no money inside, just the corpse and an inscription which read: “You would not open up the graves of the dead if you were not so insatiable and shamefully greedy.” This, then, is the sort of queen she is said to have been.

>>6799653
BASED
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>>6798422
>>6798430

CUCK
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C
K

>>6801501
Why not just wish them away with those monkey paws?

you need to thank an "anon" for recommending a classic book. are you a retard?