Frank’s Reviews > The Landmark Herodotus: The Histories > Status Update

Harpagos (Cyrus’s general, the accidental cannibal victimized by Astyages) defeats the Ionians, Carians, Caunians, and the Lycians with superior siege technology (earthworks) learned from the Assyrians. Some coastal, seafaring people from Ionian city-states fled to the water to seek refuge or found new colonies. Others stayed and fought.

Herodotus turns to his first focused ethnography of the Persians. He is careful to note which things he has “certain knowledge” (worship, social customs) of and which he does not (burial rituals).

Origin story of Cyrus, the oracle’s “mule” with Median and Persian blood. In ancient stories, beware the baby ordered by a tyrant to be killed or abandoned (via a delegate) for fear he will grow up to seize the tyrant’s power.

Croesus and Cyrus stop fighting after Croesus relates what Solon had told him about not being able to judge the happiness and prosperity of a living person. Croesus learns that he had misunderstood the Pythian Oracle at Delphi.

Famous passage: Solon tells Croesus that Croesus is not the happiest and most fortunate person despite all of his riches. You have to see how fortune plays out and how well you die — only then can the question be answered. Croesus is not amused.