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Herodotus and the invention of history
Herodotus and the invention of history

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Acknowledgements

This free course was written by Elton Barker. Many thanks to Danny Pucknell for his feedback on the content.

Note: Section 1 is inspired by Cathryn Dewald’s 1987 article: ‘Narrative surface and authorial voice in Herodotus’ Histories,’, Arethusa, 20, pp. 147–70.

Section 2 draws heavily on Alex Purves’s chapter: ‘In the bedroom: interior space in Herodotus’ Histories’, in K. Gilhuly and N. Worman (eds) Space, Place, and Landscape in Ancient Greek Literature and Culture, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2014, pp. 94–129.

Section 3 is largely derived from Elton Barker (2006) ‘Paging the oracle: interpretation, identity, and performance in Herodotus’ History’, Greece&Rome, 58, pp.1–28.

All translations are the author’s, except where noted.

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Figure18: Jean-Léon Gérôme - Museo de Arte de Ponce; https://commons.wikimedia.org/ wiki/ Category:Gyges_in_the_bedchamber_of_King_Candaules#/ media/ File:Jean-L%C3%A9on_G%C3%A9r%C3%B4me_-_El_rey_Candaules.jpg

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Figure 26: rob Stoeltje from Loenen, Netherlands - GRIEKENLAND 014, https://creativecommons.org/ licenses/ by/ 2.0/

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Figure 31: Jörg Bittner Unna; https://creativecommons.org/ licenses/ by/ 3.0/ deed.en

Figure 32: Estate of Charles Garabedian

Text

Herodotus, The Histories, Book 1 Sections 1 -5, translated by Elton Barker, 2023

Audio/Visual

Activity 8 Audio: The Open University

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