Herodotus · Civilisations

Father of History, Father of Lies

How Herodotus actually worked - seeing for himself, gathering hearsay, weighing accounts, and reporting what he could not verify - and why he earned both honoured titles.

What you'll be able to recall

You learned that Herodotus used autopsy (seeing for himself), inquiry, and the reporting of variants, while also recording tall tales. Explain his method and the ‘father of lies’ charge, in your own words.

Leads to Thucydides.

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