Herodotus' Histories 4

Study Guide Questions for Book 1, Ch. 73-91

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Virtues/Vices/Great Ideas: (Find them in the Text)

Family, Despotism, Prudence, Shrewdness, Despair, Covenant, Shame, Myth, Irony, Happiness, Fate vs. Fortune

Grammar Questions: (The Information of the Text)

1. What two motives did Herodotus state as to why Croesus decided to attack Cappadocia (the Persians)?

2. What atrocious (very terrible) thing did the Scythian nomads do with one of the boys Cyaxares had entrusted to their care?

3. While the Lydians and Medes were at war with one another, under Cyaxares and Alyattes, what event took place which Herodotus said “Thales, the Milesian,” had predicted?

4. What other impressive tale was told concerning Thales, the Milesian?

5. After having fairly even contests in battle up to that point, what surprising thing did Cyrus do which caught Croesus completely off guard once he returned home to Sardis?

6. What plan did Harpagus suggest to Cyrus to increase their chance against the Lydian cavalry?

7. What was going on with the Lacedaemonians (Spartans) while Croesus was under siege by Cyrus?

8. How did Hyroeades discover a way to get over the walls of Sardis?

9. What caused Croesus’ deaf (unable to hear) and dumb (unable to speak) son to begin speaking?

10. What did Croesus “groan out loud” while on the pile waiting to be burned and how did this affect Cyrus once he learned the meaning of it?

11. According to Herodotus, to whom did Croesus cry out for help and what resulted?

12. What apology (in Greek sense, meaning defense) did the Pythoness offer to the Lydians concerning Apollo’s actions on behalf of Croesus?

Logic Questions: (Interpreting, Comparing/Contrasting, Reasoning)

1. Why were the Medes and Lydians “alike anxious to have terms of peace agreed” upon when during one of their battles “day was on a sudden changed into night?”

2. Herodotus said, upon the Lydians and Medes striking a peace treaty, “It was they who advised that Alyattes should give his daughter Aryenis in marriage to Astyages, the son of Cyaxares, knowing, as they did, that without some sure bond of strong necessity, there is wont to be but little security in men's covenants.” Why would the establishment of a marriage between the two peoples’ royal families help to secure lasting peace between them?

3. Regardless of whether the tales of Thales the Milesians are true or not, why is his approach to the problem of crossing the river important?

4. What is meant by the statement that Cyrus increased “his numbers at every step by the forces of the nations that lay in his way?” How would other nations in his way lead to him having increased forces?

5. Why did the Argives and Lacedaemonians change their hair styles? What is the purpose in doing that?

6. Why was Cyrus affected by Croesus’ story about Solon?

7. Why would Croesus become helpful to Cyrus after having just been defeated by him?

8. Given the Pythoness’ apology for Apollo, what should we infer about the Greek gods in relation to the Fates?

Rhetoric Questions: (The Analysis of Ideas in the Text)

1. The term “myth” may be defined as “a story about something in the past which explains why things are as we experience them in the present.” Given that definition, are myths necessarily false? What is an example of a myth in this present reading? Is that myth true? What would be a good example of a myth that is true?

2. If we define “shrewdness” as doing that which is personally beneficial and doing it excellently, where do we see a good example of shrewdness in our current reading? How might we distinguish being shrewd from being prudent? What is the fundamental difference between these two concepts and why does it matter?

3. In the battle of the 300 Spartans versus the 300 Argives over “a place called Thyrea,” whom would you say should have been awarded the original victory? What are your reasons for choosing the side you did?

Theological Analysis: (Sola Scriptura)

1. Read Psalm 33. How might we connect this Psalm to Croesus' situation in our present reading?

2. Read Deuteronomy 4:32-40 and Isaiah 45. Compare and contrast Yahweh’s relationship with his people (Israel) against Apollo’s relationship with Croesus and the Lydians. What important similarities and differences do you see?