Herodotus' Histories 6

Study Guide Questions for Book 1, Ch. 107-130

If you are looking for the beginning of the study for Herodotus’ Histories then you can go HERE for a brief introduction. At the bottom of the introduction you will find the links to each section of the study guide as it becomes available. If you would like to see the growing list of book studies available for free on this site you can go HERE. Enjoy!

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

Providence, Truth, Fate vs. Fortune, Deception, Despotism, Freedom vs. Bondage, Vengeance

Grammar Questions: (The Information of the Text)

1. To whom did Astyages marry his daughter in an attempt to thwart the dream he had?

2. What steps did Astyages take to thwart fate after he had a second dream about the offspring of his daughter, Mandané?

3. How did Mitradates and Spaco contrive to save Cyrus’ life from his grandfather?

4. What happened in Cyrus’ “tenth year” which ended up revealing his true identity?

5. What did Asyages do to Harpagus because he did not sufficiently see to Cyrus’ death when he was an infant?

6. What did the Magi assure Astyages of concerning the former prophecy that Cyrus would one day reign in his place?

7. What rumor came to be spread about how Cyrus had been raised as an infant?

8. How did harpagus successfully get a message to Cyrus without being discovered?

9. How did Cyrus powerfully illustrate the value of laying hold of freedom to his fellow Persians?

10. According to Asyages, why was Harpagus “at once the silliest and the most unjust of men?”

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

1. Herodotus tells us that Astyages had no son, so why would he fear Cyrus one day taking his place since no one lives forever?

2. What was meant by the statement that Spaco’s advice was best “under the circumstances?”

3. What are we supposed to understand about Cyrus’ character in light of the episode we see concerning his interaction with his peers in his tenth year?

4. Why did Cyrus believe Artembares’ son received what he deserved?

5. Why did the Magi think Cyrus no longer posed a threat to Astyages’ rule?

6. Why would the roads between Media and Persia be guarded if the Medes ruled over both? What might we infer from this?

7. Why might so many of the Medes have been prepared to turn their loyalty to Cyrus instead of Astyages?

8. What did Cyrus mean by saying, “Tell Astyages that I shall appear in his presence sooner than he will like?”

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

1. How should we define the concept of providence? How do we see providence in play in our present reading? Do you think God works providentially in the world and its events even when they don’t directly (or immediately) seem to impact his own people? If so, why might he work in that way among the unbelieving world? If not, why do you think he doesn’t?

2. Spaco’s plan to replace the baby Cyrus with her stillborn baby was a case of making the best out of a bad situation. To what extent must our ethical decision making process take into account both what is ideal and what is possible given the way things actually are? In other words, to what extent must we pursue moral perfection in our decision making and to what extent must we operate in light of the reality that moral perfection is already out of our personal reach? 

3. Do you think it was just to rebel against the rule of Astyages? Why or why not?

4. Do you think Astyages was right when he called Harpagus “the silliest and the most unjust of men?” Why or why not?

Theological Analysis: (Sola Scriptura)

1. Read Matthew 2.  What parallels and similarities do you see between this passage of Scripture and the events of our current reading in Herodotus?

2. Read Daniel 2. What parallels and similarities do you see between this passage of Scripture and the events of our current reading in Herodotus?

3. Read 1 Samuel 21. How does this passage impact the subject of moral decision making in light of the ideal and in light of present unideal circumstances?

4. Compare and contrast the one story we are giving about Jesus as a boy (Luke 2:41-52) and the story about Cirus as a ten year old. What similarities and differences do you see between these accounts? Why are the differences important?