Herodotus' The Histories 3

Study Guide Questions for Book 1, Ch. 53-72

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

Deception, Appearance vs. Reality, Prudence

Grammar Questions: (The Information of the Text)

1. What did “both the oracles” agree about in regard to Croesus’ question?

2. What did the Delpian people give to Croesus due to his generous gift of gold?

3. What did Croesus conclude from the Oracle’s statements about how long his kingdom and family lineage would endure?

4. What strange “prodigy” is said to have occurred when Hippocrates was at Olympia for the games?

5. How did Pisistratus gain sovereignty of Athens the First time?

6. How did Pisistratus gain sovereignty of Athens the Second time?

7. How did Pisistratus gain sovereignty of Athens the Third time?

8. What happened to change the Lacedaemonians (the people of Sparta) from being “the very worst governed people in Greece”  to “a well governed people?”

9. What were the Spartans (a.k.a. the Lacedaemonians) told by the oracle they must do if they wanted to start being successful in their battles?

10. Where were the bones of Orestes found?

11. What happened to the “huge vase made in bronze” according to the Lacedaemonians? What about according to the people of Samos?

12. What was Persian life like in comparison to that of the Lydians according to Sandanis (and Herodotus)?

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

1. What is ambiguous (unclear) about the oracle’s proclamation that Croesus “would destroy a mighty empire” if he went to war against the Persians?

2. The Orcales said “when a mule is monarch of Media” then Croesus should “haste thee away, nor blush to behave like a coward.” Croesus feels secure because he interprets the prophecy literally. What might this prophecy refer to if taken figuratively?

3. If Pisistratus’ governance of Athens was “wise and salutary” as Herodotus says, why then did some seek to depose his rule?

4. What should we infer about the Athenian people at that time from the fact that Pisistratus’ ruse concerning Athena worked?

5. Why did Pisistratus lay with his wife “in an unnatural manner?” Why would he avoid normal sexual intercourse with his wife (the daughter of Megacles)?

6. Why was Pisistratus’ third attempt to take the throne successful?

7. Compare and contrast what Pisistratus did when he took control of Athens (the first time) with what Lycurgus did when he took the throne of Sparta. What might account for their different actions toward the people’s laws and customs?

8. What did Herodotus mean when he called the oracle which the Lacedaemonians (Spartans) had received about the Tegeans “in truth, but of base metal?”

9. Why would having the bones of Orestes moved to Sparta be helpful to the Lacedaemonians?

10. Given that the length of a cubit is approximately 18 inches, how tall would that have made Orestes?

11. Why might Croesus have ignored the seemingly good counsel of Sandanis concerning starting a war with the Persians?

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

1. Herodotus claimed that certain men who supported Pisistratus “loved tyranny better than freedom.” What is the defining difference between freedom and tyranny? Can absolute freedom ever become a different kind of tyranny? What might make some men love tyranny more than freedom? Finally, how do we balance our need as a people for governance with our need as a people to be genuinely free?

2. Croesus expanded the Lydian empire through waging war against neighboring countries. Do you think it is ever appropriate to start a war? If so, under what conditions and for what kind of reasons? If not, why not?

Theological Analysis: (Sola Scriptura)

1. Read Acts 17:22-34. How does this passage of Scripture address the Athenians' religious beliefs and how might you relate this back to the matter of Pisistratus and Athena?

2. Read Ezra 1. What do we learn here about how Yahweh (God) used the same Cyrus, mentioned here in Herodotus, to do his will?