Herodotus Histories Books 8
and 9. Study Questions.
Due: 19 October. (No late papers)
Herbert James Draper. 1898. The lament for Icarus (from
VICTORIAN PAINTING, BY CHRISTOPHER WOOD. 1999)
This picture really does not have to do with the Battle
of Salamis, the burning of Athens, or the battle of Plataea, but I like
it. I hope you do, too!
1. Why did a Spartan — Eurybiades — command the Greek fleet at Artemesium…
instead of an Athenian? 8. 1-5
2. How did the Athenian Themistocles induce the Greeks to stay and fight
at Artemisium? 8.1-6
3. How does Herodotus demonstrate his rationalism in his description
of the desertion to the Greeks of Scyllias the Scionian? 8.8-9
4. How did Themistocles plan to detach the Ionian allies from the Persians
after the battle of Artemisium? 8. 18-22
5. How did Xerxes prepare a false battlefield scene at Thermopylae for
sightseers? Why did he do it? 8.24-25
6. How does the Persian reaction to information about the Olympic games
point out a major difference between Greeks and Barbarians? 8.26
7. What did the Delphians do at the approach of the Persians? What marvels
occurred that supposedly protected Delphi? 8.32-39
8. What was significant about the behavior of the acropolis snake at
Athens? How does Herodotus show his skepticism in describing the snake on
the Acropolis? 8.41
9. How did the Persians first attack the Acropolis at Athens? How did
they finally capture it? What act of impiety did they perform there? 8.51-55
10. What remarkable thing happened on the Acropolis the day after the
barbarians sacked it? Where on the Acropolis did this event take place?
8.54-55
11. What is Herodotus’ belief as to the account of the miraculous olive
tree? 8.55
12. What arguments in favor of fighting at Salamis — and against withdrawing
to the Isthmus — does Themistocles offer? 8.56-64
13. What tensions between Athens and Corinth emerge at Salamis? 8.59-64
14. What happened on the Thirasian plain while Xerxes’ army was leveling
the countryside in Attica? How was it interpreted? 8.65
15. What is the female Greek admiral Artemisia’s advice to Mardonius
about engaging the Greeks at sea? How did her friends react to her advice?
How did Xerxes react? 8.67-69
16. How did the Athenian Themistocles use deceit (dolos) to make the
Persians do battle at Salamis? 8.74-76
17. What is Herodotus’ feeling about oracles, and why does he feel this
way? 8.77?
18. Who was Aristides? What is Herodotus’ opinion about Aristides? What
was his relationship with Themistocles? 8. 78-83
19. How do Greeks and Barbarians differ in battle? 8.84-87
20. How might the battle of Salamis
have been different if the Persians had all had swimming lessons when they
were youngsters? 8.89
21. How did Artemisia please Xerxes in battle? Why was there a price
on her head? 8.87-93
22. Whence comes the United
States Postal Service motto? What does it describe? 8.97-98
23. What does Artemisia advise that Xerxes do after the battle of Salamis?
What is his reaction? How would you characterize their relationship? 8.101-103
24. How did the eunuch Hermotimus get revenge on the man who had him
castrated? 8.103-106
25. What was the substance of the Greek debate over the Hellespont bridge?
8.108-111
26. What does Themistocles say about the gods’ involvement in the Persian
invasion? 8.109
27. Describe the theological/political dialogue between Themistocles
and the people of the island of Andros. What was the result? How does this
episode exemplify Themistocles’ attitude towards money? 8.111-112
28. How does Xerxes react when Spartan envoys ask for compensation for
the death of Leonidas? What is the underlying meaning of his cryptic response?
How does Herodotus tell us that Mardonius finally gave compensation to the
Spartans for Leonidas’ death? 8.114; 9.78-79
29. How hungry were the retreating Persian troops? 8.115
30. What ‘particularly inhuman’ thing did the Thracian king of the Bisaltians
commit, and why? What about this story would appeal to a Greek audience?
8.116
31. What does Xerxes ask his subjects to do for him when his ship is
in trouble? What is Herodotus’ belief about this account, and why does he
feel this way? 8.118-120
32. What victory offerings did the Greeks make to the gods? What was
the Delphic god’s reaction? 8.121-122
33. What honors did Themistocles receive for his role in repelling the
Persians? What honor did he FAIL to receive? 8.123-124
34. What is the story of Mys? 8.133-136
35. What message did Alexander of Macedon bring to the Athenians? What
was the Spartan response? 8. 136-142
36. What does the Athenian speech to the Spartans tell us about why they
would never come to terms with the Persians? What does this tell us about
their values? 8. 144
Book 9. Note: The following questions are from sections 58-83. Read
more, if you have time.
37. How did Greek sacrifices affect their participation in the battle
of Plataea? What does this tell us about Greeks’ attitude towards their
religion? 9.61-62
38. How did Persian military equipment differ from that of the Greeks?
9.61-62
39. What was the effect of Mardonius’ death on the Persian side during
the battle of Plataea? 9.58-63
40. How did Mardonius compensate the Spartiates “for the murder
of Leonidas?” 9.64
41. What does Herodotus say about the relationship between the goddess
Demeter and the Persians? 9. 65
42. Who supplicated the Spartan general Pausanias, and with what result?
9.76
43. What kinds of riches did the Greeks find in the Persian camp after
the battle of Plataea? What did the Spartan Pausanias do to show “how
stupid the Persian king is”? 9. 80-83
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