Outline of Herodotus; taken from How and
Wells Commentary
Book I
1-5 Introduction
(rationalized myths)
6-94 Lydian
History (56-70 digression on Greeks at time of Croesus)
95-140 Median
and Persian History, incl. customs
141-176 Persian
Conquest of Asiatic Greeks
177-216 Story
of Cyrus, digression on Babylon up to death of Cyrus
Book II
1-4 connect
Egypt to previous narrative
5-18 origin,
dimensions, boundaries of Egypt
19-34 the
Nile
35-98 Account
of Egypt
99-146 History
of Egypt according to Egyptians
147-182 History
of Egypt according to others
Book III
1-16 re-connect
Egypt to Persian narrative
17-26 Cambyses’
expedition
39-60 Polycrates,
Samos, Fate (520’s)
61-87 Death
of Cambyses, accession of Darius
89-117 Persia
as organized by Darius
118-128 Darius’
difficulties at home
129-138 Democides;
Darius linked to Europe
139-149 Persia
conquers Samos
150-160 Revolt
of Babylon, capture by Darius
Book IV
1-144 Account
of Scythia
145-205 Account
of Cyrene
Book V
1-46 Persians
conquer Thrace, with digressions
17-22 Persian
embassy to Amyntas of Macedon, their murder
23-27 Darius
takes Histiaeus to Susa
38-38 Causes
of Ionian Revolt; Aristagoras to Sparta
39-48 Digression
on Sparta
49-54 Aristagoras
fails to persuade; digression on geography, size of Persia,
and
the Persian Royal Road
55-96 Greek
History after Peisistratus
55-61 Hipparchus,
and digression
62-65 Expulsion
of Peisistratids (510)
66-69 Reforms
of Cleisthenes, digression on elder Cleisthenes
70-76 Cleomenes
invades
77-78 Athenians
vs. Boiotians and Chalcis; glory of democracy
79-89 Aigina
and Thebes vs. Athens. digression
90-93 Spartans
fail to restore Hippias
94-96 Hippias
to Sigium, digressions. Artaphernes insists that Athens
receive
Hippias back.
97-102 Aristagoras
gets Athenian aid to Ionia; Greeks burn Sardis, are defeated
at Ephesus (499)
103-107 Revolt
spreads
108-115 Persian
victory at Cyprus
116-123 Persian
victory in Hellespont
124-126 Death
of Aristagoras
Book VI
1-5 Ionian
intrigues of Histiaeus
6-17 Battle
of Lade (494)
18-21 Fall
of Miletus
22-25 Exiled
Samians in West; submission of Samos
26-30 Last
adventures and death of Histiaeus
31-32 Final
Reduction of Ionia (494)
33-41 Reduction
of Hellespont, Establishment of Elder Miltiades;
Younger
Miltiades to Athens
42 Settlement
of Ionia by Artaphernes
43-45 Reduction
of Thasos; Darius demands earth and water; Aigina Medizes
* 51-60 Story
of Dual kingship of Sparta; royal privileges
61-70 Birth,
deposing, exile of Demaratus
71-2 Leotychidas
73-84 Cleomenes,
incl. digressions
85-93 Refusal
of Athens to restore Aiginetan hostages
War
between Athens and Aiginea
94-101 Datis,
Artaphernes sail across Aegean, defeating Naxos, Cyclades,
Carystus,
Eretria (490)
102-117 Battle
of Marathon
118-120 Return
of Persians to Asia; Spartans arrive
121-131 Shield
signal, defense (and history) of Alcmaeonids
132-6 Miltiades’
end
137-140 The
Pelasgi; Miltiades secures Lemnos
Book VII
1-4 Further
preparations against Greece; death of Darius, dispute over
succession
(485)
5-6 Counsellors
urge Xerxes to war
7 Supression
of Egyptian revolt
8-11 Persian
council, speeches
12-18 Dreams
of Xerxes and Artabanus
19-25 Size
of expedition; preparations; Athos canal
26-32 March
to Sardis
33-37 Bridges
over Hellespont
37-43 March
to Abydos, order of march
44-56 review
of troops; dialogue Xerxes/Artabanus; crossing of bridge
57-60 To
Doriscus; the numbering of the troops
61-99 List
of tribal contingents of army and fleet
100-108 Xerxes
and Demaretus
108-126 Advance
to Therma; trouble feeding the army
128-130 King
to Tempe
131-127 Return
of the herald; list of Medizers; story of Sperchius
138-144 Services
of Athens to Greece. The Oracle of the “wooden walls,”
Themistokles,
and the building of the fleet.
145-147 Congress
of the Greeks; dispatch spies to Sardis
148-152 Negotiations
with Argos
153-167 Negotiations
with Gelon, with digressions
168-171 Fruitless
embassies to Corcyra and Crete
172-4 Failure
to hold Tempe
175-178 Position
of Greeks at Thermopylae, Artemisium
179-195 First
Naval operations
196-198 Xerxes
in Thessaly, Halus
198-239 Battle
of Thermopylae
198-201 Topography
of Thermopylae
202-7 Greeks
under Leonidas
208-9 Persians
at Thermopylae
210-225 Three
days of fighting at Thermopylae
226-233 exploits,
epitaphs, cowards, surrender of Thebans
234-9 Message
of Demaratus after Thermopylae
Book VIII
1-23 Battle
of Artemisium
24-26 Xerxes
and the Dead at Thermopylae; games
27-30 Feud
between Thessaly and Phokis
31-34 Advance
of Persians through Phokis to Boiotia
36-39 Miracle
preserves Delphi
40-112 Battle
of Salamis
40-49 Evacuation
of Attica; Greek council of war
50-55 Xerxes
pillages Attica; portents
56-65 Councils
of war; anecdotes, portents
66-69 Decisions
70-82 day
before battle
83-96 day
of battle
97-99 Xerxes
considers flight. News sent to Susa
100-102 Advice
of Mardonius and Artemisia
104-106 Hermotimus
and his revenge
107-112 Retreat
of Persian fleet; Themistokles & bridge
113-130 Retreat
of Xerxes to Thessaly and Sardis
121-125 Thank
offering; fame of Themistokles
126-129 Winter
480/479. Artabazus takes Olynthus, Potidaia
130-132 Persians
at Samos; Greeks to Delos
133-144 Mardonius
in Macedon; Athens will not yield.
Book IX
1-89 Battle
of Plataia
1-5 Mardonius
to Attica
6-11 Athenian
embassy to Sparta
12-15 Mardonius
leaves Attica for Boiotia
16-18 Banquet
at Thebes
19-24 Greeks
to Kithairon
25-32 Greeks
take second position; battle array
33-37 Seers
on either side
38-40 Reluctance
to attack
41-46 Eleventh
day
47-51 Twelfth
day; change positions
52-57 Night
of twelfth day
58-75 Battle
of Plataea
76-79 Assorted
stories about the battle
80-85 Booty,
dedications, tombs
86-89 Siege,
surrender, fate of Thebes
90-95 Samian
envoys reach Delos
96-107 Battle
of Mycale
108-113 News to Persian Court
114-122 Athenians besiege and take Sestos