Being a Hero in The Histories of Herodotus

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Many people consider him the father of history; others prefer to call him the father of lies. Whatever may be your perception of Herodotus’ work, the truth is that Herodotus began a new manner of writing history in which human psychology takes a fundamental place. He was the first historian who really considered the reasons why things happen and did not limit his narrative to just facts. His book The Histories evidences all the distinctive features that he employs through his description of facts as well as the intrinsic analysis that he includes to his storyline about controversial topics like the definition of what heroes really are. Indeed, The Histories’ book 7 reveals Herodotus’ astonishing and unique view of heroism. During his description of the facts that took place during the war between Persians and Greeks, Herodotus presents the qualities and attributes which, for his understanding, make a real hero. In his book, Herodotus talks about Xerxes, the king of the Persians who led the offense against the Greeks, and Leonidas, the king of the Spartans who fought with honor and bravery against the Persians. According to Herodotus, although Xerxes won the war with big advantage, Leonidas was the real hero of the story because he confronted the enemy with great passion, humility, strength, and bravery.

The main conceptualization that Herodotus has about a hero is that it has to be someone who follows the traits of the culture. Xerxes, who was the king of Persia and who started the war between Persians and Greeks, does not fit into this characterization. Indeed, Herodotus makes special remark on Xerxes’ violations of the Persian culture. He includes in his narrative the dramatic request of Xerxes to stick Leonidas’ head on a pole...

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... great admiration for the Lacedaemonians. His admiration is such that he said that “…the Lacedaemonians fought a battle to remember!” (193) and he even knew the name of all the 300 men who fought with Leonidas against the Persians. But besides his admiration for all the Lacedaemonians and Spartans in general, he had a special interest on Leonidas, because he sees him as a hero. Leonidas embodies all the attributes that Herodotus was looking for in a person in order to recognize him as a hero. He was passionate, humble, strong, and incredibly brave. He cared about all Spartans and the people who were chosen to fight with him against the Persians. Leonidas was a Spartan who changed the meaning of the word heroism and who will remain on history as one of the noblest and bravest men that the humanity ever had.

Works Cited
Herodotus. The Histories. New York: Norton, 1992.

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