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Do you have any questions about Herodotus, his work, the world he lived in, the remarkable stories he tells, or extravagant customs he describes in the Histories? You might be a high-school student or an advanced scholar, a casual reader of Herodotus’ work or a researcher in another field grappling with the Histories for the first time: we welcome questions from any degree of expertise or acquaintance with this endlessly fascinating but challenging ancient author and his work.
Check the Q&A below and if your question hasn’t been answered yet, click the “Ask the Helpline” button below and send us your question: one of the world leading experts in the field will respond. Further readings and bibliographical references are often suggested at the end of the entry.
No question is too silly to be asked. We look forward to hearing from you!
Questions and Answers
Who is Herodotus?
- Was Herodotus the ‘Father of History’?
- Why is Herodotus so important?
- What languages did Herodotus understand?
- Did Herodotus have friends?
- What was Herodotus’ favourite food?
Herodotus’ Afterlives
- What lessons can we learn from Herodotus in our daily lives?
- Why is Plutarch so angry about Herodotus?
Herodotus on Politics and Society
Herodotus and Other Cultures
- Is Herodotus Racist?
- How accurate is Herodotus’ description of Egypt?
- Where does the saying “Rich as Croesus” come from?
Can we Trust Herodotus?
- How reliable is Herodotus’ account of the Persian Wars?
- How accurate is Herodotus’ description of Egypt?
- Why is Plutarch so angry about Herodotus?
Herodotus in Translation
- What is the history of translation of Herodotus in Hebrew?
- What is the history of translation of Herodotus in Finnish?
- What is the history of translation of Herodotus in Irish?
- What is the history of translation of Herodotus in German?
Herodotus Helpline 