Hero dot us, b

484 B.C. "Father of History," b. at Halicarna us in Caria. He traveled over a large portion of the ancient world, settling finally at Thurii in Italy, where he finished his great history, in nine books, which recounts the struggles of the Greeks down to the final repulse of the Persians. In the course of it he makes numerous long digre ions, wherein he gives the history of nations as they enter into relations with the main actors in the history: thus the second book treats of Egypt; Babylon too is described at length. While the work is thus discursive, the narrative is told in a charming style and contains a vast store of information regarding the early history of the nations concerned. It is written in the Ionic dialect. The best English translation is that of G. Rawlin son, 4 vols., 1875.