Definition

Noun: 1. The Ancient Greek Historian: Herodotus is the name of an ancient Greek writer (c. 484–425 BC) traditionally called the "Father of History." He is known for his work The Histories, which chronicles the origins and events of the Greco-Persian Wars.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Herodotus traveled widely to collect information for his histories.
  • The methods of Herodotus combined inquiry with storytelling.
  • Scholars often compare the approaches of Herodotus and Thucydides.

Advanced Usage

• "Herodotean" (adjective): Pertaining to or characteristic of Herodotus or his style of historical writing, which often includes digressions, ethnographic descriptions, and a narrative focus.
  • The book's Herodotean scope covers the customs of many nations surrounding the central conflict.

Variants and Related Words

• Herodotean (adj): Of or relating to Herodotus.
• The Histories (n): The title of Herodotus's major work.

Synonyms

• The Father of History (an epithet).
• The Halicarnassian (referring to his birthplace, Halicarnassus).

Notes on Meaning

While "Herodotus" primarily refers to the historical figure, his name is often used metonymically to represent his written work or his methodological approach to recording the past.

Noun

1. the ancient Greek known as the father of history; his accounts of the wars between the Greeks and Persians are the first known examples of historical writing (485-425 BC)