Herodotus' Histories important figures

Croesus

• Immense wealth, consultation with oracles (Solon, the Delphic oracle), and defeat by Cyrus. (Herodotus Book 1.)

• War: War vs. Cyrus of Persia; fall of Sardis and Lydia.

• Character: Portrayed as proud and leisured, then humbled; his story is a moralizing example of fortune’s reversal (hubris then misfortune).

• Cyrus II (the Great)

• Known for: Founder of Persian dominion; defeats Croesus; liberating policy post-conquest (in Herodotus’ favorable depiction).

• Conflict: Expansion that absorbs Lydia, Median realms, and sets the stage for later Persian-Greek contact.

• Character: Portrayed as clever, energetic, politically skilled — a model conqueror.

• Cambyses II

• Conquering Egypt, stories of shocking behavior and possible madness.

• Conflict: Persian conquest of Egypt and subsequent domestic turmoil.

• Character: Herodotus relays many anecdotes painting Cambyses as cruel, impious, and unstable — though Herodotus sometimes signals moralizing rumor vs. confirmed fact.

• Darius I

• Known for centralizing Persian administration and later punishing Greek cities that aided Ionian rebels.

• Conflict: His reign led to Persian punitive expeditions against Greek mainland (background to Marathon era).

• Character: Methodical, administrative, and determined — less reckless than some predecessors.

• Xerxes I

• Known for: Massive 480 BCE invasion of Greece (bridge across the Hellespont, Thermopylae, Salamis campaign)

• Conflict: The main Persian invasion of Greece (Greco‑Persian Wars).

• Character: Grand and proud; Herodotus shows both his hubris (lavishness, intolerance of dissent) and moments of doubt or regret.

• Mardonius

• Known for: Leading a major Persian force in Greece and remaining as Persian commander in 479 BCE.

• Conflict: Persian operations leading to Plataea and later defeat.

• Character: Depicted as a proud, warlike noble who presses for continued military action.

• Artabanus

• Known for: A voice of counsel in Persian court who often advises caution against rash enterprises.

• Conflict: Involved in Persian court affairs around Xerxes’ campaign.

• Character: Portrayed as prudent and conservative — the foil to overreaching ambition.

• Artemisia

• ---

  of Halicarnassus

  • Known for: Commanding a contingent in Xerxes’ fleet and giving shrewd counsel; Herodotus treats her with admiration.

  • Conflict: Naval battles of 480 BCE (Salamis).

  • Character: Intelligent, brave, pragmatic; Herodotus admires her tactical sense even though she fights for Persia.

• Themistocles

• Known for: Advocate of a strong Athenian fleet; instrumental at Salamis and in saving Athens’ naval power.

• Conflict: Key Athenian leader during the 480 invasion.

• Character: Cunning, politically astute, occasionally unscrupulous but effective in crisis.

• Aristides

• Known for: Rival of Themistocles; reputation for fairness (nicknamed “the Just”); played roles in financing and politics.

• Conflict: Marathon-era politics and later Athenian politics surrounding the Persian threat.

• Character: Upright, principled — a moral counterpoint to Themistocles.

• Miltiades

• Known for: Leading Athenian forces to a decisive victory at Marathon (490 BCE).

• Conflict: Battle of Marathon against the invading Persian column under Datis.

• Character: Bold and decisive; his success is coupled with later political misfortune.

• Leonidas I

• Known for: The stand of the 300 (and allied Greeks) at Thermopylae.

• Conflict: Thermopylae (480 BCE) during Xerxes’ invasion.

• Character: Stoic, heroic, the ideal Spartan leader — duty before all.Known for: His leadership and bravery during the stand against the Persian army at Thermopylae.

• Pausanias

• (the Spartan regent)

  • Known for: Commanding Greek allied forces at Plataea; later accused of treasonous behavior.

  • Conflict: Plataea, the final decisive land battle against Persia in 479 BCE.

  • Character: Initially proud and commanding; Herodotus traces a tragic slide into arrogance and suspect political behavior.

• Aristagoras & Histiaeus

• Known for: Key instigators of the Ionian Revolt — Aristagoras as the immediate entrepreneur, Histiaeus as a manipulative figure with personal aims.

• Conflict: Ionian Revolt (499–494 BCE), the trigger for wider Persian-Greek conflict.

• Character: Both shown as ambitious and short-sighted — personal ambition combined with rash decisions.

• Amasis II

• (Egyptian pharaoh)

  • Known for: Cultural and diplomatic ties with Greek cities; appears in background stories and anecdotes.

  • Conflict: His reign is part of the backdrop to Persian conquest of Egypt.

  • Character: Depicted as shrewd, diplomatic, and interested in Greek culture.

• Polycrates

• (tyrant of Samos)

  • Known for: Powerful Aegean ruler whose fortunes and hubris are recounted as moral exempla.

  • Conflict: Mostly pre-war political background and anecdotal moral lessons.

  • Character: Bold, ostentatious, and ultimately punished by fortune.

• Hippias

• (Athenian tyrant)

  • Who/where: Former tyrant of Athens who sought Persian help after being deposed.

  • Conflict: His appeal helped motivate Persian interest in Athens (leading up to 490–480s events).

  • Character: Proud, desperate, and politically opportunistic (Herodotus shows him as a foil to democratic Athens).

• Cleomenes I

• (Spartan king)

  • Who/where: Agiad king of Sparta active in late 6th century BCE politics.

  • Conflict: Intervenes in Athenian politics (overthrow of Hippias) and fights wars in the Peloponnese that form part of the prelude to the Persian Wars.

  • Character: Bold, ruthless, and politically forceful — willing to use uncompromising measures.

• Demaratus

• (deposed Spartan king)

  • Who/where: Co‑king of Sparta who was deposed and subsequently spent time at the Persian court.

  • Conflict: His counsel and relationship with Xerxes appear in the invasion narrative.

  • Character: Proud, outspoken, sometimes prescient — Herodotus gives him dignity and an outsider’s perspective.

• Eurybiades

• (Spartan king/general)

  • Who/where: Spartan king who later commanded Greek forces after Xerxes’ withdrawal.

  • Conflict: Operations in the aftermath (e.g., Mycale) and later campaigns.

  • Character: Competent but later accused of corruption in Herodotus’ narrative.

• Leotychides

• Gyges

• (founder of the Lydian Mermnad dynasty)

  • Who/where: Earlier Lydian king whose origin story (murder of Candaules) features centrally in Herodotus’ Lydian history.

  • Conflict: Lydian dynastic background; sets stage for later Lydian‑Persian interactions.

  • Character: Ambitious and opportunistic; his rise is told as a morality tale.

• Candaules

• (Lydian king)

  • Who/where: Predecessor whose story with Gyges illustrates palace intrigue.

  • Conflict: Domestic Lydian story with wider dynastic consequences.

  • Character: Foolish and indiscreet in Herodotus’ anecdote.

• Periander

• tyrant of Corinth)

  • Who/where: One of the famous Greek tyrants often discussed in moralizing anecdotes.

  • Conflict: Mostly background political and moral tales rather than battlefield roles.

  • Character: Powerful, often harsh and cunning — an archetypal tyrant in Herodotus’ moral catalogue.

Artabanus

• Persian noble/counselor at Xerxes’ court. Herodotus uses him as a representative of prudent, conservative opinion in Persian deliberations.