problem of sources Flashcards
1
Q
presentation of persian kings in herodotus
A
individualises them: cyrus the father, cambyses the despot, xerxes the merchant - differentiated based on ruling style/level of financial exploitation of subordinate regions
herodotus leans heavily into narratives of chronological decline (think hesiod’s races of man) - founder being greater and the following dynasty’s becoming gradually lesser - doesn’t mean everything negative is without some foundation in real events but exercise caution
