Herodotus, Custom Rules (from Th Quotes

A collection of quotes by Herodotus, Custom Rules (from Th.

Herodotus, known as the "Father of History," was an ancient Greek historian born in Halicarnassus (modern-day Bodrum, Turkey) around 484 BCE. His most famous work, The Histories, is considered the first major historical narrative, covering the Persian Wars and providing valuable insights into the cultures and societies of the ancient world. Herodotus traveled extensively, gathering information from various sources and conducting interviews to compile his accounts. His writing style incorporated both factual information and entertaining anecdotes, making his work not only informative but also engaging. Herodotus' contributions to the field of history laid the foundation for future historians and continue to be studied and appreciated to this day.

In view of all this, I have no doubt that Cambyses was completely out of his mind; it is the only possible explanation of his assault upon, and mockery of, everything which ancient law and custom have made sacred in Egypt. If anyone, no matter who, were given the opportunity of choosing from amongst all the nations in the world the set of beliefs which he thought best, he would inevitably, after careful consideration of their relative merits, choose that of his own country. Everyone without exception believes his own native customs, and the religion he was brought up in, to be the best; and that being so, it is unlikely that anyone but a madman would mock at such things. There is abundant evidence that this is the universal feeling about the ancient customs of one's country. One might recall, in particular, an anecdote of Darius. When he was king of Persia, he summoned the Greeks who happened to be present in his court, and asked them what they would take to eat the dead bodies of their fathers. They replied that they would not do it for any money in the world. Later, in the presence of the Greeks, and through an interpreter, so that they could understand what was said, he asked some Indians, of the tribe called the Callatiae, who do in fact eat their parents' dead bodies, what they would take to burn them. They uttered a cry of horror and forbade him to mention such a dreadful thing. One can see by this what custom can do, and Pindar, in my opinion, was right when he called it king of all.(Herodotus is expressing his own feelings about the story of the madness of Cambyses)

Herodotus, Custom Rules (from Th

Customs