Description
By Alfred J. Church. Color edition. Journey into the ancient world of kings, empires, distant lands, and remarkable events through the stories of Herodotus, known as the father of history.
In Stories of the East from Herodotus, classical scholar Alfred J. Church retells selected episodes from Herodotus’s Histories. Remaining close to his ancient source without attempting a direct translation, Church presents the rulers, peoples, customs, and conflicts of the ancient East in clear and engaging prose.
Within these pages are the stories of Croesus and the fall of Lydia, the rise of Cyrus the Great, the conquest of Babylon, the kings and customs of Egypt, the troubled reign of Cambyses, the accession of Darius, and the Persian campaign against the Scythians. Alongside accounts of conquest, rebellion, and ambition are Herodotus’s observations of distant lands and the peoples who inhabited them.
Church preserves the character of Herodotus’s narratives while offering readers an introduction to the histories and cultures of Lydia, Persia, Babylon, Egypt, and Scythia.
This carefully restored edition presents Church’s classic retelling together with illustrations drawn from ancient frescoes and sculptures. Ideal for students and readers interested in Herodotus, ancient history, and the civilizations of the ancient world, Stories of the East from Herodotus offers an inviting introduction to one of history’s earliest and most influential historians.
About the author: Alfred John Church (1829–1912) was an English classical scholar, teacher, and author who served as professor of Latin at University College London from 1880 to 1888. Together with William Jackson Brodribb, he translated works by Tacitus and edited and translated the letters of Pliny the Younger. Church also wrote numerous retellings of classical history and literature for younger readers, including Stories from Homer, Stories from Virgil, and The Story of the Persian War.
