The `Father of History', born at Halikarnassos in Caria, writing in the mid-5th century. His 'History' is intended to explore the origins and course of the wars of the Greeks and Persians and involves considerable detail about non-Greek countries (Babylonia, Scythia, Egypt) as well as ethnographical detail, which he collected from travelling and the few available written sources. He tried to be impartial and, for his day, was properly critical of poor sources or implausible events.
Above: Plaster bust of Herodotos, Ashmolean Museum, Cast Gallery. Cast No. C144 © Ashmolean Museum