The History of Herodotus, volume 1 | Page 5

1882), to which I am under obligation, having checked my own by it, I find that I have
marked upwards of two hundred mistakes or oversights: no doubt I have been saved by it
from at least as many.

THE HISTORY OF HERODOTUS

BOOK I
THE FIRST BOOK OF THE HISTORIES, CALLED CLIO
This is the Showing forth of the Inquiry of Herodotus of Halicarnassos, to the end that[1]
neither the deeds of men may be forgotten by lapse of time, nor the works[2] great and
marvellous, which have been produced some by Hellenes and some by Barbarians, may
lose their renown; and especially that the causes may be remembered for which these
waged war with one another.
1. Those of the Persians who have knowledge of history declare that the Phenicians first
began the quarrel. These, they say, came from that which is called the Erythraian Sea to
this of ours; and having settled in the land where they continue even now to dwell, set
themselves forthwith to make long voyages by sea. And conveying merchandise of Egypt
and of Assyria they arrived at other places and also at Argos; now Argos was at that time
in all points the first of the States within that land which is now called Hellas;--the
Phenicians arrived then at this land of Argos, and began to dispose of their ship's cargo:
and on the fifth or sixth day after they had arrived, when their goods had been almost all
sold, there came down to the sea a great company of women, and among them the
daughter of the king; and her name, as the Hellenes also agree, was Io the daughter of
Inachos. These standing near to the stern of the ship were buying of the wares such as
pleased them most, when of a sudden the Phenicians, passing the word from one to
another, made a rush upon them; and the greater part of the women escaped by flight, but
Io and certain others were carried off. So they put them on board their ship, and forthwith
departed, sailing away to Egypt. 2. In this manner the Persians report that Io came to
Egypt, not agreeing therein with the Hellenes,[3] and this they say was the first beginning
of wrongs. Then after this, they say, certain Hellenes (but the name of the people they are
not able to report) put in to the city of Tyre in Phenicia and carried off the king's daughter
Europa;--these would doubtless be Cretans;--and so they were quits for the former injury.
After this however the Hellenes, they say, were the authors of the second wrong; for they
sailed in to Aia of Colchis and to the river Phasis with a ship of war, and from thence,
after they had done the other business for which they came, they carried off the king's
daughter Medea: and the king of Colchis sent a herald to the land of Hellas and

demanded satisfaction for the rape[4] and to have his daughter back; but they answered
that, as the Barbarians had given them no satisfaction for the rape of Io the Argive, so
neither would they give satisfaction to the Barbarians for this.
3. In the next generation after this, they say, Alexander the son of Priam, having heard of
these things, desired to get a wife for himself by violence[4] from Hellas, being fully
assured that he would not be compelled to give any satisfaction for this wrong, inasmuch
as the Hellenes gave none for theirs. So he carried off Helen, and the Hellenes resolved to
send messengers first and to demand her back with satisfaction for the rape; and when
they put forth this demand, the others alleged to them the rape of Medea, saying that the
Hellenes were now desiring satisfaction to be given to them by others, though they had
given none themselves nor had surrendered the person when demand was made.
4. Up to this point, they say, nothing more happened than the carrying away of women on
both sides; but after this the Hellenes were very greatly to blame; for they set the first
example of war, making an expedition into Asia before the Barbarians made any into
Europe. Now they say that in their judgment, though it is an act of wrong to carry away
women by force, it is a folly to set one's heart on taking vengeance for their rape, and the
wise course is to pay no regard when they have been carried away; for it is evident that
they would never be carried away if they were not themselves willing to go. And the
Persians say that they, namely the people of Asia, when their women were carried away
by force, had made it a matter of