Introduction to Herodotus’ The Persian Wars (10 vols.)

Explore the climactic events of ancient Greece as Herodotus intended, with the Introduction to Herodotus’ The Persian Wars. This collection is perfect for both students and enthusiasts interested in reading these classic accounts in the original Greek for the first time. In addition to the Loeb Classical Library editions of Herodotus, this collection includes Cynthia W. Shelmderdine’s Introduction to Greek—a full curriculum for a first year course in classical Greek at the university level, complete with readings designed to kick-start comprehension of classic texts. Lastly, Edward Ross Wharton’s Etyma Graeca provides a vocabulary foundation in 5,000 words from which most all other classical Greek words are built.

In The Persian Wars, Herodotus, the “Father of History,” gives a rich, first-hand examination of the ancient world surrounding the rise and rule of the Persian Empire alongside a concise history and cultural background of Scythia and Egypt. This unprecedented historical work also features iconic accounts of the battles at Marathon, Thermopylae, and Salamis, worked into a narrative of conflicting ideals—Persian slavery versus Greek freedom. Herodotus, who spent much of his life traveling, was one of the most erudite historians of his time. His historical accounts and cultural depictions are based primarily on his personal experience and supplemented with his historical acumen.