HERODOTUS HISTORIES BOOK 2 THEMES AND
SUMMARY
THEMES
Foreign/otherness - FASCINATION
Authority of Herodotus as reliable historian - he is proving his trustworthiness in this
chapter
Geography of Egypt (2.1-2.35)
Cambyses inherited the throne after the death of Cyrus- he was his son of Cyrus
Herodotus notes that Cambyses had intentions to conquer Egypt
Herodotus uses this as an excuse to spend time describing Egypt at length-
FASCINATION WITH THEIR CULTURE/ FOREIGN CULTURE/ OTHERNESS-
DOES NOT ALWAYS HAVE NEGATIVE CONNOTATIONS
He tries to calculate the dimensions of the country and then describes the River Nile
2.6-9
Nile floods seasonally- supplying Egyptians with food and wealth
Herodotus considers all the local stories explaining why the Nile came into being
FASCINATION WITH EGYPT- shows an interest in the Foreign/ other - Herodotus
describes Egypt's geography in a very sophisticated and detailed way
Customs and Animals of Egypt (2.35-
The Egyptians have 'instituted customs and laws contrary for the most part to those of
the rest of mankind' 2.35.2- BY MANKIND, HE MEANS CONTRARY TO GREEK
CUSTOMS
Difference in customs include:
GENDER DIFFERENCES- "Among them, the women buy and sell, the men stay at
home and weave" 2.35.2, "Men carry burdens on their heads, women on their
shoulders. Women pass water standing, men sitting." 2.35.3
RELIGIOUS DIFFERENCES- Egyptians sacrifice bulls rather than cows 2.41.1,
priests shave their whole body for cleanliness 2.37.2
DOMESTIC DIFFERENCES- practice circumcision for cleanliness 2.37.2, they drink
from cups of bronze only 2.37.1, Egyptians are only people which keep their animals
with them in their houses 2.36.2, their way of writing his opposite to the Greeks: "The
Greeks write and calculate from left to right; the Egyptians do the opposite; yet they
SUMMARY
THEMES
Foreign/otherness - FASCINATION
Authority of Herodotus as reliable historian - he is proving his trustworthiness in this
chapter
Geography of Egypt (2.1-2.35)
Cambyses inherited the throne after the death of Cyrus- he was his son of Cyrus
Herodotus notes that Cambyses had intentions to conquer Egypt
Herodotus uses this as an excuse to spend time describing Egypt at length-
FASCINATION WITH THEIR CULTURE/ FOREIGN CULTURE/ OTHERNESS-
DOES NOT ALWAYS HAVE NEGATIVE CONNOTATIONS
He tries to calculate the dimensions of the country and then describes the River Nile
2.6-9
Nile floods seasonally- supplying Egyptians with food and wealth
Herodotus considers all the local stories explaining why the Nile came into being
FASCINATION WITH EGYPT- shows an interest in the Foreign/ other - Herodotus
describes Egypt's geography in a very sophisticated and detailed way
Customs and Animals of Egypt (2.35-
The Egyptians have 'instituted customs and laws contrary for the most part to those of
the rest of mankind' 2.35.2- BY MANKIND, HE MEANS CONTRARY TO GREEK
CUSTOMS
Difference in customs include:
GENDER DIFFERENCES- "Among them, the women buy and sell, the men stay at
home and weave" 2.35.2, "Men carry burdens on their heads, women on their
shoulders. Women pass water standing, men sitting." 2.35.3
RELIGIOUS DIFFERENCES- Egyptians sacrifice bulls rather than cows 2.41.1,
priests shave their whole body for cleanliness 2.37.2
DOMESTIC DIFFERENCES- practice circumcision for cleanliness 2.37.2, they drink
from cups of bronze only 2.37.1, Egyptians are only people which keep their animals
with them in their houses 2.36.2, their way of writing his opposite to the Greeks: "The
Greeks write and calculate from left to right; the Egyptians do the opposite; yet they
