# Herodotus

> Greek historian and geographer (c.484–c.425 BC)

**Wikidata**: [Q26825](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q26825)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herodotus)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/herodotus

## Summary
Herodotus was a Greek historian and geographer from Halicarnassus who lived approximately between 484 BC and 425 BC. He is best known for authoring the *Histories*, a foundational work that documents the past events and tracks of history, earning him the title "Father of History." His work established the field of history as a distinct discipline, bridging the study of geography and politics in the ancient world.

## Biography
- **Born**: c. 484 BC (Date: -0484-01-01T00:00:00Z) in Halicarnassus (ancient Greek city in Caria, present-day Bodrum, Turkey).
- **Nationality**: Greek (Citizenship: Q5843680).
- **Education**: Data not available in source material.
- **Known for**: Authoring the *Histories*, a comprehensive record of history and geography.
- **Employer(s)**: Data not available in source material.
- **Field(s)**: History, Geography, Writing.

## Contributions
Herodotus's primary contribution is the creation of the *Histories*, a work initiated around 440 BC (inception: -0440-00-00T00:00:00Z). This text serves as a seminal record of human events, exploring the past and its tracks. As a writer, he used written words to communicate ideas and produce literary works that defined the genre of history. His work also encompasses geography, as he functioned as a scholar whose area of study included the physical and human features of the world. Additionally, his name is associated with the lunar impact crater named "Herodotus," and his legacy extends to the genus of insects named "Herodotia."

## FAQs
**Q: What are the primary roles Herodotus is known for?**
A: Herodotus is recognized as a historian, geographer, and writer. He is specifically noted for his work in exploring and presenting history, as well as studying geography.

**Q: When and where was Herodotus born?**
A: He was born in Halicarnassus, an ancient Greek city located in Caria (modern-day Bodrum, Turkey), around 484 BC.

**Q: What is the significance of his work, the *Histories*?**
A: The *Histories* is a major literary work by Herodotus that documents past events and their records. It was created around 440 BC and remains a foundational text in the study of history.

**Q: How is Herodotus remembered in science and astronomy?**
A: His name has been immortalized in a lunar impact crater called "Herodotus" and in the genus of insects known as "Herodotia."

**Q: What identifiers are associated with Herodotus in academic databases?**
A: He is identified by numerous catalog numbers, including the GND ID 118549855, the VIAF ID 100225976, and the Library of Congress control number n79086888.

## Why They Matter
Herodotus matters because he established the methodology for recording and analyzing human events, effectively creating the discipline of history. By documenting the tracks and records of the past, he provided a framework for understanding how societies and events evolve over time. His work in geography and history allows modern scholars to trace the development of ancient civilizations and their political structures. Without his contributions, the systematic study of the past and the understanding of ancient Greek culture would lack a primary source of such magnitude. His influence extends beyond history into the broader understanding of human activity and group decisions.

## Notable For
- **Foundational Work**: Authoring the *Histories*, the first major work of history in Western literature.
- **Title**: Often referred to as the "Father of History."
- **Dual Expertise**: Recognized as both a historian and a geographer.
- **Astronomical Legacy**: A lunar impact crater is named in his honor.
- **Taxonomic Legacy**: A genus of insects is named *Herodotia* after him.
- **Historical Scope**: His work covers the past events and their tracks, defining the scope of historical inquiry.
- **Cultural Origin**: Hailing from Halicarnassus, a significant ancient Greek city in Caria.

## Body

### Early Life and Origins
Herodotus was born in Halicarnassus, an ancient Greek city situated in Caria, which is present-day Bodrum in Turkey. The city's inception dates back to 1100 BC. He was a member of the human species, *Homo sapiens*, and is classified as a unique extant species of the genus *Homo*. His birth is recorded as occurring around 484 BC, and he lived until approximately 425 BC. He is identified as a Greek citizen, with his citizenship linked to the specific entity Q5843680.

### Professional Identity and Fields
Herodotus held multiple professional identities, functioning as a historian, a geographer, and a writer. As a historian, he was a scholar dedicated to the exploration and presentation of history. As a geographer, his area of study focused on the physical and human features of the earth. As a writer, he utilized written words to communicate ideas and produce literary works. His work intersected with the fields of history, which deals with past events and their tracks, and geography. While he is associated with politics as a field of study regarding group decisions, his primary role was that of a scholar rather than a politician holding government office.

### Major Works: The Histories
His most significant contribution is the work titled *Histories*. This work was created around 440 BC. The *Histories* serves as a comprehensive record of history, documenting past events and their tracks. It is a literary work that communicates ideas through written words. This text is central to his legacy as a historian and geographer. The work is cataloged under the identifier Q746583 in Wikidata.

### Legacy and Nomenclature
Herodotus's name has been adopted in various scientific and astronomical contexts. A lunar impact crater is named "Herodotus," acknowledging his contribution to human knowledge. Additionally, a genus of insects is named "Herodotia," further extending his name into the natural sciences. His name appears in various forms across different languages and scripts, including "Ἡρόδοτος Ἁλικαρνᾱσσεύς" in Greek, "Herodotus" in English, "Hérodote" in French, and "Herodoto" in Spanish and Italian.

### Academic and Library Identifiers
Herodotus is associated with a vast array of identifiers across global library and academic systems.
- **GND**: 118549855
- **VIAF**: 100225976, 4183147907508079210004, 4194151247992944270005, 361144647696882257017, 165151776736318010617, 753154381062630292484, 402144647701834919908, 80163510515710932408, 216167803126417771311, 210167803127817771329, 245167803128617771338, 662168049022538410002
- **LCCN**: n79086888
- **ISNI**: 0000000123530133
- **BnF**: 119073789
- **NLA**: 35757038
- **Open Library**: OL90792A
- **NLI**: 000082455, 000031457, 000078723
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### Related Entities and Concepts
Herodotus is linked to the concept of politics, which involves activities associated with group decisions. While he is not primarily a politician, his work covers political activities and governance. He is also associated with the concept of history, which encompasses past events and their tracks. His work is connected to the field of writing, where he used written words to communicate ideas. The entity "Herodotus" is also linked to a lunar impact crater and a genus of insects, demonstrating the breadth of his influence beyond human history.

## References

1. Czech National Authority Database
2. Suda
3. Dictionary of African Biography
4. BeWeB
5. Mirabile: Digital Archives for Medieval Culture
6. Library of the World's Best Literature
7. CiNii Research
8. Virtual International Authority File
9. MusicBrainz
10. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
11. [Source](http://digitale.beic.it/primo_library/libweb/action/search.do?fn=search&vid=BEIC&vl%283134987UI0%29=creator&vl%28freeText0%29=Herodotus)
12. [Source](https://www.bartleby.com/library/bios/index8.html)
13. CONOR.SI
14. BBC Things
15. Treccani's Enciclopedia on line
16. Enciclopedia Treccani
17. [Source](http://www.maru.firenze.sbn.it/MareMagnum/mare_magnum.htm)
18. LIBRIS. 2012
19. [The history of Herodotus of Halicanassus. The transl. of G. Rawlinson ; revised and annotated by A. W. Lawrence. With nine wood engravings by V. Le Campion and a series of new maps by T. Poulton to wich is added a life of Herodotus and the Behistun inscription](https://www.stedelijk.nl/nl/collectie/87819-francis-meynell-the-history-of-herodotus-of-halicanassus.-the-transl.-of-g.-rawlinson-revised-and-annotated-by-a.-w.-lawrence.-with-nine-wood-engravings-by-v.-le-campion-and-a-series-of)
20. Dizionario di Storia
21. Bibliography of the History of the Czech Lands
22. CollectieGelderland
23. HMML Authority File
24. Clavis Historicorum Antiquitatis Posterioris