Kitap 1
This is the display of the inquiry of Herodotus of Bodrum [27.466,37.5] (inhabited place), Mugla Ili, Ege kiyilari, Turkey, Asia Halicarnassus , so that things done by man not be forgotten in time, and that great and marvelous deeds, some displayed by the Hellenes, some by the barbarians, not lose their glory, including among others what was the cause of their waging war on each other.
The Persian learned men say that the Phoenicians were the cause of the dispute. These (they say) came to our seas from the sea which is called Red,Not the modern Red Sea [42,15] (sea) Red Sea , but the Persian Gulf [53.83,25.583] (gulf), Asia Persian Gulf and adjacent waters. and having settled in the country which they still occupy, at once began to make long voyages. Among other places to which they carried Egyptian and Assyrian merchandise, they came to Argos [22.7333,37.6417] (Perseus) Argos ,
which was at that time preeminent in every way among the people of what is now called Greece [22,39] (nation), Europe Hellas . The Phoenicians came to Argos [22.7333,37.6417] (Perseus) Argos , and set out their cargo.
On the fifth or sixth day after their arrival, when their wares were almost all sold, many women came to the shore and among them especially the daughter of the king, whose name was Io (according to Persians and Greeks alike), the daughter of Inachus.
As these stood about the stern of the ship bargaining for the wares they liked, the Phoenicians incited one another to set upon them. Most of the women escaped: Io and others were seized and thrown into the ship, which then sailed away for Egypt [30,27] (nation), Africa Egypt .
In this way, the Persians say (and not as the Greeks), was how Io came to Egypt [30,27] (nation), Africa Egypt , and this, according to them, was the first wrong that was done. Next, according to their story, some Greeks (they cannot say who) landed at Tyre [35.183,33.266] (inhabited place), Al-Janub, Lebanon, Asia Tyre in Phoenicia (region (general)), Asia Phoenicia and carried off the king's daughter Europa. These Greeks must, I suppose, have been Cretans. So far, then, the account between them was balanced. But after this (they say), it was the Greeks who were guilty of the second wrong.
They sailed in a long ship to Aea, a city of the Colchians, and to the river Poti [41.683,42.183] (inhabited place), regions under republican jurisdiction, Georgia, Asia Phasis :This is the legendary cruise of the Argonauts. and when they had done the business for which they came, they carried off the king's daughter Medea.
When the Colchian king sent a herald to demand reparation for the robbery and restitution of his daughter, the Greeks replied that, as they had been refused reparation for the abduction of the Argive Io, they would not make any to the Colchians.
Then (they say), in the second generation after this, Alexandrus, son of Priam, who had heard this tale, decided to get himself a wife from Greece [22,39] (nation), Europe Hellas by capture; for he was confident that he would not suffer punishment.
So he carried off Helen. The Greeks first resolved to send messengers demanding that Helen be restored and atonement made for the seizure; but when this proposal was made, the Trojans pleaded the seizure of Medea, and reminded the Greeks that they asked reparation from others, yet made none themselves, nor gave up the booty when asked.
So far it was a matter of mere seizure on both sides. But after this (the Persians say), the Greeks were very much to blame; for they invaded Asia (continent) Asia before the Persians attacked Europe (continent) Europe .
“We think,” they say, “that it is unjust to carry women off. But to be anxious to avenge rape is foolish: wise men take no notice of such things. For plainly the women would never have been carried away, had they not wanted it themselves.
We of Asia (continent) Asia did not deign to notice the seizure of our women; but the Greeks, for the sake of a Lacedaemonian woman, recruited a great armada, came to Asia (continent) Asia , and destroyed the power of Priam.
Ever since then we have regarded Greeks as our enemies.” For the Persians claim Asia (continent) Asia for their own, and the foreign peoples that inhabit it; Europe (continent) Europe and the Greek people they consider to be separate from them.
Such is the Persian account; in their opinion, it was the taking of Troy [26.2833,39.9167] (Perseus) Troy which began their hatred of the Greeks.
But the Phoenicians do not tell the same story about Io as the Persians. They say that they did not carry her off to Egypt [30,27] (nation), Africa Egypt by force. She had intercourse in Argos [22.7333,37.6417] (Perseus) Argos with the captain of the ship. Then, finding herself pregnant, she was ashamed to have her parents know it, and so, lest they discover her condition, she sailed away with the Phoenicians of her own accord.
These are the stories of the Persians and the Phoenicians. For my part, I shall not say that this or that story is true, but I shall identify the one who I myself know did the Greeks unjust deeds, and thus proceed with my history, and speak of small and great cities of men alike.
For many states that were once great have now become small; and those that were great in my time were small before. Knowing therefore that human prosperity never continues in the same place, I shall mention both alike.
Croesus was a Lydian by birth, son of Alyattes, and sovereign of all the nations west of the river Halys River (river), Turkey, Asia Halys , which flows from the south between Syria [38,35] (nation), Asia Syria and Paphlagonia (region (general)), Turkey, Asia Paphlagonia and empties into the sea called Black Sea [38,42] (sea) Euxine .
This Croesus was the first foreigner whom we know who subjugated some Greeks and took tribute from them, and won the friendship of others: the former being the Ionians, the Aeolians, and the Dorians of Asia (continent) Asia , and the latter the Lacedaemonians.
Before the reign of Croesus, all Greeks were free: for the Cimmerian host which invaded Ionia (region (general)), Europe Ionia before his time did not subjugate the cities, but raided and robbed them.
Now the sovereign power that belonged to the descendants of Heracles Descendants of Heracles seems to mean descended from the Asiatic sun god identified with Heracles by the Greeks. fell to the family of Croesus, called the Mermnadae, in the following way.
Candaules, whom the Greeks call Myrsilus, was the ruler of Sardis [28.0167,38.475] (Perseus) Sardis ; he was descended from Alcaeus, son of Heracles; Agron son of Ninus, son of Belus, son of Alcaeus, was the first Heraclid king of Sardis [28.0167,38.475] (Perseus) Sardis and Candaules son of Myrsus was the last.
The kings of this country before Agron were descendants of Lydus, son of Atys, from whom this whole Lydian district got its name; before that it was called the land of the Meii.
The Heraclidae, descendants of Heracles and a female slave of Iardanus, received the sovereignty from these and held it, because of an oracle; and they ruled for twenty-two generations, or five hundred and five years, son succeeding father, down to Candaules son of Myrsus.
This Candaules, then, fell in love with his own wife, so much so that he believed her to be by far the most beautiful woman in the world; and believing this, he praised her beauty beyond measure to Gyges son of Dascylus, who was his favorite among his bodyguard; for it was to Gyges that he entrusted all his most important secrets.
After a little while, Candaules, doomed to misfortune, spoke to Gyges thus: “Gyges, I do not think that you believe what I say about the beauty of my wife; men trust their ears less than their eyes: so you must see her naked.” Gyges protested loudly at this.
“Master,” he said, “what an unsound suggestion, that I should see my mistress naked! When a woman's clothes come off, she dispenses with her modesty, too.
Men have long ago made wise rules from which one ought to learn; one of these is that one should mind one's own business. As for me, I believe that your queen is the most beautiful of all women, and I ask you not to ask of me what is lawless.”
Speaking thus, Gyges resisted: for he was afraid that some evil would come of it for him. But this was Candaules' answer: “Courage, Gyges! Do not be afraid of me, that I say this to test you, or of my wife, that you will have any harm from her. I will arrange it so that she shall never know that you have seen her.
I will bring you into the chamber where she and I lie and conceal you behind the open door; and after I have entered, my wife too will come to bed. There is a chair standing near the entrance of the room: on this she will lay each article of her clothing as she takes it off, and you will be able to look upon her at your leisure.
Then, when she moves from the chair to the bed, turning her back on you, be careful she does not see you going out through the doorway.”
As Gyges could not escape, he consented. Candaules, when he judged it to be time for bed, brought Gyges into the chamber; his wife followed presently, and when she had come in and was laying aside her garments, Gyges saw her;
when she turned her back upon him to go to bed, he slipped from the room. The woman glimpsed him as he went out, and perceived what her husband had done. But though shamed, she did not cry out or let it be seen that she had perceived anything, for she meant to punish Candaules;
since among the Lydians and most of the foreign peoples it is felt as a great shame that even a man be seen naked.
For the present she made no sign and kept quiet. But as soon as it was day, she prepared those of her household whom she saw were most faithful to her, and called Gyges. He, supposing that she knew nothing of what had been done, answered the summons; for he was used to attending the queen whenever she summoned him.
When Gyges came, the lady addressed him thus: “Now, Gyges, you have two ways before you; decide which you will follow. You must either kill Candaules and take me and the throne of Lydia [27.516,38.683] (region (general)), Turkey, Asia Lydia for your own, or be killed yourself now without more ado; that will prevent you from obeying all Candaules' commands in the future and seeing what you should not see.
One of you must die: either he, the contriver of this plot, or you, who have outraged all custom by looking on me uncovered.” Gyges stood awhile astonished at this; presently, he begged her not to compel him to such a choice.
But when he could not deter her, and saw that dire necessity was truly upon him either to kill his master or himself be killed by others, he chose his own life. Then he asked: “Since you force me against my will to kill my master, I would like to know how we are to lay our hands on him.”
She replied, “You shall come at him from the same place where he made you view me naked: attack him in his sleep.”