Herodotus (c. 484 – c. 425 BC) was a Greek historian and geographer from Halicarnassus, then under Persian rule. Known as "The Father of History", he wrote The Histories, a detailed account of the Greco-Persian Wars, combining historical events with cultural and ethnographic observations. His work, written in the Ionian dialect, was the first attempt at systematic historical recording.
Herodotus traveled extensively, visiting Egypt, Persia, and Greece to collect information firsthand. His accounts include descriptions of battles like Marathon, Thermopylae, and Salamis, as well as insights into various civilizations. Despite his pioneering approach, he was criticized for including myths and unverified stories, earning him the nickname "The Father of Lies". Thucydides, a later historian, dismissed his methods as too anecdotal.
Later in life, Herodotus moved to Athens, where he was well received, and then to the Athenian colony of Thurii in Italy, where he likely died around 425 BC. Though once questioned, many of his accounts have been confirmed by modern archaeology. His work remains a foundational source for understanding the ancient world.