This Companion provides an up-to-date and accessible series of chapters examining the main aspects of the life and work of Herodotus, the first historian in the western tradition. Employing the newest research and methodologies, it incorporates and expands the rich scholarship on Herodotus of the last thirty years. A distinguished international team of scholars provides an introduction to his life and work as well as discussion of his intellectual background, his working methods and narrative techniques, and his views on nature and the gods, and history and human achievement.

Introduction Carolyn Dewald and John Marincola; 1. Herodotus and the poetry of the past John Marincola; 2. Herodotus and his prose predecessors Robert Fowler; 3. Herodotus and tragedy Jasper Griffin; 4. The intellectual milieu of Herodotus Rosalind Thomas; 5. Meta-historiê: method and genre in the Histories Nino Luraghi; 6. The syntax of historiê: how Herodotus writes Egbert Bakker; 7. Speech and narrative in the Histories Christopher Pelling; 8. Herodotus, Sophocles and the woman who wanted her brother saved Carolyn Dewald and Rachel Kitzinger; 9. Stories and story-telling in the Histories Alan Griffiths; 10. Humour and danger in Herodotus Carolyn Dewald; 11. Location and dislocation in Herodotus Rachel Friedman; 12. Herodotus and the natural world James Romm; 13. Herodotus and Greek religion Scott Scullion; 14. Warfare in Herodotus Lawrence Tritle; 15. Herodotus, political history and political thought Sara Forsdyke; 16. Herodotus and the cities of mainland Greece Philip Stadter; 17. Herodotus and Italy Rosaria Munson; 18. Herodotus and Persia Michael Flower; 19. Herodotus and foreign lands Tim Rood; 20. Herodotus' influence in antiquity Simon Hornblower; Glossary; Timeline.