[Herodotus2010] Herodotus Books 2 & 3 conference call RSVP

[Andre Stipanovic]

Dear fellow readers,
Happy belated Thanksgiving to you all.  I hope your reading is coming
along well.  Here are the discussion questions again for you to ponder as
we get ready for our next discussion scheduled for Monday December 6 @8pm
EST.  I will send out the specific conference phone information later this
week.  Let me know if you are able to attend our next conference call by
sending me a quick RSVP.  Thanks and happy reading.
Sincerely,
Andre

Books 2 & 3 Discussion Questions
1.  Book 2 – Consider this remark:  “As Herodotus introduces his long
digression on Egypt with a reference to the conquest of the Greeks (c. I.
2), so he skillfully concludes with a similar reference.” (How & Wells,
p. 256)
How relevant is this comment to the Persians’ eventual invasion of
Greece?  Even with a satisfactory observation, one may still be wondering
‘what does Book 2 have to do with the Persian invasion of Greece?’ 
Thoughts?

2.  Let’s look at the claim of Herodotus’ Hellenocentric point of
view.  What do Herodotus’ observations tell about Herodotus as a Greek? 
Are his observations an attempt to re-define Egypt according to Greek
culture?  or is Herodotus too much influenced by Egyptian culture to make
accurate statements in his History?

3.  Book 3 – The rise and fall of Cambyses -  How does Herodotus measure
the sanity of Cambyses?  How does Cambyses take advice and counsel in
comparison with his precedessor Cyrus?  What does Herodotus mean by
“custom is king of all” (3.38.4)?

4.  Book 3 – The rise of Darius - How should we view the transfer of
power from Cambyses to Darius?  Is this a monarchy?  despotism?  tyranny? 
oligarchy?

5. Book 3 – Darius and Democedes (3.129) – What does this story show
about Darius’ encounter with the Greeks?  What does this story have to
do with the story that ends Book 3, i.e. Zopyrus and the fall of Babylonia
to Darius?


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