Herodotus

We've adapted the histories of Herodotus to be friendly for kids. We tour the ancient world including the Near East, Persia, Egypt, and of course Greece, and we build up to second Persian invasion of Greece in 480 BC. Follow history back in time, through fact, fiction and even a bit of mythology.

  • Audio Story

    Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh

    The Magi at Christmas

    We’ve heard of Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh from the Christmas story in the Bible. What has the ancient Greek, Herodotus to tell us about these wondrous gifts?

  • Audio Story

    Cambyses – The Crazy King?

    Apis the bull god

    Cambyses, King of Persia, invaded Egypt. The conqueror showed no respect for Egyptian customs. For example, he threw a spear at the Egyptian bull-god, Apis. Herodotus says this proves he was crazy. What do you think?

  • Audio Story

    Herodotus – the Pyramids

    Sphinx and Pyramids of Gaza, Egypt

    The ancient Pyramids of Egypt were built 4,500 years ago. The ancient Greek Herodotus tells us how they were built – and mentions some projects that he thinks are even more amazing.

  • Audio Story

    Herodotus: The Egyptians and the Greeks

    Samos

    Egyptian Pharaoh Amasis made friends with powerful Greeks of his time. We include a famous story about the Greek ruler, Polycrates of Samos, and his golden ring.

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    Herodotus: The Sacred Animals of Ancient Egypt

    Sacred Bull of Egypt and Falcon

    Herodotus tells us that ancient Egyptians worshiped cows and bulls. How and why did they do that? Bertie investigates…

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    Herodotus – the Animals of Ancient Egypt

    Crocodile and Egyptian Plover birds

    Herodotus tells about Crocodiles, Hippos, flying snakes, the Ibis, and the Phoenix

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    Herodotus: The Gods of Ancient Egypt

    Egyptian Anubis (with dog head) weighing heart of dead Osiris and Isis look on

    Herodotus often wrote about the Egyptian gods under Greek names. He thought the Egyptian gods were more or less the same as the Greek ones. Was he right?

  • Audio Story

    Herodotus – The River Nile

    Boat on Nile in ancient Egypt

    Herodotus visited Egypt and devoted the Second Book of his Histories to its wonders. He called Egypt the “Gift of the Nile” and looked at varios theories about where its true source was, and why it flooded its banks every year.

  • Audio Story

    Ancient Babylon

    lion of Babylon

    The largest and most splendid city in the ancient world was captured by King Cyrus of Persia in 539 BC. The story is entwined with the history of the Jews in the Bible who were exiled to the rivers of Babylon.

  • Audio Story

    The Cretan Bull

    Bull Jumping on Crete in Minoan times

    Bertie is on the Greek Island of Crete and relates two famous legends from the time of King Minos – and how they blend into History in the writing of Herodotus.