Timeline of Power
This section provides a chronological overview of the major events in Book 1, focusing on the rise and fall of the great powers: Lydia, Media, and Persia. Click on an event to see a brief summary of its significance in Herodotus's narrative of escalating conflict and shifting fortunes.
Rise of Gyges
The Mermnad dynasty begins with Gyges's usurpation of the Lydian throne from Candaules. An oracle confirms his rule but prophesies vengeance in the fifth generation—a prophecy fulfilled by Croesus.
Reign of Croesus
Croesus, the fifth and final king of his dynasty, ascends the throne and expands the Lydian Empire to its zenith, subjugating the Ionian Greeks and accumulating immense wealth.
Revolt of Cyrus
Cyrus the Persian, grandson of the Median king Astyages, leads a successful revolt. He overthrows the Median Empire, establishing Persian dominance over the region.
Fall of Sardis
Misinterpreting an oracle, Croesus attacks the burgeoning Persian Empire. Cyrus decisively defeats him, captures his capital city Sardis, and ends the Lydian Empire, fulfilling the prophecy against Gyges's line.
Conquest of Ionia
Following the fall of their Lydian overlord, the Ionian Greek cities are systematically conquered by Cyrus's general, Harpagus. This event marks the first major subjugation of Greeks by the Persian Empire.
Fall of Babylon
Cyrus marches on the great city of Babylon. By diverting the Euphrates river, his army enters the city through the riverbed, capturing the Assyrian capital and vastly expanding Persian territory.
Death of Cyrus
Cyrus's reign of conquest ends in a disastrous campaign against the Massagetae. He is defeated and killed by their queen, Tomyris, a stark reminder of the cyclical nature of fortune that Herodotus emphasizes throughout the book.
Duration of Imperial Dominance
Key Figures
The narrative of Book 1 is driven by the ambitions, flaws, and fates of its central characters. These individuals embody Herodotus's key themes of hubris, fate, and the clash of cultures. Click on a figure to learn more about their story and their role in the unfolding history.
The Oracles' Riddles
The oracles, especially the one at Delphi, play a crucial role in the story of Croesus. Their ambiguous prophecies drive him toward his doom, illustrating the danger of human pride in interpreting the words of the gods. Click on each card to reveal how the prophecy was tragically fulfilled.
Cultural Codex
Herodotus was not just a historian but also an early ethnographer, deeply interested in the customs (nomoi) of different peoples. Book 1 is rich with descriptions of Lydian, Persian, Babylonian, and Massagetae practices. Explore the unique traditions of each culture as recorded by Herodotus.