an ancient Greek historian of Halicarnassus in Caria, son of Lyxus and Dryo, was born in the first year of the 74th Olympiad, that is, about 484 B.C. The city of Halicarnassus being at that time under the tyranny of Lygdamis grandson of Artemisia queen of Caria, Herodotus quitted his country and retired to Samos; from whence he travelled over Egypt, Greece, Italy, &c. and in his travels acquired the knowledge of the history and origin of many nations. He then began to digest the materials he had collected into order, and composed that history which has preserved his name among men ever since. He wrote it in the isle of Samos, according to the general opinion.—Lucian informs us, that when Herodotus left Caria to go into Greece, he began to consider with himself,

What he should do to be forever known And make the age to come his own, in the most expeditious way, and with as little trouble as possible. His history, he presumed, would easily procure him fame, and raise his name among the Grecians in whose favour it was written; but then he foresaw that it would be very tedious to go through the several cities of Greece, and recite it to each respective city; to the Athenians, Corinthians, Argives, Lacedemonians, &c. He thought it most proper therefore to take the opportunity of their assembling all together; and accordingly recited his work at the Olympic games, which rendered him more famous than even those who had obtained the prizes. None were ignorant of his name, nor was there a single person in Greece who had not seen him at the Olympic games, or heard those speak of him who had seen him there.

His work is divided into nine books; which, according to the computation of Dionysius Halicarnassensis, contain the most remarkable occurrences within a period of 240 years; from the reign of Cyrus the first king of Persia, to that of Xerxes when the historian was living. These nine books are called after the names of the nine mules, each book being distinguished by the name of a mule; and this has given birth to two disquisitions among the learned: 1. Whether they were so called by Herodotus himself; and, 2. For what reason they were so called. As to the first, it is generally agreed that Herodotus did not impose these names himself; but it is not agreed why they were imposed by others. Lucian tells us, that these names Herodotus were given them by the Grecians at the Olympic games, when they were first recited, as the best compliment that could be paid the man who had taken pains to do them so much honour. Others have thought that the names of the mules have been fixed upon them by way of reproach; and were designed to intimate, that Herodotus, instead of true history, had written a great deal of fable. But, be this as it will, it is certain, that with regard to the truth of his history, he is accused by several authors; and, on the other hand, he has not wanted persons to defend him. Aldus Manutius, Joachim Camerarius, and Henry Stephens, have written apologies for him; and, among other things, have very justly observed, that he seldom relates any thing of doubtful credit without producing the authority on which his narration is founded; and, if he has no certain authority to fix it upon, uses always the terms ut siquidem, ut ego audivi, &c.

There is ascribed also to Herodotus, but falsely, a Life of Homer, which is usually printed at the end of his work—He wrote in the Ionic dialect, and his style and manner have ever been admired by all people of taste. There have been several editions of the works of this historian; two by Henry Stephens, one in 1570, and the other in 1592; one by Gale at London in 1679; and one by Gronovius at Leyden in 1715, which is the last and best, though not the best printed.