“The Reception of Herodotus in Antiquity & Beyond”
Professor Chris Carey Department of Greek & Latin; UCL
Dr. Vasiliki Zali Department of Greek & Latin; UCL
Dr. Jessica Priestley Institute of Greece, Rome & the Classical Tradition, Uni of
Bristol
This project will provide the first extended and detailed account of the
reception of Herodotus, the first European historian, with a particular
emphasis on the geographical space of Europe (Greece, Byzantium, Rome,
Italy, France, Germany, Poland and Great Britain). The ancient Greek
historian Herodotus has been both controversial and influential through time,
called, for instance, 'Father of History' (Cicero, 1st century BC), 'Father of
Lies' (Juan Luis Vives, 16th century), and author of ‘world literature’s first
great work of reportage’ (Kapuściński, 21st century).
This project will examine the reception of Herodotus from antiquity to
the present day, across a range of different genres, periods and cultural
contexts. It aims to produce a coherent, innovative and stimulating collection
of essays that will augment existing scholarship and point to new research
directions. A thematic collection of essays is planned which will draw on the
expertise of scholars from several disciplines (including Classical, Byzantine,
Medieval, Renaissance, English, Slavic, Italian, Media and Cultural Studies).
The essays will shed new light on Herodotus’ reception in important periods,
moments and contexts, such as: the reception of Herodotus by Thucydides;
the Persian War traditions of the Roman Imperial period; the Middle Ages and
the Renaissance; the first European translation of Herodotus; Napoleon
Bonaparte’s expedition to Egypt (1798); the 18th century Enlightenment;
19th century European travelling; the appropriation of Herodotus by the
iconic modern writer Ryszard Kapuściński.
This reception history of Herodotus will afford new perspectives on
European historical, linguistic, geographical, literary, educational and religious
thought and practice across time. The contributors to the volume will come
together at a pre-publication workshop at UCL in August 2013.