Histories · Chapter
Book III: Thaleia explained
This chapter recounts the madness of Cambyses, his mockery of Egyptian religious customs, and the cultural relativism illustrated by Darius's experiment with Greek and Indian funeral practices.
What happens
This chapter recounts the madness of Cambyses, his mockery of Egyptian religious customs, and the cultural relativism illustrated by Darius's experiment with Greek and Indian funeral practices. It also narrates the story of Demokedes, his escape from Persian service, and the Persian reconnaissance of Hellas, as well as Syloson's gift of a mantle to Darius, which later leads to Persian intervention in Samos.
Themes in this chapter
Hubris and Divine Retribution
Cambyses' mockery of Egyptian religious customs is portrayed as madness and a transgression that invites divine displeasure.
Cultural Relativism and Ethnography
Darius's experiment with Greek and Callatian funeral customs demonstrates that each people believes its own customs are best, illustrating the theme of cultural relativism.
Deception and Cunning
Demokedes uses cunning to escape Persian custody, and Syloson's gift of the mantle is a strategic act that later yields political favor.
Characters to notice
- Cambyses
King of Persia, depicted as mad for deriding Egyptian religious rites and attempting to kill Croesus.
- Croesus
Former Lydian king who counsels Cambyses but narrowly escapes execution.
- Darius
King of Persia, conducts a cultural experiment on funeral customs and sends spies to Hellas.
- Demokedes
Greek physician who heals Darius's foot and later escapes Persian custody in Croton.
- Syloson
Exiled brother of Polycrates, gives his mantle to Darius in Egypt, later claims benefactor status.
Key passages
“For if one should propose to all men a choice, bidding them select the best customs from all the customs that there are, each race of men, after examining them all, would select those of his own people; thus all think that their own customs are by far the best”
If every nation were asked to choose the best customs from all the world, each would pick its own, believing them superior.
Herodotus uses this to argue that cultural norms are relative and universally valued by their practitioners.
“Darius in the course of his reign summoned those of the Hellenes who were present in his land, and asked them for what price they would consent to eat up their fathers when they died; and they answered that for no price would they do so. After this Darius summoned those Indians who are called Callatians, who eat their parents, and asked them in presence of the Hellenes, for what payment they would consent to consume with fire the bodies of their fathers when they died; and they cried out aloud and bade him keep silence from such words.”
Darius asked Greeks if they would eat their dead fathers for money; they refused. He then asked Callatian Indians, who eat their parents, if they would burn them instead; they were horrified.
This anecdote illustrates the theme of cultural relativism and the power of custom.