# Book IV: Melpomene explained — Histories

> Chapter companion for Histories by Herodotus.

## What happens

Darius, seeking vengeance against the Scythians for their past invasion of Media, launches a campaign into Scythia. The Scythians, a nomadic people, employ a strategy of retreat and harassment, avoiding direct confrontation. They send Darius cryptic gifts—a bird, a mouse, a frog, and five arrows—interpreted by Gobryas as a warning that the Persians will not return home unless they can fly, burrow, or leap away. Meanwhile, the Ionians guarding the bridge over the Ister debate whether to follow the Scythians' advice to destroy the bridge and free Ionia, but under Histiaios's influence, they decide to only partially break it, maintaining their positions under Darius.

## Themes in this chapter

### Freedom vs. Slavery

The Scythians' struggle against Persian domination and the Ionians' debate over whether to break the bridge reflect tensions between autonomy and subjugation.

### Deception and Cunning

The Scythians use strategic retreat, cryptic gifts, and psychological warfare; the Ionians feign cooperation with the Scythians while secretly preserving the bridge.

### Power and Tyranny

Darius's imperial ambition and the Ionians' fear of losing their despotic rule under Persian authority highlight the dynamics of power.

## Character check-ins

### Darius

King of Persia, leads an invasion against the Scythians to avenge their earlier conquest of Media.

### Miltiades

Athenian commander and despot of the Chersonese, advocates for destroying the bridge and freeing Ionia.

### Histiaios

Milesian despot who opposes Miltiades, arguing that Darius's power secures their own rule; his opinion prevails.

### Herodotus

Narrator and historian, recounts the Scythian origin myth and the events of Darius's campaign.

## Key lines

> For now that Asia was flourishing in respect of population, and large sums were being gathered in as revenue, Darius formed the desire to take vengeance upon the Scythians, because they had first invaded the Median land and had overcome in fight those who opposed them; and thus they had been the beginners of wrong.

With Asia prosperous and wealthy, Darius sought revenge against the Scythians for their earlier invasion of Media and their victory over the Medes.

_Herodotus explains Darius's motivation for the Scythian campaign._

> Unless ye become birds and fly up into the heaven, O Persians, or become mice and sink down under the earth, or become frogs and leap into the lakes, ye shall not return back home, but shall be smitten by these arrows.

Gobryas interprets the Scythian gifts as a threat: the Persians will not escape Scythia unless they can fly, burrow, or swim away, or else they will be killed by arrows.

_This interpretation of the Scythian gifts underscores the theme of deception and the dire situation of the Persian army._

> Histiaios the Milesian was of the opposite opinion to this; for he said that at the present time it was by means of Darius that each one of them was ruling as despot over a city; and if the power of Darius should be destroyed, neither he himself would be able to bear rule over the Milesians, nor would any other of them be able to bear rule over any other city; for each of the cities would choose to have popular rather than despotic rule.

Histiaios argued that the Ionian tyrants owed their positions to Darius, and if his power fell, they would lose their rule to democratic governments.

_This speech reveals the self-interest of the Ionian despots and their reluctance to support the Scythians._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/histories_se/chapters/book-iv-melpomene
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/histories_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/histories_se/chapters