Analysis of Herodotus: the Histories

Ancient History Sourcebook: Herodotus: The Histories

The text tells the conversation between Solon, a man who set out upon travel the world, and Croesus, the king of Lydia who Solon visited during his travel to Sardis. The dialog revolves around the question “Who is a happy man?”
Croesus shows Solon the greatness and magnificence of his fortune and then asks the question “Whom, of all men that you have seen do you think is the most happiest?” And thus begins the discussion. Solon addresses 3 people who are happy according to him. The first was Tellus. Solon starts enumerating the reasons; his country was flourishing, he had sons, he lived long enough to see his grandsons and most important he died fighting for his country and had a public funeral where the Athenians paid him the highest honors. The other two were Cleobis and Bito who were brothers. Their fortune wasn’t much but they had great body strength that gained them prizes at the Games. Solon continues on by narrating their story. They took their mother to a festival in honor of the goddess by drawing the oxcart of their mother themselves. When they arrived the men praised the strength of the brothers, their mother for having such blessed sons. They honored their mother with the highest blessing and died happily. Statues were made after their deaths, which were given to a shrine, and they were looked as among the best men. After these stories Solon continues on by telling Croesus that he cannot answer the question that if he is happy until he hears that Croesus died happily. Solon tells that money does not give happiness to the one who possesses it. The only thing that matters is that luck continues to stay with him until the rest of his life.
The discussion of the question “Who is a happy man?” in this text gives important key aspects to the social norms and organization of the ancient Greek society. From the story of Tellus it is shown that it is an important thing to aid your country and work for...