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Two and a half thousand years ago, a man named Herodotus wandered the ancient world, trying to make sense of the great war between the Greeks and Persians that had shaped his times.

He gathered wild tales of fabulous creatures and arrogant kings and queens. He also heard of the very real clash of the armies of Xerxes and the Greeks, of the Spartans of “300″ fame, of two great cultures colliding in battle.

In the process, he did something that had never quite been done before. He wrote history. A new translation shows we’re still learning from it.

This hour, On Point: re-reading Herodotus, “Father of History.”

-Tom Ashbrook

Guest:

Robert Strassler, editor of “The Landmark Thucydides” and the new book “The Landmark Herodotus.” He is president of Riverside Capital Management Corp.