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0 pointsLokran8y ago0 comments

Equally, how do you feel about killing a servants son and having him eat him because he had refused to kill a child?

"Herodotus accounts for the turn of Harpagus' support to a version of the cannibal feast of Thyestes.[1] He reports that Astyages, after having a dream that his daughter, Mandane, would give birth to a king who would overthrow him, ordered Harpagus to expose the child at birth. Harpagus, reluctant to spill his own royal blood, gave the child (Cyrus) to a shepherd named Mitradates,[2] who raised him as his own son.

Ten years later, when Cyrus was discovered alive, Astyages cruelly punished Harpagus by killing Harpagus' only son and feeding him to the courtier during a banquet. It is said that Harpagus did not react during the banquet, other than to gather the pieces of his son and remove them for burial."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harpagus

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bhnmmhmd8y ago· 1 in thread

So you made a fake account just to come here and rant about something unrelated to the main topic?

Plus, you should consider the fact that Greeks and Persians were at war in those times. It's only natural that a historian (like Herodotus) would exaggerate some events, or even write lies about their arch enemy. Unfortunately, many history books were burnt in Persian libraries by the Mongols, so we only get the perspective of the Greeks, not the Persians.

> He reports that Astyages, after having a dream that his daughter, Mandane ...

Ok, such drama coming from a historian... History isn't a movie man.

I don't want to bash you, but do you think your comment below is even remotely civil and suitable for HN?

LokranOP8y ago

> So you made a fake account just to come here and rant about something unrelated to the main topic?

I don't understand how it's a fake account. Would you mind keeping the discussion on a civil level?

> Plus, you should consider the fact that Greeks and Persians were at war in those times. It's only natural that a historian (like Herodotus) would exaggerate some events, or even write lies about their arch enemy. Unfortunately, many history books were burnt in Persian libraries by the Mongols, so we only get the perspective of the Greeks, not the Persians.

Yes, the Persians and the Greeks were at war and enemies. In fact, that was part of my point. The portrayal you have of Genghis Khan comes from his enemies too.

> Ok, such drama coming from a historian... History isn't a movie man.

I understand how if you're not familiar with Herodotus it can be hard to believe anything he says since he does enjoy to add details to personify stories. That is no reason to discount everything he says though, most of ancient written history is embellished. There's a lot of work on the reliabiliy of his texts if you're interested.

> I don't want to bash you, but do you think your comment below is even remotely civil and suitable for HN?

Uh...absolutely? There is nothing uncivil about in and it's literally on the same topic that your post was about.

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