Michael Bevel
← Herodotus Read-Along: Twinbrook, Maryland
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Herodotus Read-Along: Logistics

#herodotus

Chairete, Inquirers!

Thank you so much for showing some interest in what I hope will be a fun read-through.

Here you will find some proposals for the schedule, structure, and rules. I stress the word “proposal;” this is a first-time project for me, and I want to be open to suggestions and improvements.

Reading Schedule

DateSectionNote
October 03, 2026Introductory meetingGeneral overview of Greek history in the 5th century BCE, including some cultural contexts that may be helpful.
October 17, 2026Book 1, sections 1-94
October 31, 2026Book 1, sections 95-216
November 14, 2026Book 2, sections 1-99
November 28, 2026Book 2, sections 100-182
December 12, 2026Book 3, sections 1-66
December 26, 2026Book 3, sections 67-160Kwanzaa
January 09, 2027Book 4, sections 1-144
January 23, 2027Book 4, sections 145-205
February 06, 2027Book 5, sections 1-38Lunar New Year
February 20, 2027Book 5, sections 39-126
March 06, 2027Book 6, sections 1-42Laylat al-Qadr, Maha Shivaratri
March 20, 2027Book 6, sections 43-140
April 03, 2027Book 7, sections 1-100
April 17, 2027Book 7, sections 101-239
May 01, 2027Book 8, sections 1-70
May 15, 2027Book 8, sections 71-144
May 29, 2027Book 9, sections 1-89
June 12, 2027Book 9, sections 90-122
June 26, 2027Wrap-up meeting

Session Structure

  • Summary of the section we’re discussing. In our own words, what do we think Herodotus said, and what do we think he was trying to say, and can we figure out why on earth he might want to write about it. (More on this in Books 3 and 4.)
  • Questions from/for the group. This is the place for genuine confusions in the text to be brought to the room and, if we can, address them in the moment, or research them for another meeting. “Did anyone understand what was happening here?” “Can someone help me with this?”
  • Favorite passage(s): If you have a favorite passage, I would love to hear it. And I would especially love the opportunity to hear other translations of any passage we want to discuss.
  • Closing. Brief summary of what was covered in the reading, and in the discussion. Any tips, tricks, or questions for the next schedule.

Ground Rules

  • Try to listen more than you speak. This is a safe space within which to be curious. Try to spend more time taking in what others are saying than waiting for your turn.
  • Disagree with the idea, not the person, and only if staying silent would fatally affect the person with whom you are disagreeing. Disagreement is welcome — it is actually the point. But keep it aimed at what was said, not at who said it. Be kind.
    • Addendum to Disagree with the idea: Try to be prepared with a source when you disagree with something in the text, or something that was said by someone. If you don’t remember where you read something, feel free to either wait until you remember, or, instead, frame what you are saying as not a fact, but something that might need verifying.
  • Stay in the text and the era. Our comments and conclusions should be grounded in what Herodotus actually wrote, and in the world he was writing in — fifth century BCE Greece and its neighbors. Herodotus did not know about anything that happened after roughly 425 BCE, and we should try to extend him that courtesy.
  • Politics and religion are fair game — ancient politics and religion, that is. There is plenty of both in the Histories. There are also passages that might provoke you into suggesting that Herodotus is writing about someone from our own specific time. He isn’t. And I think the way we can stay loving each other is to leave 2026 politics far in the background, and try to make sense of what Herodotus was doing then.
  • There is no such thing as a question that wastes the group’s time. Bring your confusions, your half-formed thoughts, the thing you were embarrassed not to know. That is exactly where the best conversations come from.

Translations

I am primarily reading from the Holland translation, published in 2013. As I mentioned to one of you in an email, it has a good heft to it and is a pleasure to hold in the hand.

There are a variety of free versions available online. These free versions are generally derived from older translations that are out of copyright. If you are someone who doesn’t enjoy reading older prose styles, that could be a big drawback for you with the free versions.

If you are unable to find a copy at all, let me know. It is very likely I have a spare copy that I would love to rehome: mbevel@gmail.com.

Please feel free to reach out with any questions.

Regards,

M