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Herodotos (born c. 484 BCE), alternatively Herodotus, was one of the earliest Greek historians. Often referred to as "The Father of History" in Western society, his most famous work is the Histories, a chronicle of Greece that was later divided into nine books named after the Muses.[1] Detractors, however, mocked him as "The Father of Lies" owing to his penchant for embellishment.[2]

During the Peloponnesian War, Herodotos befriended the misthios Kassandra, accompanying her on her travels and documenting her ordeals. These records would eventually become lost to time until their rediscovery in 2018 by the Assassin Layla Hassan.[3][4]

Biography[]

Early life[]

Herodotos was born in 484 BCE in the city of Halikarnassos. He was eventually forced into exile on the island of Samos by the tyrant Lygdamis II, before later returning to overthrow him in a coup.[5]

Prior to the Peloponnesian War, Herodotos met and became acquainted with the captain of the Adrestia,Barnabas.[6] Herotodos also befriended the Athenian statesman Perikles, who led Athens in the later half of the 5th century BCE.[7]

Around this time, Herodotos also regularly traveled throughout Greece, documenting the things he saw in his Histories.[6] At one point, he visited the island of Andros, where he came upon a large vault bearing mysterious shapes carved in stone. However, as he could not gain entrance, Herodotos left it alone and continued his journey. He also became aware of the legendary spear wielded by King Leonidas I of Sparta in the Battle of Thermopylae.[8]

In 440s BCE, he published his famous Histories, naming each volume after the Muses of Greek mythology.[1]

Meeting the misthios[]

Herodotos: "My name is Herodotos. I'm a story teller, or I was. This war is forcing us all to new extremes."
Kassandra: "That much is true. Why are you hiding your identity?"
Herodotos: "I'm here on behalf of a man in Athens. A very powerful man. We intend to finally end this war."
—Herodotos introducing himself to Kassandra, 431 BCE.[src]-[m]
ACOD Barnabas Herodotos and Kassandra

Herodotos' first meeting with Kassandra

In 431 BCE, Herodotos was tasked by Perikles to seek the Pythia's guidance at the Sanctuary of Delphi. There, he was reunited with Barnabas and was introduced to his companion, the misthios Kassandra, who had come to seek the Pythia's help on her family's whereabouts. Recognizing the Spear of Leonidas in Kassandra's possesion, Herotodos introduced himself to the misthios and explained his mission in Delphi. He also informed Kassandra that something was amiss in Delphi; the number of guards was increasing and people were being turned away from the Oracle.[7]

Nevertheless, Kassandra went ahead and visited the Pythia for answers, but was eventually forced to leave by the guards. Meeting with Herodotos outside the temple afterwards, he informed her that Barnabas had returned to her ship, the Adrestia.[7] Kassandra confided in Herodotos about her past and the Pythia being seemingly aware of it. When she spoke of the Cult of Kosmos, Herodotos revealed that he was aware of it and suggested that the Pythia was possibly influenced by the Cult. As Kassandra sought to meet the Pythia in person privately, Herotodos suggested that she visit the House of the Pythia in the Chora of Delphi, where the Pythia resided when not at the sanctuary.[7]

ACOD - The Truth Will Out 2

Kassandra telling Herodotos about her findings

After Kassandra had done so, she met with Herodotos outside the Chora and reported her findings, including the location of a chamber used by the Cult beneath the Temple of Apollo. Herodotos was told to wait for her outside the chamber's entrance, as she prepared to retrieve a Cultist mask and outfit to infiltrate the chamber.[9]

After Kassandra changed into her Cultist disguise, she met with Herodotos outside the entrance, entrusting her equipment to him. When she resurfaced sometime later, Herodotos was told of what she had learned: the Cult's plans to control the entire Greek world, as well as her brother being alive and working for the Cult. Herodotos urged Kassandra to accompany him to Athens to report their findings to Perikles, but asked that she meet at him at the Lion of Leonidas in Malis first, claiming that he had something to show her about her spear.[10]

Journey to Andros[]

"If you close your eyes, you can hear them. Their final war cries, before every last one of those brave Spartans perished. Their voices were silenced that day, but their story will be sung for an eternity."
―Herodotos describing the Battle of Thermopylae to Kassandra, 431 BCE.[src]-[m]
Memories Awoken - Assassins Creed Odyssey

Herodotos and Kassandra at the Lion of Leonidas

At the Lion, Herodotos was greeted by Kassandra and requested her to take out the Spear of Leonidas. As Herodotos touched the tip of the spear, a vision of Leonidas' final moments during the Battle of Thermopylae was shown to him and Kassandra. This seemingly confirmed Herodotos' suspicions of Kassandra's connection to the late Spartan king and he gave the misthios a brief run-through of the events of the battle.[8]

Herodotos then told Kassandra of the vault he had discovered on Andros, suggesting that the spear could be connected to it and that they should travel there to learn more. Kassandra accepted his offer, and they both traveled back to the Adrestia in Kirrha. From there, they set sail to Andros.[8]

As they approached the island, Herodotos asked Kassandra where she had obtained the Spear of Leonidas from, to which she revealed that it had been given to her by her mother as a heirloom. After using her spear to access the vault on Andros and upgrade the spear using an ancient forge she found inside, Kassandra returned to the Adrestia and informed Herodotos that his theory of the vault having been built by an ancient civilization was correct. The two then decided to head to Athens to warn Perikles about the threat posed by the Cult of Kosmos.[8]

Activities in Athens[]

"If I could suggest anything—please don't start a fight. Or end one."
―Herodotos to Kassandra at Perikles' symposium, 431 BCE.[src]-[m]

Upon arriving in Attika, Herodotos parted ways with Kassandra, telling the misthios to meet him at the Pnyx in Athens. There, the two listened to Kleon holding a speech before a crowd of people, challenging Perikles' rule and advocating a more aggressive tactic in their war against Sparta. Herodotos then took Kassandra to meet Perikles and attempted to secure the misthios entry into Perikles' upcoming symposium, where she had a chance to acquire useful information to aid her search for her mother.[11]

Perikles's Symposium - Assassins Creed Odyssey

Herodotos and Kassandra at the symposium

After Kassandra accomplished three tasks given to her by Perikles, she was allowed to participate in the symposium. Meeting with Herodotos at Perikles' Residence, he introduced her to the other guests and left her to socialize and acquire any information she could while he went to speak with Perikles in private. Finding him on the balcony, Herodotos informed him about the Cult of Kosmos, but the Athenian leader was not concerned. The two were later joined by Kassandra, who convinced Perikles that the Cult was targeting him, prompting the statesman to increase his security.[12]

Leaving Athens, Herodotos continued to accompany Kassandra aboard the Adrestia as the misthios searched for her mother and attempted to reunite her broken family, as well as eliminate the Cult.[13]

Olympic Games[]

ACOd-DeliverChamp-AlkHerBarpier

Alkibiades, Herodotos, and Barnabas on the Kyllene pier

When Kassandra was tasked by King Pausanias of Sparta to ensure Sparta won the 428 BCE Olympic Games, Herodotos was delighted to learn that they were to escort the Spartan pankratist champion Testikles.[14] Testikles unfortunately never reached the Sanctuary of Olympia, and Kassandra had to compete in his place. During their stay in Olympia, Herodotos himself became embroiled in an argument between Makar the Dorian and Lelex the Ionian and asked Kassandra to solve the two men's conflict as it threatened the truce of the Olympics.[15]

Taking back Athens[]

Following Perikles' death at the hands of Deimos in 429 BCE, Kleon, who was secretly a member of the Cult of Kosmos, became the new leader of Athens. In 425 BCE, Kassandra and her various allies, including Herodotos, met at Perikles' former residence to establish the Periklean Circle, a group dedicated to undermining Kleon's popularity with the people, and therefore his authority, in order to restore democracy to Athens.[16] They were eventually successful in their goal after Kleon met his end during the Battle of Amphipolis in 422 BCE.[17]

Journey to Atlantis[]

"I do know one thing for certain. This has been an odyssey I won't forget."
―Herodotos to his friends, c. 422 BCE.[src]-[m]
ACOD Thera - Adrestia near the beach

Herodotos, Kassandra and Barnabas on Thera

Around 422 BCE, Herodotos and Barnabas accompanied Kassandra when she went to Thera to meet her birth father, although they remained on the Adrestia. When she returned and told them that her father was none other than the famed philosopher Pythagoras, Herodotos was shocked.[18] After Kassandra had gathered the four Atlantis artifacts and sealed the ancient city, she made Herodotos and Barnabas promise never to tell anyone about the place, to which they agreed. The trio then reminisced of their adventures together while preparing for their next journey.[19]

Return to Samos[]

Kassandra: "I've never been great at saying "goodbye.""
Herodotos: "To do so is to impart a sense of finality, and we have no way of knowing if this is truly goodbye."
Kassandra: "Good luck in your travels, Herodotos. I can't wait to hear what you get yourself into."
Herodotos: "I'll share my stories with you so long as you bring some new ones of your own."
—Kassandra and Herodotos parting ways, c. 422 BCE.[src]-[m]

Some time after accompanying Kassandra to Atlantis, Herodotos received a letter from home informing him of his parents' demise. Unfortunately the letter had reached him five moons too late and he missed the funeral. Herodotos asked Kassandra if she would accompany him home to pay his respects, to which she obliged. Arriving on Samos, Herodotos and Kassandra mad their way to the former's childhood home. There they met Herodotos' childhood friend Mestor and older brother Theodoros. Mestor was happy to see Herodotos again after so long, but his brother did not feel the same, as he told Herodotos to pay his respects and leave.[20]

After trekking to his parents' memorial with Kassandra, the two were set upon by the Followers of Ares, although Kassandra quickly dispatched them. Catching up with Mestor and Theodoros, they informed them of what had just transpired. While neither seemed knowledgeable about the cult, they did point them to a nearby cave where members of the cult had set up operations.[21]

After Kassandra had gone ahead and killed all the Followers in the cave, she and Herodotos investigated the cave and found a collection of Theodoros' poetry, a family heirloom, and a list of influential people with Mestor's name missing. They discovered that Persia was planning an invasion of Samos with the backing of either Mestor or Theodoros, and subsequently traveled to Pythagoreion to accuse the one responsible.[22]

Upon accusing the traitor, Herodotos and Kassandra were ambushed by bandits, though the misthios made quick work of them. As Theodoros had been captured during the confusion and taken to a Pirate Coast camp, Herodotos and Kassandra went to rescue him. They then confronted Mestor, the true culprit. Herodotos asked Mestor why he would betray his family and Samos, to which his old friend responded that Persia had promised that he would rule Samos.[23]

As the Persians initiated their invasion, deploying several ships to attack Samos' coast, Kassandra dealt with Mestor and boarded the Adrestia with Herodotos to destroy the Persian ships. Afterwards, they bade farewell to Theodoros and left Samos.[24] However, Herodotos decided it was time for him to move on and asked Kassandra to take him to the Port of Piraeus in Athens to say some final goodbyes before he journeyed to Thurii. He thanked Kassandra for taking him on her quests and reminisced on their time together, before the two friends parted ways.[25]

Treasure hunt on Korfu[]

Herodotos: "The spear?"
Kassandra: "You knew what it was the moment you met me. But I've...outgrown it. It's yours now. Careful. It's still sharp."
Herodotos: "I'll cherish it forever."
—Kassandra gifting the Spear of Leonidas to Herodotos, 420 BCE.[src]-[m]
ACOD No Rest For the Misthios 5

Herodotos and Barnabas finding Kassandra on Korfu

In 420 BCE, after Kassandra mysteriously vanished for six months, Barnabas recruited Herodotos to search for her, eventually finding her relaxing at a villa on the island of Korfu. After Kassandra explained that she had taken a vacation, her friends were concerned that she had lost her adventuring spirit and was becoming sedentary, so they convinced her to partake in a treasure hunt, secretly organized by them.[26]

While searching for the treasure, Kassandra was captured by pirates who were similarly hunting something valuable: an Apple of Eden hidden on the island centuries ago by a famed treasure hunter. Deciding to find the artifact before the pirates, Kassandra escaped and stole a document from their camp which she presented to Herodotos and Barnabas after explaining what had happened. While Kassandra went to retrieve a key mentioned in the document, her friends traveled to the Korkyra Polis to find a colleague of Herodotos who could decipher the document.[26]

ACOD Not All Treasure Should Be Found 11

Herodotos and Kassandra confronted by the pirate captain

However, at the professor's house, Herodotos and Barnabas were attacked and captured by the pirates, who also killed the professor. Although Barnabas later managed to escape, Herodotos was not as lucky and had to be saved by Kassandra, who exchanged the key she had found for her friend. After following the pirates' captain to the treasure, Kassandra killed him and then attempted to take the Apple. However, the artifact interacted with her spear, resulting in an explosion which sent the Apple flying to the northern side of the island and depowered the spear.[27]

ACOD A New Horizon 6

Herodotos, Kassandra and Barnabas looking at the horizon

Later, Herodotos met up with Kassandra and informed her that Barnabas had gone to retrieve the Apple in the hopes of using it to repair her spear. This led Kassandra to search for Barnabas, eventually discovering that he had been corrupted by the Apple's power and forcing her to fight her friend to separate him from the artifact.[28] Afterwards, Kassandra decided to leave Greece to go on a journey across the world for reasons she refused to disclose to her friends. Meeting with them at her vacation house, she invited Barnabas to accompany her on her new adventure while bidding farewell to Herodotos, who gifted her a scroll of his Histories and promised to write about her. In turn, Kassandra gifted him the depowered Spear of Leonidas, which Herodotos claimed he would cherish forever.[29]

Legacy[]

A long time after Herodotos' death, Kassandra, who had been granted immortality by the Staff of Hermes Trismegistus in her possession, visited the Library of Alexandria in Egypt to place the manuscript Herodotos had given to her among other works on the shelves, thus preserving her friend's stories.[29] By 48 BCE, this copy of Herodotos' Histories could still be found in the library.[1]

In 38 BCE, Herodotos' notes about Egypt were used by the priests of the Temple of Thoth in Sinai for research. However, they were later deemed to be filled with misinformation and odd anecdotes, resulting in some of his research being dismissed.[30]

In 2018, the Assassin Layla Hassan discovered the place where the Spear of Leonidas had been buried after Herodotos' death, as well as a copy of his Lost Histories, which described his adventures with Kassandra. The Assassin would subsequently use both in her search for Atlantis, where she believed the Staff of Hermes Trismegistus was located.[6]

Behind the scenes[]

Herodotos is a historical character introduced in the 2018 video game Assassin's Creed: Odyssey, where he was voiced by Peter Polycarpou. Historically, Herodotos died around 425 BCE, but in the game he is shown surviving beyond this date.

Gallery[]

Appearances[]

References[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Assassin's Creed: OriginsNotes from Bayek's travels: "About the Muses"
  2. Ubisoft white swirl only Assassin's Creed: Odyssey Characters on Ubisoft's official website (backup link)
  3. Totilo, Stephen (12 June 2018). Everything We Learned About Assassin's Creed Odyssey After Playing It. Kotaku. Retrieved on 14 June 2018.
  4. Assassin's Creed: Odyssey – Modern day
  5. Assassin's Creed: OdysseyLayla Hassan's personal files: "Packing for Greece: Herodotos and His Works"
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 Assassin's Creed: Odyssey
  7. 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 Assassin's Creed: OdysseyConsulting a Ghost
  8. 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 Assassin's Creed: OdysseyMemories Awoken
  9. Assassin's Creed: OdysseyThe Truth Will Out
  10. Assassin's Creed: OdysseyThe Serpent's Lair
  11. Assassin's Creed: OdysseyWelcome to Athens
  12. Assassin's Creed: OdysseyPerikles's Symposium
  13. Assassin's Creed: Odyssey
  14. Assassin's Creed: OdysseyDelivering a Champion
  15. Assassin's Creed: OdysseyThe Drachmae of Romance
  16. Assassin's Creed: OdysseyThe Resistance
  17. Assassin's Creed: OdysseyWe Will Rise
  18. Assassin's Creed: OdysseyA Family's Legacy
  19. Assassin's Creed: OdysseyAtlantis Destroyed
  20. Assassin's Creed: OdysseyThe Lost Tales of GreeceLetter from Home
  21. Assassin's Creed: OdysseyThe Lost Tales of GreeceRegrets
  22. Assassin's Creed: OdysseyThe Lost Tales of GreeceFollowers of Truth
  23. Assassin's Creed: OdysseyThe Lost Tales of GreeceFamily Values
  24. Assassin's Creed: OdysseyThe Lost Tales of GreeceDefense of Samos
  25. Assassin's Creed: OdysseyThe Lost Tales of GreeceMoving Forward
  26. 26.0 26.1 Assassin's Creed: OdysseyAssassin's Creed Crossover StoriesNo Rest For the Misthios
  27. Assassin's Creed: OdysseyAssassin's Creed Crossover StoriesNot All Treasure Should Be Found
  28. Assassin's Creed: OdysseyAssassin's Creed Crossover StoriesPower Corrupts All
  29. 29.0 29.1 Assassin's Creed: Odyssey - Assassin's Creed Crossover Stories - A New Horizon
  30. Assassin's Creed: OriginsThe Hidden Ones

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