Herodotus as a Lover of Barbarians, or "Philobarbaros" | Cynthia Rutz | First Friday Lecture

Herodotus’s Histories is often remembered for its account of the Greek-Persian Wars, yet its deeper significance lies in the astonishing range of cultures it describes. In this lecture, Cynthia Rutz reexamines Herodotus through the provocative label given to him by Plutarch: philobarbaros, a “lover of barbarians.” She argues that the label captures something essential about Herodotus’s project. Writing in the fifth century BCE, he produced the first sustained prose inquiry into the human past—one that did not limit itself to battles and politics but also explored religion, customs, geography, myth, and storytelling: an expansive portrait of human life across the known world. Through examples drawn from Egypt, Persia, Scythia, and Ethiopia, the lecture shows how Herodotus challenges Greek assumptions about cultural superiority. His famous claim that “custom is king” highlights a recurring insight: every society believes its own practices are best. By recounting alternative versions of familiar myths, depicting powerful women rulers, and describing encounters between empires and smaller societies, Herodotus invites readers to view cultural difference with curiosity rather than contempt. Ultimately, the lecture presents Herodotus as an early cosmopolitan thinker whose stories warn against imperial hubris and encourage a deeper appreciation of the diversity of human cultures. Key Questions Why did Plutarch accuse Herodotus of being a “barbarian lover,” and what might that accusation reveal about Herodotus’s aims? How does Herodotus’s approach to history differ from the more political and military focus of Thucydides? What does the Egyptian material in Histories reveal about Herodotus’s interest in customs, religion, and cultural difference? What does Herodotus mean when he claims that “custom is king,” and how does this idea shape his understanding of culture? How do stories about powerful women—such as Artemisia or Queen Nitocris—challenge Greek assumptions about gender roles? What warnings about imperial expansion and human hubris does Herodotus convey through his narratives? Chapters 00:00:09 Opening and introduction to the lecture 00:04:55 Herodotus and the birth of historical inquiry 00:07:55 Plutarch’s accusation: “Herodotus the Philobarbaros” 00:11:05 Herodotus vs. Thucydides: competing visions of history 00:15:43 Travel, perspective, and Herodotus’s wider cultural vision 00:17:12 Egypt and the world of opposite customs 00:23:14 The Egyptian version of Helen and the Trojan War 00:26:05 “Custom is king”: Darius and cultural relativism 00:30:26 Cambyses, impiety, and divine retribution 00:33:33 Powerful women in Herodotus: Artemisia and Nitocris 00:39:31 Amazons and challenges to Greek gender assumptions 00:41:10 The Ethiopians and a clash of civilizations 00:46:53 Cyrus, empire, and the warning against expansion 00:49:53 Q&A: Herodotus’s method, objectivity, and cultural history 00:58:31 Q&A: Travel, sources, and Herodotus as proto-anthropologist 01:09:28 Closing remarks and audience applause About the Speaker Cynthia Rutz received her PhD from the University of Chicago in 2013, where her dissertation explored Shakespeare’s King Lear and its folktale analogues. She joined the Basic Program faculty in 1991 and served as staff chair from 1999 to 2004. Her academic interests include mythology, folktales, Milton, Willa Cather, and ancient Greek philosophy and literature. Earlier in her career, she worked with Mortimer Adler on the Paideia Project. She currently serves as Director of Faculty Development at Valparaiso University while continuing her work as a Basic Program instructor. About the Basic Program The First Friday Lecture series is presented by the Basic Program of Liberal Education for Adults. The Basic Program is a four-year certificate program for intellectually curious learners who want to read and discuss the Great Books in a serious, welcoming community. Through close reading and weekly conversation, students engage works of literature, philosophy, history, and social thought by authors such as Plato, Aristotle, Dante, Shakespeare, de Tocqueville, Woolf, and Morrison—guided by outstanding instructors, with no prerequisites, tests, papers, or grades. Offered online and in person, the program invites adults from all backgrounds to deepen their thinking, broaden their perspective, and join a lifelong community of readers. Learn more at https://graham.uchicago.edu/program/basic-program-of-liberal-education/ About Graham The Graham School is a one-of-a-kind intellectual community that brings the best of the University of Chicago to lifelong learners who are seeking discovery and discernment. Through an array of distinctive programs and courses in the Great Books, the liberal arts, and advanced leadership, we welcome learners who seek to deepen their understanding of the world and lead examined lives of purpose. Learn more at https://graham.uchicago.edu