Narratives of Ancient Persian History: A Comparative Reading of al-Ṭabarī’s History and Herodotus’ Histories

Abstract

This article offers a comparative reading of the historical approaches adopted by two major historians, al-Ṭabarī and Herodotus, in their treatment of the history of ancient Persia. It focuses on the fundamental differences between the sources on which each historian relied, the purposes informing their respective works, and the chronological periods to which each devoted particular attention. The study seeks to demonstrate how these divergences in sources, aims, and temporal frameworks directly shaped the nature of the historical narrative constructed by each historian, producing distinct visions of Persian history. Despite these differences, the article also examines a significant point of convergence between al-Ṭabarī and Herodotus: the incorporation of myth into historical narration. It argues, however, that the manner in which each historian negotiated the relationship between myth and history differed considerably, reflecting the broader cultural and intellectual contexts from which their works emerged.