Herodotus: Differences Between Hellenic Customs And Persian Customs

Herodotus repeatedly underscores the differences between Hellenic customs and Persian customs, alternating between admiring Persian practices and customs and referring to them as “barbarians.” He at one time, even goes so far as to portray the Persians in a favorable light in comparison to the Greeks by commending them for their trial practices. For example in Persian governing proceedings, punishment may be carried out only if the virtues of an individual are considered to not outweigh his offenses. Lying is considered the greatest of offenses while concurring debt is considered the second gravest offense, implying that Persians tend to be for the most part an honest group. Though welcoming of foreign customs, “Persians will drive out of the
country any foreigners who may be stricken by these diseases [leprosy].” Persians so adamantly believe that “no one ever kills his own father or mother” they claim that any known investigation into such a crime usually resulted in the discovery that the perpetrator was not the true offspring (this actually brings to mind the Greek tale of Oedipus Rex and his act of patricide.) The Hellenic denomination of Persians as “barbarians” in the text must be considered keeping the traditional Hellenic us-versus-them mentality in mind, though the Persians may have had some redeeming qualities within their society, they were still non-Greek.