헤로도토스의 『역사』 제 1권에 나타난 신탁과 꿈

Abstract

The main object of this paper is to show that Herodotos was reliant on the literary devices, oracle and dream, while composing the main theme, which is the coming into being of Persia, in the 1st book of Historiai. In fact, he almost leaded the story in the 1st book by oracles and dreams from the beginning to the end. 1st book is a kind of pre-history that explains circumstances of the East before the appearance of king Dareios and in the process oracles and dreams are important devices of description and composition. Describing the unification process of the East by Persia, he puts to use oracles as the method that evokes the audience' attention and elates their interest, moreover he suggests and explains the character and destiny of two kings, Kroisos and Kyros, by the description about their dreams. These great use of oracles and dreams with the description about various episodes and exotic customs seemed to help audience feel more favor and to get their instant responses. Herodotos, that is, didn't write for educated classes and politicians of the future that want to get scholarly attainments or strategic insights, but for the audience that instantly responses about his stories. Needless to say, he is not a modern historian which is confident that strict proof is an essential element in history and not a historical novelist. He is indeed the ‘father’ of history, and we can call him to be filled with admiration, not with the meaning of criticism : “He is great story-teller, indeed.”