Herodotus was born in Halicarnassus in Asia Minor about 485, while the city was ruled through tyrants by the Persian empire. His life spanned the period between the Persian and the Peloponnesian Wars. At an early age he moved to Samos for fear of the tyrant Lygdamis. Herodotus spent many years traveling through Greece and other lands, and settled in Thurii in southern Italy when the colony was established there in 443. He evidently composed his History during the third quarter of the fifth century. Part of it was presented orally in Athens and elsewhere, and the final version was written around 430–425. Its observations on politics and related themes represent intellectual movements of his lifetime.

On happiness (1.30.2–34.1)

The Athenian wise man Solon visited the magnificent court of Croesus, King of the Lydians in Sardis. After showing off his treasures, Croesus asked:

“Athenian visitor, we have heard much about you and your travels in search of wisdom, and about how you have traveled widely as an observer and for the love of knowledge. So now I am longing to ask you: of all those you have seen, who is the happiest?” He asked this in the hope that he would be the happiest of human beings, but Solon was no flatterer and he told the truth:

“Tellus the Athenian, O King.”

Astonished by this answer, Croesus asked severely, “Why do you judge Tellus the happiest?”