ABSTRACT
Amongst the many and varied criticisms levelled against Herodotos one of the more prominent has been that of undue prejudice, of not even attempting to write 'without fear or favour' as historians sometimes claimed. Like some other accusations, this count too results from failure to take a general view, and selecting one or two items which seem to indicate favourable or unfavourable bias in his treatment of nations, groups or individuals. Examination will show that in most areas Herodotos shows a greater objectivity than the majority of ancient historians; he has not prejudged the character and behaviour of the participants in historical (and even nonhistorical) events but shows several, if not all, facets of peoples, institutions and personages.
