About a week ago, I started tweeting as I read Herodotus. It started as a trickle, but the past few days have yielded dozens of tweets from this ancient historian. Aside from the usual updates and sarcastic quips, I have tweeted everything I get out of Herodotus. This started as quotes, but now includes summaries and commentary.

Two things inspired my activity. First, Herodotus is just damn good. While he can go on large tangents (e.g., books 1-4!), his storytelling is superb, the events are fascinating, and the speeches are quotable.

Second, I did a search on Twitter for Herodotus and found very little. On a single day (Feb 15), there were 40 mentions of Herodotus on Twitter. These included

12 quotes

10 gibberish tweets, many of which referred to some iPad game called Mystery Manor

6 people recommending a book, or stating that they were reading Herodotus

5 anecdotes

4 mentions of Herodotus in larger discussions

3 links to articles involving Herodotus

Yet the real question is how many of these people are really reading Herodotus. All of the quotes and most of the anecdotes appeared to be nothing more than regurgitated quotes that have cycled through the quote universe. Search "Herodotus" on Twitter and you will see these same quotes every day.

Great deeds are usually wrought at great risks. Herodotus — Dr. Shawn A. Fisher (@professorfisher) February 15, 2014

Great deeds are usually wrought at great risks. Herodotus — Dr. Shawn A. Fisher (@professorfisher) February 15, 2014

There is nothing wrong with these quotes, but who is actually reading Herodotus and commentating on it?

I found only one person providing something new, but it was part of a larger conversation encouraging someone else to read Herodotus.

@NooraliHabib Herodotus is a must. You pick up things historians miss. Ie Xerxes fleeing after Battle of Salamis. Was it the plague? — Brad Zang (@Bradzang) February 15, 2014

Only 30 tweets mentioning Herodotus in a meaningful way? I believe appreciators of the Classical World can do better. That is the reason I started tweeting Herodotus. Yes, it ends up as a stream of consciousness, but who knows what will catch someone else's eye. The ancient historian offers plenty to consider in the realms of warfare, politics, nationalism, and life.

Here are some examples.

It took an epic spin team to convince Xerxes to invade Greece (Herodotus 7.5-6). Sound familiar? — On the Warpath ⚔️ (@warpath) February 18, 2014

Worse than getting benched? Xerxes will make you "stay home with the women." (#herodotus 7.11) — On the Warpath ⚔️ (@warpath) February 18, 2014

Think the punishment is too light for rape? The Athenians went with crucifixion. (Herodotus 7.33) — On the Warpath ⚔️ (@warpath) February 19, 2014

Advice to conquering armies: "The land grows to be more of an enemy the further you go on" (Herodotus 7.49) — On the Warpath ⚔️ (@warpath) February 19, 2014

Xerxes invaded Greece with 4,207 ships (Herodotus 7.89,97). The Allied naval force for D-Day was 6,000. — On the Warpath ⚔️ (@warpath) February 19, 2014

Xerxes invaded Greece with 4,207 ships (Herodotus 7.89,97). The Allied naval force for D-Day was 6,000. — On the Warpath ⚔️ (@warpath) February 19, 2014

If Ancient Greece had a news cycle (Herodotus 7.133) pic.twitter.com/fwCeto61UI — On the Warpath ⚔️ (@warpath) February 21, 2014

If Ancient Greece had a news cycle (Herodotus 7.133) pic.twitter.com/fwCeto61UI — On the Warpath ⚔️ (@warpath) February 21, 2014