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Picture of Melmouth
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Just a thought..

In the beginning of American Gods Shadow says to Low Key: "Call no man Happy, until he is dead" and Low Key answers "Herodotus". But wasn't it Ovid who said that in Metamorphoses, or has he just stolen it from Herodotus?
 
Posts: 4 | Registered: February 19, 2008Reply With QuoteEdit or Delete MessageReport This Post
Great wyrm of Toronto
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Picture of Mythos
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Well:

First of all, Herodotus chronologically came far before Ovid.

Second of all, even in Herodotus' Histories the quote is actually attributed to Solon of Athens who visits Croesus King of Lydia. When the king shows off his wealth and power, the quote was apparently the Athenian archon's response to him.

The passage can be found in I.27-30, roughly along the lines of, "But whoever has the greatest number of the good things I mentioned and keeps them to the end, and dies a peaceful death, that man, Croesus, deserves in my opinion to be called happy." I think it is phrased differently depending on the translation though.

I hope that helps. Smile


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Posts: 5126 | Location: Canada | Registered: July 11, 2004Reply With QuoteEdit or Delete MessageReport This Post
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Picture of Melmouth
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Certainly, thank you for your time ^_^
 
Posts: 4 | Registered: February 19, 2008Reply With QuoteEdit or Delete MessageReport This Post
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Probably quite sad that the only previous reference to Herodotus that I'd been aware of was from a Derek & Clive album (and yes it was in conjunction with the "C" word).
 
Posts: 19 | Registered: September 10, 2005Reply With QuoteEdit or Delete MessageReport This Post
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