The Histories (also known as The History) of Herodotus is considered the founding work of history in Western literature. Written from the 450s to the 420s BC in the Ionic dialect of classical Greek, they serve as a record of the ancient traditions, politics, geography, and clashes of various cultures that were known around the Mediterranean and Western Asia at that time. It remains one of the West's most important sources.

Book VIII, Urania, is an account of the huge expedition mounted by Darius' son and successor, Xerxes, and the Greek response to the threat. It covers events such as the destruction by storm of two hundred ships sent to block the Greeks from escaping; The supernatural rescue of Delphi from a Persian attack; The Battle of Salamis; a description of Angarum, the Persian riding post; Artemisia, the Persian woman commander; the vengeance of Hermotimus, Xerxes' chief eunuch; and the refusal of an attempt by Alexander to seek a Persian alliance with Athens.

This standard edition includes the Greek text with Commentary, Index of Proper Names, Index to the Commentary in English.