Nomos, Anomia e Thanatos nas histórias de Herôdoto

Abstract

Nomos, Anomia and Thanatos in the Histones of Herodotus. In the Histones of Herodotus the word nomos occurs several times. It means a code of values and attitudes, responsible for the creation of a cosmic order. Breaking those rules is to produce acts known as anomia or acts qualified by anomoi and, in most cases, this implies the severest punishment of the transgressor, i. e., death (thanatos). By combining these three notions (nomos; anomia and thanatos), the historian from Halicamassos confers some sense of unity to his work. In fact, in all situations the transgressor is inevitably punished. This narrative pattern, being common to dramatic discourse, underlines the idea that Herodotus' world vision is based on principles similar to the dramatic poetry of his own time.