Mules in Herodotus: The Destiny of Half-Breeds

In his Histories, Herodotus uses the mule as a symbol of both potential advantages and risks of intermarriage and reproduction between different ethnic groups. Both literal mules and the children of mixed marriages are symbols of revolutions and new dynasties. These revolutions are often marked by an attempt to blend or conglomerate distinct cultural nomoi, or customs. Herodotus' stories about ethnically mixed leaders and their effects upon their societies serve as both encouragement and warning to governments like Athens and the Persian Empire.