In this thesis, I investigate the role of foundation stories, narratives that describe the foundation of Greek colonies, in the structure of the Herodotoss Histories. Through a detailed study of their internal structure and their relationship to the broader themes of the history, I argue that foundation stories serve as nodes where disparate ideas can convene in order to shape readers interpretation of other events. In particular, I maintain that the most critical function of foundation stories in the Histories is to portray expansionism as a dangerous venture with deleterious consequences. I also describe the capacity of foundation stories to address the concept of Hellenic identity and deconstruct notions of stable and distinct cultures in the Mediterranean world. Finally, foundation stories prove the role of human error, rather than chance, as the most important factor in precipitating divine punishments.