Greek History
Latest Contributing Articles
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Wars of the Successors
Alexander the Great died suddenly in 323 BCE without leaving an heir. What he did leave was a group of wildly ambitious generals who came to be known as the Successors.
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Sporting Women in Ancient Greece
Oppressive gender roles did little to encourage or document athleticism in the women of ancient Greece. Even so, women carried on exercising and competing.
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Introduction to Ancient Greek Ball Games
Many modern sports have ancient forerunners in the Greek world. Rugby is attested in written sources and field hockey - some say even football - can be seen in art.
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The Meaning of the Myth of the Minotaur
The Cretan legend of the Minotaur links the palace of Knossos with ancient Athens. There are various sources of inspiration behind this ancient myth
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Thesues and the Minotaur
There is more than one version of the myth of Minotaur of Crete. Although his end is always the same, he is variously a monster, a wild man or a Cretan general
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The Legend of Hercules and the Hydra of Lerna
The hydra had a terrifying power: for every head cut off, two would grow in its place.
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Who Were the Amazons?
Fierce, single-breasted warriors and expert horse riders, known to kill their male offspring, Amazons are central to Greek mythology but their origin is still debated.
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The Olympics of Ancient Greece
The first Olympic Games were held from before 776 BC and adhered to a strict truce between rival nations throughout Greece.
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Medusa and other Monsters of Greek Mythology
For each ancient Greek hero, there was a monster for him to slay. Be it a snake-haired Medusa or a ravaging boar, the monsters are often more interesting than the heroes!
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The Myth of Perseus and Medusa
Among the myths of the legendary Greek heroes, the story of Perseus and Medusa is one of the greatest tales of adventure.
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The First Athenian Empire - Abuse of Power
The unforeseen consequences in membership to the Delian League and how Athens established imperialistic control over her allies.
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The Myth of Theseus and the Minotaur
Locked in a labyrinth, the Minotaur demanded young men and women to eat until Athenian hero Theseus defeated it.
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Sparta and Athens Compared
Sparta's reputation was based on a rigid militaristic system while Athens developed a prosperous economy based on commercial pursuits yet both played key roles in Greece.
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The Myth of King Midas and the Midas Touch
King Midas was hospitable to Silenus, beloved tutor of Dionysus, God of wine and revelry. Told to name his gift, Midas asked that all he touched turn to gold.
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The Myth of Echo and Narcissus
Echo, a nymph, fell in love with the handsome Narcissus and wasted away when he did not return her love. For his cruelty, he met the same fate.
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The First Athenian Empire
The elements of the Delian League which members found most advantageous and how Athens came to provide them.
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Summary of the Beginning of the Trojan War
The Trojan War, according to Greek Myth, pitted the Greeks against the Trojans. The war was at first fought over Helen of Troy, the most beautiful woman on Earth.
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Spartan Hegemony
A look at the rise and fall of one of the most famous Greek City-States of the ancient world. Revered by many, how did Sparta achieve domination, and how did she lose it?
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Religious Influence In Ancient Greece
In a world where gods walked the earth, the mortals with whom they co-existed left nothing to chance. For the Ancient Greeks, everything happened for a reason.
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A War Like No Other Book Review
In Victor Davis Hanson's book "A War Like No Other" he attempts to explain the Peloponnesian War by periodically using more recent wars as analogies.
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The Agora of Athens – A Public Forum
The open-air market of ancient Athens was more than just the place to do one's shopping; it was the center for political, philosophical and civic debate.
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Persepolis – The Glory of Persia
The great city of Parsa, known by the Greeks as Persepolis, flourished as the capital of the Persian Empire for two hundred years until destroyed by Alexander the Great.
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Pericles – The Light of Athens
The great Greek statesman Pericles breathed life and inspiration into his city; when he died, the glory of Athens died with him.
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Greek Gods and Goddesses
Greek mythology consists of tales about the interactions between the gods and humans. The gods played an important role in the lives of the people of ancient Greece.
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The Technical Feats of Xerxes
Xerxes' empire, briefly flirting with the borders of Europe, gave rise to some of the strangest engineering feats of antiquity.
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