Tag: Ancient Greece

The Slave of Fear (died 413 B.C.) N I K I A S by Plutarch The turning point of the war with Sparta was the disastrous Sicilian Expedition, eagerly undertaken by the greedy Athenians. Superstitious old Nicias was their reluctant leader in this debacle. After the death of Pericles, the democracy of At...

The Friend of Fortune (411 - 336 B.C.) TIMOLEWN by Plutarch Against heavy odds, but with the help of the gods, Timoleon took up where Dion had left off, and liberated Sicily from barbarians and tyrants. His courage and wisdom established peace and prosperity where before there had been desolation an...

"The Last of the Greeks" (252 - 182 B.C.) FILOPOIMHN by Plutarch Philopoemen led the last remnants of resistance to the creeping domination of Rome in Greece. In this austere general, we see an indomitable character, superior to his circumstances. Cleander was a man of high birth and great power in ...

A History of Ancient Greece The country which is now called Hellas was not regularly settled in ancient times. The people were migratory, and readily left their homes whenever they were overpowered by numbers. There was no commerce, and they could not safely hold intercourse with one another either...

The Lawmaker of Athens (died 559 B.C.) SOLWN by Plutarch Athens, unlike Sparta, was a money-mad commercial city. The constitution written by Solon mitigated the class struggle between rich and poor, and allowed for the growth of democratic institutions. Solon was born into a well-to-do family of Ath...

The Savior of Syracuse (409 - 354 B.C.) DIWN by Plutarch Sicily was an important part of the Greek world. Dion led the struggle against tyranny in its largest city, Syracuse. Ingratitude and betrayal were his reward for indulging the democrats of Syracuse. Dionysius [the Elder] 1 had become tyrant o...

(all dates B.C.) circa 9000 Atlantis disappears. circa 1600 Island of Thera explodes, causing a tidal wave that inundates coastal settlements in the Aegean, and cripples the civilization of Crete. circa 1300 Theseus establishes the city of Athens. circa 1250 Troy falls to Agamemnon and his Greek a...

Harper's Dictionary of Classical Antiquities (1898) stands as a timeless repository of knowledge, offering insights into the rich tapestry of classical history. Within its pages, the entry on Ctesias emerges as a fascinating exploration of an ancient Greek historian and physician. This post delves i...

"The Just" (530 - 468 B.C.) ARISTEIDHS by Plutarch Aristides was so respected throughout Greece for his fairness that Athens assumed the leadership of the alliance against the Persian invaders. His character is a model for all ages. Aristides was a close friend of Cleisthenes, the man who had stampe...

Ariston, a name of Greek origin, has been around for centuries, carrying with it a rich history and diverse meanings. Its etymology can be traced back to the Greek word "aristos," meaning "noblest" or "best." This noble connotation has made Ariston a popular name among Greek families for generations...

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Ancient Greece, a civilization that flourished between the 9th and 4th centuries BCE, stands as a pivotal chapter in human history. Its legacy spans the realms of art, philosophy, literature, politics, and scientific thought, leaving an indelible mark on Western civilization and shaping the world we...