Tag: Greece

The Reformer of Sparta (reigned 245 - 241 B.C.) AGIS by Plutarch The love of money had virtually destroyed the laws of Lycurgus in Sparta by the time Agis became king. This idealistic young man tried to restore the old way of life that had made Sparta great, but he was defeated by the power of greed...

Embark on a virtual journey to the Embassy of Greece, a diplomatic enclave that stands as a beacon of bilateral relations, cultural celebration, and mutual understanding. In this exploration, we unveil the significance of the Embassy, its role in fostering connections between Greece and host nations...

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 Fool of Hope (319 - 272 B.C.) P U R R O S by Plutarch In Pyrrhus' wild career of restless trouble-making, we see a soul incapable of satisfaction. He was a mighty man of war, and nearly conquered Rome, but he could never finish what he started before getting distracted by a new project. Glaucias...

The Freedom Fighter (410 - 364 B.C.) PELOPIDAS by Plutarch Pelopidas led the Thebans to recover their liberty, then he led them to victory over the invincible Spartans. From beginning to end, his was the life of a hero. Pelopidas, the son of Hippoclus, was born into a prominent family of Thebes. He ...

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 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 ...

Surviving Greek and Roman texts reveal the remarkable level of mathematical and engineering skill that went into the development of these early ballistic-missile launchers by Werner Soedel and Vernard Foley Scientific American, March 1979, pp. 150 - 160 Web version made available with additional dia...

Greece, a land of ancient wonders and vibrant culture, is a dream destination for kids of all ages. From exploring ancient ruins to sailing the turquoise waters of the Aegean Sea, Greece offers a plethora of exciting experiences for young adventurers. 1. Visit the Acropolis: Home to the Parthenon Th...

The Persian Wars were a series of conflicts between the Achaemenid Empire and Greek city-states that started in 499 BC and lasted until 449 BC. The collision between the fractious political world of the Greeks and the enormous empire of the Persians began when Cyrus the Great conquered the Greek-inh...

New research is shedding light on the fascinating bouleuterion, the ancient city hall, of Teos, an ancient Greek city located in present-day Turkey. The ruins of temples, roads, a harbor, and a rainwater cistern near Turkey's western coast reveal the once-thriving metropolis of Teos. Founded around ...

From Plutarch's Lives, still inspirational after 19 centuries: 15 Ancient Greek Heroes from Plutarch's Lives Ploutarcou A modern English edition, abridged and annotated by Wilmot H. McCutchen Preface It's brief, so start here, then read these biographies in chronological order: Theseus The Athenian...