Ancient Greece Archives

Topics

Featured

Ancient Greek Democracy

Who Could Vote in Ancient Greece? “In a democracy,” the Greek historian Herodotus wrote, “there is, first, that most splendid of virtues, equality before the law.” It was true that Cleisthenes’ demokratia abolished the political distinctions between the Athenian aristocrats who had long monopolized the political decision‑making process and the middle‑ and working‑class people who […]

Delphi

Delphi, Greece Located about six miles (10 km) from the Gulf of Corinth in the territory of Phoics in Greece, Delphi is situated between two towering rocks of Mount Parnassus known as the Phaidriades (Shining) Rocks. The site contained the sanctuary of Apollo, the sanctuary of Athena Pronaia — meaning, “Athena who is before the temple […]

Mycenae

Mycenae in Greek Mythology Mycenae’s true origins are unknown. According to Greek mythology, Perseus—son of the Greek god Zeus and Danae, who was the daughter of Acricio, the king of Argos—founded Mycenae. When Perseus left Argos for Tiryns, he instructed Cyclopes (one‑eyed giants) to build the walls of Mycenae with stones no human could lift. […]

Parthenon

Delian League The Parthenon was the center of religious life in the powerful Greek city‑state of Athens, the head of the Delian League. Developed to thwart the possibility of an attack by the Persian Empire or other foes, the Delian League was a cooperative alliance of Greek city‑states founded in 478 B.C. during the invasions […]

Featured

How Democracy Developed in Ancient Greece

Athens developed a system in which every free Athenian man had a vote in the Assembly.

What is the world’s oldest democracy?

The term democracy, which means “rule by the people,” was coined by the Greeks of ancient Athens to describe their city‑state’s system of self‑rule, which reached its golden age around 430 B.C. under the skilled orator and politician Pericles. It is probable that the Athenians were not the first group of people to adopt such […]