Solon
- lived from c. 600? - 563 B.C.
- called "the Lawgiver and Reformer of Ancient Athens"
- Established the Council of 400 Citizens which was a movement toward greater democracy.
Cleisthenes
- lived c. 572 - c. 485 B.C.
- with Spartan backing, he "freed Athens" from tyranny of Hippias
- he was forced to flee from Athens, chased out by his political rival Isagoras
- Athenian citizens overthrew Isagoras and asked for Cleisthenes to return and form a new type of government
- was generally regarded as the founder of Athenian democracy
- impact of the reforms giving power to ordinary Athenians was realized in art and culture
Themistocles
- lived c. 527?-460? B.C.
- a brilliant general and leader of Athens who convinced the Athenians to build up their navy to protect themselves against the advancing Persians.
- In the Battle of Salamis in 480 B.C. he won an tremendous victory over the Persian navy, largely through trickery and skill.
- was later exiled from Athens.
Artemisia, Warrior-Queen of Halicarnassus
- lived around 500 B.C.
- Artemisia took the throne after her husband, the king of Halicarnassus, died.
- She was a loyal subject of Persia! She fought for King Xerxes against the Greeks.
Phidippides
Louvre
- an Athenian known for his running ability
- before the Battle of Marathon in 490 B.C. against the Persians, he was sent to get help from Sparta, about 140 miles (250 kilometers) away
- Sparta couldn't help during its religious celebrations, so he returned to Marathon and then joined the battle
King Darius I of Persia
- lived from 550 - 486 B.C. and ruled Persia from 521 - 486 B.C.
- Persian king expanded his empire and controlled Greek colonies in Asia Minor (present-day Turkey), but they revolted (Ionian Revolt).
- Greek colonies got help from Athens leading to war. The Persian army was defeated in the Battle of Marathon, which was the beginning of Athens' rise to power.
- Darius' son, Xerxes, became the next emperor in 486 B.C.
Hoplite Warrior at the Battle of Marathon
- Hoplite warriors were foot-soldiers very important to the defense of Greece.
- Even though they were greatly outnumbered, through skill, training, and courage, the Greeks defeated their enemies.
King Xerxes of Persia
- lived about 519? - 465 B.C. ruled Persia from 486 to 465 B.C.
- son of Darius I who tried to conquer the Greeks at the Battle of Marathon (490 B.C.)
- most famous in the West for the Battle of Salamis (480 B.C.) which he lost (but he also conquered many other territories)
Athenian Soldier at the Battle of Salamis
- Athenians battled the Persian navy led by Xerxes in 480 B.C. and were victorious.
King Leonides at the Battle of Thermopylae
- The Battle of Thermopylae was fought between the Spartans and the Persians in 480 B.C.
- Against overwhelming odds, the Spartans occupied a narrow pass and defended it in a suicide mission, fighting to the last man, led by King Leonides
- The soldiers' efforts gave Sparta enough time to build their defensive walls.
Olympic Champion of the Pentathalon
- The ancient Olympics occurred every four years, but other athletic events were every two years, so athletic events were rather common.
- The pentathalon consisted of discus, javelin, long jump, running, and wrestling.
Helot Slave from Sparta
- Helots were serfs (landless farmers) who were descended from those defeated by the Spartans and who resisted their enslavement.
- Helots were constantly rebelling against the Spartans and often brutally treated by them.
- Sometimes slaves could gain their freedom if they fought bravely in battle.
Pericles
- lived from (495 - 429 B.C.)
- was a successful military leader and reinforced Athens' control over other city-states in the Delian League
- at first he expanded Athenian democracy , yet even though he was elected as general, Athens was "in name a democracy, but in fact the rule of one man." (Thucydides)
- he used funds for building the Acropolis
- he led Athens at the height of its powers, its "golden age"
- he argued for war against Sparta (Peloponnesian War was the result)
- he died of a plague
Learn more about him at "The Greeks Multimedia Project, CS: P1 - 10 and at Pericles - A biographical home page from Portland State's Greek Civ for Kids. His famous Funeral Oration is found at Westminster College's site (Utah). Pericles was written about by Plutarch, the Roman historian (Plutarch's Lives: Pericles).
Aspasia
- lived c. 460? - c. 420?? B.C.
- mistress of the Athenian statesman Pericles and a vivid figure in Athenian society. She lived with Pericles from about 445 until his death in 429 B.C..
- gifted intellectually (even praised by Socrates), probably with her assistance, Pericles helped in making Athens the great city of its day. She had a son by Pericles.
- After Pericles died, she remarried.
Spartan wife and mother
- had more education and physical training than women of Athens, for example
- were more independent, militaristic, competitive in sports
Learn more about the education and role of women in Sparta at "The Greeks Multimedia Project: BP 9: Sparta" and at Women of Sparta (by Jennifer Taylor, Minnesota State University) and Spartan Women (by Holly Lorencz) and learn more about Spartan education for both boys and girls at Ancient Greece Brought to Life
Athenian wife and mother
- Athenian women were usually kept out of public life and stayed at home doing domestic work
- Athenian women had little formal education
Learn more about the education and role of women in Athens at "The Greeks Multimedia Project, BP 32 "The Populace of Athens" and at Women of Athens (by Jennifer Taylor, Minnesota State University).
Sophocles
- 496 - 406 B.C.
- tragic playwright who wrote over 100 plays, but only seven survive
- most famous plays are tragedies: Oedipus the King, Antigone, and many more.
- He lived through the rise and fall of Athens' golden age
Socrates
- lived from 469 - 399 B.C.
- was a philosopher who was condemned to death for his political views and for "impiety" (not following the religious beliefs of his day), and "for corrupting the city's youth".
- His student, Plato, wrote about him and his philosophy.
Plato
- lived 428?-347? B.C.
- pupil of Socrates and teacher of Aristotle
- he wrote about philosophical arguments; we can read these today
- in one of his books he tells about the trial and death of Socrates, his beloved teacher