ancient athens

In Achaemenid Egypt a rebellion began under the command of Inaros, a Libyan king living on the border of Egypt. This rebellion quickly swept the country, which was soon largely in the hands of Inaros. He requested assistance from Athens which was granted. The alliance defeated the Persianw at...

The Social War of 357 - 355 B.C., usually unknown to many, was in fact a key event in 4th century B.C. Athenian history (and probably Greek history in general). It marked the end of a political era that had started in 395 B.C. and aimed at restoring Athens as the preeminent Hellenic power and...

The olive was a major cash crop and trade good for the ancient Athenians, and it helped their rise to power considerably. The possibility that the trees would get destroyed, as well as the decision to defend the limited land Athens had, might have been a factor in the decision to fight at...

Cylon, one of the Athenian nobles and victor of the Olympic Games, attempted a coup in 632 BC with the support of Megara where his father-in-law Theagenes was tyrant. Cylon was advised by the Oracle of Delphi to seize power during a festival of Zeus, which Cylon interpreted to mean the Olympics...

In 335 BC, while Alexander the Great was campaigning against the Balkan tribes, a rumor had spread throughout Greece that Alexander was dead. Thebes took the chance and rebelled, only to be annihilated by the Macedonian army. Athens also considered rebellion, and it was fiercely debated in the...

The Gods' Bloody Tune: A Classical Greek TL ''In those days some hoped that the days of strife might soon come to an end in Hellas. The gods, however, had other plans and mens will long continue to dance to their bloody tune...'' Xenophon, Hellenica Prologue: A Joyful Day Demetrios...

What if the Plague of Athens that struck the city-state during the second year of the Peloponnesian War had been less devastating, or hadn't happened at all? How might that affect the course of the war and other events?

What if Alcibiades had never defected from Athens? Could Athens have won the Peloponnesian War?

Many scholars believe Socrates wanted to die. One bit of evidence they use to support this is the alternate sentence he proposed at his trial. They say he could have lived had he suggested the alternate sentence of exile. Instead, he suggested he be fined, which was viewed as inadequate...