Solon

The Seven Wisest Men According to the Ancient Greeks

Ancient Greece was the cradle of Western civilization, home to scientists and philosophers who have laid the foundations for modern society and the principles and values we strive to uphold. From the many philosophers of ancient Greece, the Greeks...

How Did Democracy and Slavery Coexist in Ancient Athens?

Of all the things ancient Greece gave humanity, few are truly as valuable as democracy. Starting from the ancient Athenians who invented this form of polity, democracy allowed for freedom and dignity for ancient Athenians. It motivated them to take...

How Ancient Athens Protected Its Precious Olive Groves

The olive tree in Ancient Athens was safeguarded by strict laws, highlighting its role as a sentinel of Athenian prosperity and identity. In the 6th century BC, the revered legislator Solon, credited with laying the foundations of Athenian democracy, enacted...

“Know Thyself”: The Ancient Saying of Delphi That Changed Philosophy

Delphi offered more than prophecy in the times of the Ancient Greeks, as inscribed on the temple were a series of brief sayings with deep philosophical meaning known as the Delphic Maxims. These concise statements distilled profound ideas about ethics,...

Anacharsis: The Skythian Who Embraced Greek Philosophy but Criticized Greek Society

Anacharsis, a philosopher from Scythia who embraced Greek culture, stands as a remarkable figure in the annals of ancient history. Despite his foreign origins, he left a lasting impression on Greek philosophy, and was renowned for his practical wisdom,...

How a 6th-Century BC Ancient Greek Lawmaker Predicted Today’s Legal Challenges

Ancient Greek lawmaker Solon of Athens, the author of one of the earliest Athenian constitutions, was a thinker of remarkable insight, whose ideas continue to resonate in today’s complex world. Recognized as one of the sages of Ancient Greece,...

The Ancient Greek Tyrant Who Ruled Athens Three Times

Pisistratus was an ancient Greek statesman who ruled Athens three times as a tyrant. However, his reforms laid the foundations for the city's later supremacy in Greece. Born around 600 BC, he came to power with a coup in 561...

Gymnasium: The First Gym in Ancient Greece

The word "gymnasium" in ancient Greece, which also refers to the modern gym, was commonly used because exercise and maintaining a fit body were especially important for Greeks. The word—which references a place for working out—derives from the Greek verb...