Two and a half millennia on, ancient Greek general and historian Thucydides still feels as relevant as the latest breaking news bulletin on TV. His History of the Peloponnesian War is such a fundamental account of ancient conflict that...
"It is remarkable that Sparta had no walls when all the other cities did," Elon Musk observed recently in response to a user's image of a Spartan warrior.
Spartans of the Archaic and Classical periods took pride in not having...
In the First Book of The Republic, the Ancient Greek philosopher Plato examines the concept of justice and critiques the notion of tribal justice through Socrates’ dialogue with Polemarchus.
Socrates asks, “What is justice?” and Polemarchus responds by quoting Simonides,...
The word "barbarian" has a complex and evolving history that stretches back to the earliest days of Greek literature and thought. In its earliest uses, the word did not carry the harsh connotations it acquired in later centuries. Instead,...
The Peloponnesian War was a major event in the history of ancient Greece. It was a war primarily between the Athens-led Delian League and Sparta, leading the Peloponnesian League. Historical analysis of sources reveals that an earthquake in Sparta...
Ancient Greece is often lauded for its contributions to philosophy, politics, and culture. However, its citizens were also innovators of military theory and practice.
For modern militaries and military thinkers, their history is thus replete with valuable case studies on...
The ancient Greek city of Scione is a relatively minor site, but it has a fascinating history connected to legendary events after the Trojan War. Ancient sources describe how Greek soldiers founded Scione on their way back to Greece...
Long before Homer sang of Troy or Athens lit the torch of civilization, the Pelasgians walked the hills and coasts of what is now Greece. They left no written records and founded no empire bearing their name. Yet nearly...
Ancient Athens had its own "Great Wall" like China's that started from Mount Aigaleo and reached Parnitha Mountain, built to stop raids during the Peloponnesian War (431-404 BC).
The great stone structure that is 4.5 kilometers (2.8 miles) long connects...
Thucydides, the Ancient Greek historian and general defined the identities of Greeks and "barbarians" specifically in relation to the northern settlements based on their geography, politics, and degree of Greek cultural influence.
Researcher Ioannis Xydopoulos, professor of Ancient Greek History...
