Acropolis
[a-CROP-olis] |
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The Acropolis is a large hill in the centre of Athens. On top of it were many temples and other buildings, the remains of which can still be seen today. |
Aristophanes
[aris-TOF-a-neez] |
Lived in Athens in the 5th century BC. He wrote comedies for the theatre in Athens. |
Aspasia
[as-PAY-zia] |
Was a woman who taught public speaking in Athens. She was the partner of the famous general Perikles. Aspasia had much more independence than most women in Athens. |
| assembly |
The assembly was the public meeting of the government of the city. All citizens could take part and vote there. |
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| Athena |
The patron goddess of Athens. A huge statue of Athena stood inside the Parthenon. |
| Athens |
The capital city of modern Greece. In ancient times Athens was a powerful city with its own government, laws, army and navy. |
Attika
[A-tik-a] |
The region around Athens. |
aulos
[OW-los] |
A wind instrument with a reed similar to a modern oboe |
| citizen |
In Athens a citizen was a person with the right to take part in the assembly, serve on juries and take a turn as a member of the ruling council. Only male Athenians were allowed citizen rights. |
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| city state |
Ancient Greek cities had their own governments, laws and armies. The city and the land it controlled around it made up the city state. |
Corinth
[CO-rinth] |
A city in southern Greece. |
Delphi
[DEL-fee] |
A city to the west of Athens which had the famous Oracle of Delphi. People would consult the oracle for advice from the gods. |
| democracy |
A system of government in which citizens can vote to decide things. Athens had democracy from 510 BC. |
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Hera
[HE-ra] |
A goddess, the wife of the god Zeus. Hera was the patron goddess of the home. |
hoplite
[HOP-light] |
A foot soldier with metal armour. Hoplites carried round shields and had bronze helmets and leg guards. |
isthmus
[IS-thmus] |
A narrow piece of land that joins two larger pieces of land like a bridge. The isthmus of Corinth joins northern Greece to Southern Greece. |
Kypselos
[KIP-sel-os] |
A ruler of Corinth in about 650 BC. Kypselos held all of the power in the city and so is called a 'tyrant'. |
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| lyre |
A musical instrument with strings that are plucked with the fingers. |
Mytilene
[MIT-il-ee-nee] |
A city on the island of Lesbos that was usually an ally of Athens. |
oligarchy
[OL-i-gar-kee] |
A system of government in which a small group of people have all the power. |
| Olympic Games |
A religious festival held in honour of Zeus. The Olympic games was a time for people form all over Greece to come together in peace. |
pankration
[pan-KRAT-ion] |
A type of wrestling with almost no rules. Pankration was very popular and was one of the Olympic events. |
Parthenon
[PARTH-en-on] |
A huge temple built on top of the Acropolis in Athens. |
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Perikles
[PER-i-kleez] |
A famous and popular leader of the Athenian army from 458 - 429 BC. Perikles was famous as a very powerful public speaker. |
| Persia |
A large and powerful country to the east of Greece. Persia tried to invade Greece but was defeated at the battles of Marathon and Salamis. |
| sacrifice |
A gift made to the gods. For example pieces of meat could be burned on an altar as a sacrifice. |
| slave |
A person with no freedom who was owned by someone else. |
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Sophokles
[SOF-o-kleez] |
A playright who lived in Athens. Sophokles won many drama competitions with his tragedies. |
Sparta
[SPAR-ta] |
A city in southern Greece. The Spartans were famous for their strict military training and powerful army. |
trireme
[TRY-reem] |
A warship which had three levels of oars on each side. In battle triremes would charge other ships, smashing into them with the battering ram on their bows. |
tyranny
[TI-ran-nee] |
A system of government in which one person has all the power. Such a ruler is called a 'tyrant'. Tyrants were not necessarily bad rulers. Some peolpe think that Kypselos, the tyrant of Corinth, was a popular leader. |
Zeus
[zyOOS] |
The king of the gods. Zeus was the most powerful of the ancient Greek gods. |
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