Culture and Religion
The Greek god of the sky and Thunder
Who is Zeus?
This body of water lies directly east of mainland Greece, separating it from modern-day Turkey and containing thousands of Greek islands.
What is the Aegean Sea?
Unlike modern representative democracies, where citizens elect leaders, Athenian democracy operated on a system where citizens voted directly on legislation.
What is direct democracy?
Unlike militaristic Sparta, Athens developed this political system, whose name comes from the Greek words for "people" and "power."
What is democracy?
What is Nike, the goddess of victory, and a scepter topped with an eagle?
The Greek god of the sea
Who is Poseidon
The sea on the southern coast of Greece
What is the Mediterranean Sea?
In contrast to Athenian democracy, Sparta was governed by an oligarchy that featured this unusual executive system with two rulers at once.
What is a dual monarchy (or two kings)?
The Spartan economy and agricultural production relied on this state-owned, unfree population, made up mostly of conquered Messenians.
Who are the Helots?
This philosopher was sentenced to death by drinking hemlock after an Athenian court found him guilty.
Who is Socrates?
Goddess of wisdom and war
Who is Athena?
Located on the slopes of Mount Parnassus, this pan-Hellenic sanctuary was famous for its priestess, the Pythia, who delivered prophecies.
What is Delphi?
Citizens of Athens could vote once a year to exile a potentially dangerous politician for ten years using shards of broken pottery known by this name.
What are ostraka (or ostracism)?
Spartan boys entered this state-sponsored, highly disciplined military training system at the age of seven.
What is the Agoge?
Built atop the Athenian Acropolis and dedicated to Athena Parthenos, this classical temple features Doric columns and famous marble friezes.
What is the Parthenon?
God of the sun and arts
Who is Apollo?
Rising to nearly 9,600 feet, this highest mountain peak in Greece was believed to be the home of the 12 Olympian gods.
What is Mount Olympus?
To prevent corruption and ensure equal opportunity, members of the Athenian Council of 500 (Boule) were chosen using this random selection method rather than elections.
What is sortition (or a lottery system)?
This Athenian reformer laid the structural foundation for Athenian democracy around 508 BCE by reorganizing citizens into ten new political tribes.
Who is Cleisthenes?
Held every four years in honor of Zeus, these athletic contests required a sacred truce (ekecheiria) across all participating Greek city-states.
What are the Olympic Games?
God of warfare
Who is Ares
This large, leaf-shaped southern peninsula of mainland Greece was connected to the north by the Isthmus of Corinth and was home to Sparta.
What is the Peloponnese (or Peloponnesian Peninsula)?
Formed after the Persian Wars to defend against future invasions, this Athenian-led alliance eventually morphed into an Athenian maritime empire.
What is the Delian League?
During the Golden Age of Athens, this famous orator and statesman championed public building projects, including the Parthenon, before dying in the Plague of Athens.
Who is Pericles?
In Greek mythology, this god of the sea and brother of Zeus carried a three-pronged trident and was known as the "Earth-Shaker."
Who is Poseidon?