Historical Hijinks
These state-owned serfs of Sparta were forced to farm the land and vastly outnumbered their Spartan masters.
Helots
Known as the “Father of History,” this 5th-century BCE Greek author chronicled the Greco-Persian Wars in his work Histories.
Herodotus
This mythical creature, part woman and part lion, plagued the city of Thebes by posing a riddle to travelers. The city was only freed when Oedipus correctly answered the riddle, causing the creature to take her own life.
The Sphinx
On this hill, Romulus is said to have founded the city of Rome in 753 BCE, marking the legendary origin of the city.
The Palatine
This legendary Greek horse, born from the union of Poseidon and Medusa, was the mount of Perseus and later became a constellation in the night sky.
Pegasus
These squared stone pillars featuring a head of a Greek messenger god and an erect phallus were used in ancient Greece as boundary markers and symbols of protection.
Herms
This Roman poet, known for his passionate and often explicit verses, wrote a poem about a little bird, a translation of which was submitted to the journal this cycle
Catullus
This son of Oedipus, who famously killed his brother Eteocles, was cursed by the gods to die at the hands of his own kin, leading to the mutual destruction of both brothers.
Polynices
The site of the Temple of Jupiter Optimus Maximus, this hill was the political and religious center of Rome during the Republic and early Empire, and it’s where many victorious generals would celebrate their triumphs.
The Capitoline
A famous professor at the University of Chicago was outraged when his horse received a sub-par rating for this part of their body.
Michael Allen
Alongside his lover Aristogeiton, this Athenian became a symbol of democracy after assassinating the tyrant Hipparchus in 514 BCE.
Harmodius
This Roman poet and philosopher wrote an epic work of poetry which aimed to "smear with honey the bitter cup of philosophy."
Lucretius
After the fall of Thebes, this seer, who had forewarned the city of its impending doom, was given a prophetic riddle about his own future, a future that led to his gruesome death at the hands of his own son.
Tiresias
This hill is linked to the legendary founding of Rome by Remus and is also home to one of the city’s oldest plebeian sanctuaries, the Temple of Diana.
The Aventine
This Greek soldier pretended to be abandoned alongside the Trojan horse in order to convince them to take it into the city
Sinon
In early Roman lore, these three warrior brothers represented Rome in a duel against Alba Longa’s champions, the Curiatii, to settle a war without full-scale battle.
the Horatii
This Roman emperor, known for his scholarly pursuits, wrote a now-lost work on the Etruscans, attempting to preserve their history and language, in contrast to the dominant Roman narratives.
Claudius
This author famously called Sophocles’ Oedipus Rex the "perfect" tragedy, praising its unity of plot and the cathartic effect it has on the audience.
Aristotle
This hill, the highest of Rome’s seven hills, was the site of early Etruscan fortifications, and in Roman legend, it is where the Gauls famously sacked Rome in 390 BCE, eventually leading to the construction of the Murus Gallicus defensive wall.
The Janiculum
This famous warhorse, ridden by Alexander the Great, was said to be fearless in battle and, according to legend, could never be tamed by anyone but Alexander himself.
Bucephalus
Passed in 287 BCE, this law ended the Conflict of the Orders by making plebiscites—laws passed by the Plebeian Assembly—binding on all Roman citizens.
The Lex Hortensia
Known for his doctrine of constant change, this philosopher famously declared that "You cannot step into the same river twice" and posited fire as the fundamental element of the universe.
Heraclitus
Although he was destined to kill his father and marry his mother, Oedipus was raised in a distant city, far from his true parents, at the court of which king.
Polybus
This hill is the smallest of Rome’s seven hills but gained fame as the location of the Baths of Diocletian, which were the largest public baths in ancient Rome, symbolizing imperial power and luxury.
The Viminal
This horse, which played a pivotal role in Roman history, was famously gifted to Emperor Caligula and was believed to have been appointed a consul by the eccentric emperor.
Incitatus