The Ancient History Library
Read accessible, richly presented features on civilisations, rulers, warfare, religion, daily life and archaeology.
Ajax the Great
Ajax the Great (Αἴας ὁ Μέγας) The Tower of Strength and Defender of the Greeks Ajax the Great stands as the most stalwart and tragically honourable hero in Greek mythology whose ex…
Read article →Triptolemus
Triptolemus (Τριπτόλεμος) The Bearer of Agriculture and Divine Civilizer Triptolemus stands as the most transformative and culturally foundational hero in Greek mythology whose ext…
Read article →Ancient Athens
Athens (Αθήνα) Athens was among the most influential city-states (poleis) of ancient Greece and one of the most significant cultural centres in world history. It is widely remember…
Read article →Abydos
Abydos (Ἄβυδος) Abydos was an important ancient Greek city located on the Asian side of the Hellespont, the narrow strait now known as the Dardanelles in modern Turkey. Throughout…
Read article →Ancient Akanthos
Akanthos (Ἄκανθος) Akanthos was an ancient Greek city located on the eastern coast of the Chalcidice peninsula in northern Greece. Founded as a colony during the great period of Gr…
Read article →Ancient Argos
Argos (Άργος) Argos was one of the most ancient and historically significant city-states of the Greek world. Situated in the north-eastern Peloponnese, within the fertile plain of…
Read article →Ancient Abdera
Abdera (Άβδηρα) Abdera was an ancient Greek city located on the northern coast of the Aegean Sea, in the region of Thrace. Though not among the largest or most militarily dominant…
Read article →Ancient Sparta
Sparta (Λακεδαίμων) Sparta occupies a singular position in the history of the ancient Greek world. Unlike Athens, whose legacy rests upon democracy, philosophy, drama, and architec…
Read article →Ancient Corinth
Corinth (Κόρινθος) Corinth was one of the wealthiest and most strategically important city-states of ancient Greece. Situated on the narrow Isthmus of Corinth, the strip of land co…
Read article →Ancient Mycenae
Mycenae (Μυκήνη) Mycenae was one of the most powerful and influential centres of the Late Bronze Age Aegean world. Located in the north-eastern Peloponnese, in the region later kno…
Read article →Ancient Thebes
Thebes (Θήβα) Thebes was one of the most important and influential city-states of ancient Greece. Located in Boeotia in central Greece, Thebes played a decisive role in Greek polit…
Read article →Ancient Rhodes
Rhodes (Ρόδος) Rhodes was one of the most influential and prosperous island states of the ancient Greek world. Situated in the south-eastern Aegean Sea, near the coast of Asia Mino…
Read article →Ancient Megara
Megara (Μέγαρα) Megara was an influential ancient Greek city-state situated between Athens and Corinth on the narrow land bridge connecting central Greece to the Peloponnese. Thoug…
Read article →Ancient Phlius
Phlius (Φλιοῦς) Phlius was an ancient Greek city located in the north-eastern Peloponnese, in a fertile valley between Sicyon and Corinth. Though never as powerful as its larger ne…
Read article →Ancient Epidaurus
Epidaurus (Ἐπίδαυρος) Epidaurus was an important city-state of ancient Greece, best known as the principal sanctuary of Asclepius, the god of healing. Situated in the Argolid on th…
Read article →Ancient Sicyon
Sicyon (Σικυῶνος) Sicyon was an important ancient Greek city-state located in the northern Peloponnese, between Corinth and Achaea, overlooking the Gulf of Corinth. Though often ov…
Read article →Ancient Plataea
Plataea (/pləˈtiːə/) Plataea was a small but historically significant city-state of ancient Greece located in Boeotia, near the border with Attica. Though modest in size and politi…
Read article →Ancient Chalcis
Chalcis (Χαλκίδα) Chalcis was one of the most important cities of ancient Greece, situated on the island of Euboea at the narrow strait known as the Euripus. This strait, which sep…
Read article →Ancient Potidaea
Potidaea (/ˌpɒtɪˈdiːə/) Potidaea was an important ancient Greek city situated on the Pallene peninsula in the region of Chalcidice, in northern Greece. Founded as a colony of Corin…
Read article →Ancient Acharnae
Acharnae (ἀχαρνός) Acharnae was one of the largest and most important demes of ancient Attica, the region surrounding Athens. Located to the north of the city of Athens, at the foo…
Read article →Ancient Assos
Assos (Ἄσσος) Assos was an ancient Greek city located in the Troad region of north-western Asia Minor, on the coast of the Aegean Sea. Perched dramatically upon a volcanic hill ove…
Read article →Ancient Corinth
Corinth (Κόρινθος) Corinth was one of the wealthiest and most strategically important city-states of ancient Greece. Situated on the narrow Isthmus of Corinth, the strip of land co…
Read article →Ancient Elis
Elis (Ηλεία) Elis was an ancient Greek city-state located in the western Peloponnese. Although it never achieved the military dominance of Sparta or the imperial influence of Athen…
Read article →Ancient Mantinea
Mantinea (Μαντίνεια) Mantinea was an important ancient Greek city-state located in Arcadia, in the central Peloponnese. Though not as large or powerful as Sparta or Athens, Mantine…
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