Classical Greece Vocab

Question 1

Aspasia (lady)

Answer 1

Perikles metic partner, special exception law enacted after Perikles death to make their sons citizens of Athens

Question 2

Mytilene (on Lesbos)

Answer 2

Main city-state on the island of Lesbos. Revolt led to debate in Athens to resolve. Harsh first decision boat sent out, second vote for leniency sent another boat. Those who revolted were saved from execution just in time. Some still were executed.

Question 3

Cleon (dude)

Answer 3

Athenian general, spoke at Mytilene debate in Athens. Sided with killing Lesbos revolters. Won a decisive battle on Sphacteria with Demosthenes. Died at second battle of Amphipolis.

Question 4

Stasis

Answer 4

an episode of civil war within a Greek city state

Question 5

Sphacteria

Answer 5

Small island near Pylos. After the battle of Pylos a number of Spartans were stranded on this island. Demosthenes and Cleon attacked stranded Spartans, eventually capturing 292 soldiers after spartan surrender.

Question 6

Brasidas

Answer 6

Seafaring Spartan general. Died at first battle of Amphipolis.

Question 6

Nicias

Answer 6

Athenian general. Got Peace of Nicias treaty passed which ended first half of Peloponnesian War. Stepped down after Cleon suggested he take back Pylos

Question 7

Melian Dialogue

Answer 7

Dialogue between Athens and Melians in Melos after their revolt. Melos tried to stay neutral in the war, not contributing to Athens war efforts. Athens said “The strong do what they can and the weak suffer what they must.

Question 8

Alcibiades

Answer 8

Nephew of Perikles. Raised in Perikles house. Had Socrates as a teacher. Private life got in way of political life. Was pro Sicilian expedition. After being blamed for defacing Hermes statues in Athens he defected to Sparta and served as a military advisor. Jumped back and forth between sides until eventually ostracized by Athens.

Question 9

Mysteries of Demeter at Eleusis

Answer 9

Religious festival at Eleusis. Athenian citizens would have a procession from Athens to Eleusis each year.

Question 10

Herms (god)

Answer 10

Messenger of the gods, escort of the dead, fertility figure. Stone statues of his head and penis in front of Athenian home. Alcibiades was blamed for defacing Hermes statues around Athens.

Question 11

Decelea

Answer 11

Deme near border of Boeotia. Fortified by Sparta to make invasions of Attica easier.

Question 12

Lenaia

Answer 12

Athenian festival celebrating Dionysus with theater

Question 13

City Dionysia

Answer 13

Athenian festival celebrating Dionysus with theater

Question 14

Aristophanes

Answer 14

playwright, wrote Lysistrata

Question 15

Lysistrata

Answer 15

play featuring women’s sex strike to end Peloponnesian War.

Question 16

Tissaphernes

Answer 16

Persian Commander. Gave financial aid to both Sparta and Athens, played both sides.

Question 17

Government of the 400

Answer 17

Oligarchic government installed after coup in 411 by Alcibiades. Many internal disagreements, only lasted for couple years?

Question 18

Oligarchy

Answer 18

government controlled by small group of people (not necessarily related)

Question 19

Sophocles

Answer 19

playwright, wrote Philoctetes

Question 20

Philoctetes

Answer 20

Character in Philoctetes. Abandoned on Lemnos on way the Trojan War because of stinky foot wound. Had bow of Heracles.

Question 21

Odysseus

Answer 21

Antagonist in Philoctetes. Asks Neoptolemos to lie to Philoctetes to get him to fight in Trojan War with bow of Heracles.

Question 22

Neoptolemos

Answer 22

-Character in Philoctetes. Sons of Achiles. Asked by Odysseus to manipulate Philoctetes to give him his bow.

Question 23

Herakles

Answer 23

-Son of Zeus.
-Came down as demigod to convince Philoctetes to fight in the Trojan War.

Question 24

Xenophon

Answer 24

-Philosopher / historian - student of Socrates
-Picked up history of Peloponnesian War where Thucydides left off.

Question 25

Conon

Answer 25

Athenian general, lead and was victorious at battle of Aegospotami against Spartan General Lysander.

Question 26

Battle of Arginusae

Answer 26

-Naval victory for Athens
-Storm wrecked many ships on way home
-1000ish Athenian sailors drown, leaders put to death after group trail.

Question 27

Battle of Aegospotami

Answer 27

-Conon (Athenian) vs. Lysander (Spartan)
-Caught Spartans off guard after several days of chilling watching each other

Question 28

Thirty Tyrants

Answer 28

-Critias was one of them.
-Forcefully voted into power at end of Peloponnesian War
-Basis of Athenian Oligarchy

Question 28

Thrasybulus

Answer 28

Athenian general

Question 29

Socrates

Answer 29

-Philosopher featured in Plato’s dialogues
-Tried and executed for corrupting the youth and impiety

Question 30

Plato

Answer 30

One of Socrates students, wrote Apology / Theaetetus / Phaedo, Socratic dialogues

Question 31

King’s Peace

Answer 31

Treaty between Athens, Sparta, Corinth, and Persian Empire to end the Corinthian War. Stipulations:
-Greek city states in Asia minor go to Persia
-interdependence of other city states
-NO LEAGUES
-enforced guardianship by Sparta

Question 32

Battle of Leuctra

Answer 32

-Spartan defeat by Thebans. First land battle loss for Sparta.
-Spartans led by Cleombrotus, spartan calvary noticeably inferior

Question 33

Epaminondas

Answer 33

Theban general who defeated Spartans on land at battle of Leuctra.

Question 34

Macedon

Answer 34

Rose up as dominant Greek state after Peloponnesian War. Where Philip I, II, Alexander I, II are from.

Question 35

Philip II

Answer 35

Peacekeeping hostage in Thebes as boy. Learned many military strategies during time spent there. Used them later against Thebes.

Question 36

Demosthenes

Answer 36

Late classical orator. In one oration, The First Philipic, he got Athens to oppose Philip of Macedon, his son Alexander the Great

Question 37

Battle of Chaeroneia

Answer 37

battle in Boeotia, central Greece, Philip II of Macedonia defeated Thebes and Athens. Partly credited victory to Philip’s 18-year-old son Alexander the Great

Question 38

Neaira

Answer 38

Hetaera accused of marrying an Athenian citizen (illegal) and falsely claiming citizenship.
-Brought to trial as more of a dispute between Apollodorus and her so called Athenian husband