Ancient Greece Jeopardy

This Greek city-state is considered the birthplace of democracy, where male citizens voted directly on laws.

What is Athens?

This rival city-state trained its male citizens from childhood to be soldiers and prized military discipline above all.

What is Sparta?

This term names the direct form of government practiced in Athens, in which citizens voted on laws themselves.

What is democracy?

This brutal, decades-long conflict between Athens and Sparta and their allies ended in Spartan victory in 404 BC.

What is the Peloponnesian War?

This Athenian statesman championed democracy and oversaw the building of the Parthenon during Athens's golden age.

Who is Pericles?

This king of the Greek gods ruled from Mount Olympus and controlled thunder and lightning.

Who is Zeus?

This goddess of wisdom and war gave her name to a great city after winning a contest with Poseidon.

Who is Athena?

This god of the sea, brother to Zeus, was said to cause earthquakes with his trident.

Who is Poseidon?

This messenger god, known for his winged sandals, also guided souls to the underworld.

Who is Hermes?

This god of the underworld ruled over the dead but was not counted among the twelve Olympians.

Who is Hades?

This Athenian philosopher, who left no writings of his own, taught through a method of persistent questioning.

Who is Socrates?

This student of Socrates founded the Academy in Athens and wrote philosophical dialogues, including The Republic.

Who is Plato?

This student of Plato tutored Alexander the Great and wrote extensively on logic, ethics, and natural science.

Who is Aristotle?

This philosophical school, founded by Zeno of Citium, taught that virtue and self-control lead to a good life regardless of circumstance.

What is Stoicism?

Socrates was sentenced to death in 399 BC on charges of corrupting the youth and this related offense against the city's gods.

What is impiety?

This 490 BC battle saw a heavily outnumbered Athenian army defeat the invading Persians on a plain outside Athens.

What is the Battle of Marathon?

This decisive 480 BC naval battle in a narrow strait saw the Greeks destroy a much larger Persian fleet.

What is the Battle of Salamis?

This training and education system all Spartan boys underwent starting around age seven prepared them for a lifetime of military service.

What is the agoge?

This tight infantry formation, in which soldiers' overlapping shields formed a wall, was the backbone of Greek warfare.

What is the phalanx?

This heavily armored Greek foot soldier fought in tight formation and typically supplied his own weapons and armor.

What is a hoplite?

These ancient athletic games were held every four years in a sacred valley in honor of Zeus.

What is Olympia?

This foot race, roughly 200 meters and the oldest event at the ancient games, gave its name to the entire modern athletics program.

What is the stadion?

During the ancient games, city-states across Greece observed this temporary halt in warfare so athletes and spectators could travel safely.

What is the Olympic Truce?

Ancient Olympic athletes competed in this state, a practice reflected in the origin of the word "gymnasium."

What is nudity?

This prize awarded to victors at the ancient Olympics was a simple wreath cut from a sacred tree rather than a medal.

What is an olive wreath?

This Greek architectural style, marked by simple, sturdy columns without a base, is one of the three classical orders.

What is Doric?

This grand temple to Athena, still standing atop the Acropolis, was built during the height of Athenian power.

What is the Parthenon?

This form of drama, in which a story ends badly for its noble protagonist, was pioneered by Greek playwrights like Sophocles.

What is tragedy?

This masked ensemble of performers commented on the action and represented public opinion in Greek plays.

What is the chorus?

This blind poet is traditionally credited with composing the Iliad and the Odyssey.

Who is Homer?