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Ancient Greece — Characters

Heroic Age   Eastern Kingdoms   Greek City States   Persian War   Athenian Empire   Decline of Greece   Hellenistic Age   Greco-Roman Era  

Heroic Age

Prior to 1000 B.C.

Voyage of Jason and the Argonauts to Aftermath of the Trojan War.


Character Dates Short Biography
fl.    2000 BC Greatest of Greek demigod heroes. Succeeded in twelve labors.
fl.    2000 BC Legendary hero who killed Medusa, a monster so ugly it turned people to stone.
fl.    2000 BC Legendary hero, who killed the Minataur. Ancient King of Athens.
fl.    2000 BC Led a voyage of 'Argonauts' on a quest to recover the Golden Fleece.
fl.    1200 BC Greatest Warrior on the Greek side in the Trojan War. Invincible except for his heel.
fl.    1200 BC Hero of Troy. Son of King Priam.
fl.    1200 BC Wife of Greek Menelaus, who ran off with Paris of Troy. This insult caused the Trojan War.
fl.    1200 BC Leader of Greeks in the Trojan War. Killed by his wife upon his return home.
fl.    1200 BC Greek hero of the Trojan war, famous for his wiles and craft. Central character of Homer's Odyssey.
fl.    1200 BC Faithful Wife of Odysseus. Kept suitors at bay for twenty years, as she awaited his return.
fl.    2000 BC Solved the mystery of the Sphinx, and became the King of Thebes. Then struck with tragedy.
fl.    2000 BC Daughter of Oedipus, king of Thebes. Cares for him when he is exiled.


Eastern Kingdoms

600 B.C. to 500 B.C.

Foundation of Lydian and Babylonian Empires to Reign of Darius the Great


Character Dates Short Biography
645-561 BC King who conquered much of Assyria and made his capital at Babylon.
died 525 BC Second to last King of Egypt, died before Egypt was over-run by Cambyses.
560-547 BC Wealthy Monarch of Lydia who lost his Kingdom to Cyrus the Great.
fl.    550 BC Minister of Astyages who betrayed him in favor of Cyrus
558-529 BC Prince of Persia who overran Medes, Lydia and Assyria to create the Persian Empire.
died 522 BC Eldest son of Cyrus. Invades Egypt, kills brother, then dies
fl.    522 BC Impersonated Smerdis, son of Cyrus and stole the throne of Persia.
fl.    521 BC Daughter of Cyrus the Great, Wife of Darius, Mother of Xerxes
died 486 BC With six conspirators, seized the thrown of Persia, primarily through craft, rather than force.
fl.    529 BC Queen of the Scythians. Her army defeated and killed Cyrus the Great.
fl.    500 BC Greek Physician, valuable slave of Darius. Schemed and plotted to return to Greece.
died 482 BC Loyal Persian General, helped Darius retake Babylon with an elaborate ruse.


Greek City States

800 B.C. to 500 B.C.

Rise of Sparta to Democratic Reforms in Athens


Character Dates Short Biography
died 631 BC Bravely defended Messenians from Spartan conquest, for 17 years.
884-820 BC Mastermind of Spartan laws and lifestyle.
died 489 BC King of Sparta before Persian Wars, removed tyrants from Athens, defeated Argos.
fl.    650 BC Wrote inspiring battle ballads for Sparta during the Messenian War. Historian of Sparta.
fl.    1000 BC Last King of Athens. Died nobly, and Athenians resolved to never have another king.
fl.    621 BC First wrote the laws of Athens, but made them very harsh.
638-559 BC Rewrote the laws of Athens to better protect poor citizens from the rich.
605-527 BC Tyrant of Athens. Respected Solon's laws. Established festivals, and promoted culture.
fl.    510 BC Athenian statesman who overthrew Hippias, and helped institute democratic reforms.
fl.    632 BC One of the early members of the Alcmaeonidae family. Opposed the tyrant Cylon.
fl.    555 BC Opposed, and then allied himself with Pisistratus. Married Agriste of the Alcmaeonidae clan.
fl.    490 BC Exiled son of Pisistratus; helped lead Persian forces against Athens at Marathon.
died 627 BC Legendary Tyrant of Corinth. Under the rule of his family the city became powerful.
fl.    550 BC Famous Greek Fabalist, aledgedly lived at the court of Croesus in Lydia.
fl.    1000 BC Blind poet who "wrote" the Iliad and Odyssey, before the age of writing.
635-543 BC Early Greek philosopher and scientist, one of seven sages of Greece.
died 522 BC Prosperous King of Samos, is overthrown by Oretes, his enemy from Asia Minor.
570-480 BC Philosopher and mathematician; invented the Pythagorean Theorem.


Persian War

499 B.C. to 477 B.C.

Ionian Revolt to Aftermath of the Persian War


Character Dates Short Biography
fl.    500 BC Brother of Darius, Satrap of Lydia during Ionian Rebellion. Lead Persian forces at Marathon.
died 494 BC Very close advisor to Darius, rescued him from disaster in Scythia, later rebelled. Father in law of Aristagoras.
fl.    494 BC Son-in-law of Histiaeus. Led Rebellion of Greek Colonies in Asia Minor.
died 490 BC Ran from Athens to Sparta to warn of Persians. Ran to Athens after Marathon, then died.
died 489 BC Athenian General who led Greece to great victory at the Battle of Marathon.
died 489 BC Brother-in-law, and Commander and Chief of Xerxes's Army.
fl.    485 BC Volunteered to sacrifice their lives to the Persian King to expiate the murder of Ambassadors.
died 480 BC Spartan King whose whole army died defending the pass of Thermopylae.
fl.    480 BC Brother of Darius. Close advisor to Darius and Xerxes.
fl.    480 BC Satrap who magnificently hosted Xerxes and was repaid by having his eldest son slain.
fl.    480 BC Queen of Halicarnassas and Cos. One of Xerxes most trusted advisors and Generals.
fl.    480 BC Head of Spartan Fleet during the Persian War.
died 470 BC Spartan General who led Greece against Mardonius at the Battle of Plataea.
520-465 BC Raised an enormous army for Persian invasion of Greece. Defeated at Battle of Salamis.
525-462 BC Athenian Hero of the Battle of Salamis. He masterminded Athenian Naval supremacy.
fl.    480 BC Exiled King of Sparta, advisor to Xerxes during his invasion of Greece.
died 468 BC Athenian General and Statesman. Fought at Marathon, Salamis; created Delian League.


Athenian Empire

477 B.C. to 404 B.C.

Formation of the Delian League to the Fall of Athens


Character Dates Short Biography
525-456 BC First of the three great Greek Tragedians. Wrote plays including the tragedies of Oedipus and Antigone.
fl.    450 BC Foreign born courtesan, and wife of Pericles. Highly educated for a woman of her age.
died 449 BC Athenian Statesman and General. Fought Persians in Ionia after the War. Friend of Sparta.
518-438 BC Most famous of Greek Lyric Poets.
500-432 BC Built statues of Athene in the Parthenon and Jupiter at Olympia. Friend of Pericles.
499-429 BC Athenian Statesman during golden Age of Athens. Made Athens cultural Center of Greece.
500-428 BC First Great Philosopher of Athens, thought to be a teacher of Socrates.
484-425 BC Wrote Histories of the Persian War and empires of the east.
496-406 BC Wrote Greek Tragedies, including the tragedies of Agamemnon, Electra, and Orestes.
480-406 BC Third of the great Greek Tragedians. Wrote Alcestis, Medea, Orestes, Electra and many others.
476-427 BC Spartan King during the early years of Peloponnesian War. Sought peace with Athens, but was forced into the war.
died 422 BC War mongering Politician, opposed Sparta's peace proposals.
died 422 BC Eloquent Spartan General, turned tide of Peloponnesian War in Sparta's favor. Died at Amphipolis.
died 395 BC Spartan Naval Commander who finally defeated Athens in Peloponnesian War.
460-400 BC Historian of Peloponnesian War. Formerly an Athenian General sent into exile.
fl.    413 BC Lead the resistance in Syracuse that defeated Athenian forces during Peloponnesian War.
died 413 BC Important Athenian General in the Peloponnesian War. Perished at Syracuse.
469-399 BC First Moral Philosopher, immortalized by Plato.
448-388 BC Greatest of Greek Comedian playwrights. Wrote Frogs, Clouds, Peace, Birds, and many others.
460-377 BC Father of modern medicine. Set up medical school to train doctors by scientific methods.
died 413 BC After Death of Pericles, emerged as leader of peace party. Led disastrous Sicilian Expedition.
450-404 BC Controversial statesman and General of Athens, who betrayed the city, then returned as hero.
died 415 BC Admiral who with Nicias and Alcibiades led the Sicilian Expedition. Died in early combat.


Decline of Greece

404 B.C. to 338 B.C.

Aftermath of Peloponnesian War to the Battle of Chaeronea


Character Dates Short Biography
died 401 BC Plotted to kill his brother Artaxerxes, and assume the Persian throne.
died 395 BC Persian Satrap of Asia Minor during Peloponnesian War. Allied with Sparta.
fl.    380 BC Story of Damon and Pythias celebrates trusted friendship and willingness to die for one another.
430-367 BC From humble origins, arose to become Tyrant of the city of Syracuse.
410-364 BC Helped to liberate Thebes. Leader of the "Sacred Band" of Theban Warriors.
418-362 BC Greatest General of his age. Defeated the Spartans at the Battle of Leuctra, and made Thebes predominant.
444-360 BC Leader of Sparta after the Peloponnesian War. Campaigned in Asia Minor and warred with Thebes.
died 424 BC King of Persia during early part of Peloponnesian War, allied with Sparta
died 358 BC King of Persia during the retreat of the Ten Thousand.
430-357 BC Historian who led Greek army out of Persia, in retreat of the Ten Thousand.
409-354 BC Brother-in-law of the Tyrant Dionysius of Syracuse; helped to overthrow him.
427-347 BC Writer of Moral Philosophy. Well known for 'Diologues'. Student of Socrates.
397-343 BC Continued tyrannical reign in Syracuse after the death of his father; student of Plato, overthrown by Dion.
died 337 BC Liberated the entire island of Syracuse from Tyrants and Carthaginians.
412-323 BC Cynic Philosopher.
402-318 BC Athenian statesmen who tried to avoid war between Athens and Macedonia. Sometimes opposed Demosthenes.
382-336 BC Used statesmanship as well as military force to bring Greece under sway of Macedonia.
385-322 BC One of Greeks greatest orators. Spoke against Philip and the Macedonians.


Hellenistic Age

336 B.C. to 146 B.C.

Ascension of Alexander the Great to the Destruction of Corinth


Character Dates Short Biography
died 330 BC Last King of Persia, overthrown by Alexander the Great.
410-330 BC Chief General of both Philip of Macedon and Alexander the Great. Eventually killed by Alexander.
fl.    325 BC Proud King of India, defeated by Alexander, but then restored as Satrap of the region.
356-323 BC Greatest General of Ancient Times. Conquered Persian Empire with 40,000 soldiers.
385-322 BC One of Greeks greatest orators. Spoke against Philip and the Macedonians.
384-322 BC Renowned scientist and philosopher. Cataloged all types of Knowledge. Tutor to Alexander the Great.
died 321 BC Took over the empire of Alexander at his death, but couldn't keep it.
died 319 BC One of Philip's most trusted Generals. Left in charge of Macedonia during Alexander's conquests.
died 316 BC Wife of Philip of Macedon. Alexander's mother. Quarreled with Antipater over charge of Macedonia.
361-316 BC Enemy of Antigonus, allied with Perdiccas; controlled Asia Minor until killed by Antigonus.
382-301 BC Allied with Antipater and Ptolemy I in early Diadochi Wars. Won control of Asia Minor and Syria.
340-300 BC Most eminent mathematician of his age, wrote Elements of Geometry.
358-297 BC Son of Antipater. Wrestled control of Macedonia from Polyperchon. Enemy of Olympias.
337-284 BC Son of Antigonus, active in the wars of the Diadochi.
died 283 BC General of Alexander, Founded Egyptian Dynasty that lasted for 300 years.
355-281 BC Bodyguard of Alexander. Took control of Thrace on his death. Engaged in Wars of Diadochi.
fl.    280 BC Minister of Thessaly, and friend and advisor of Pyrrhus of Epirus.
died 280 BC Son of a General of Alexander. Founded Seleucid Dynasty, in Syria and Central Asia.
318-272 BC Renowned General, won victories in Macedon, Italy, and Greece, but failed to follow up wins.
died 241 BC King who tried to reform Sparta and return to laws of Lycurgus. Killed for his efforts.
320-239 BC Son of Demetrius. After many battles, ended with control of Macedon and established Antigonid Dynasty.
236-220 BC Successfully implemented many reforms in Sparta, but was resisted by Achaean League.
died 213 BC Leader of Achaean League; First resisted Macedonia, then forced an alliance to defeat Sparta.
252-182 BC Lead the Achaean League. Tried to unite Greeks, shortly before Greece fell to Rome.
241-187 BC King of Syria who warred with Rome in Thrace and Asia Minor.
died 160 BC Lead a Jewish Rebellion during the reign of the Syrian King Antiochus V.


Greco-Roman Era

146 B.C. to 476 A.D.

Fall of Mainland Greece to the Fall of the Western Empire


Character Dates Short Biography
287-212 BC Eminent scientist and inventor. Held off Roman siege of Syracuse with clever defenses.
275-192 BC Early Greek scientist from Alexandria who correctly predicted the precise size of the earth in 200 BC.
46-122 Most outstanding moralist and biographer of ancient times. Wrote Lives of Greeks and Romans.

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