ARISTOPHANES
448-388
Greek Dramatist
ISOCRATES
436-338
Greek Orator
XENOPHON
435-354
Greek Historian
PLATO
One of the all time great philosophers and founder of Western thought, Plato spun masterful dialogues featuring his illustrious teacher Socrates. He also evolved the Theory of Perfect Forms, and illucidated the Allegory of the Cave to show people why their personal perspective is really a flawed represenation of reality... unless they can break the chains of the mind to see things as they really are. The Republic described the ideal state. (SS)427-377
Greek Philosopher
DIOGENES
Born in the colony of Sinope, he was exiled for defacing coins and went to Athens, where he lived in the street in a bathtub. He walked with a lamp 'looking for an honest man.' He deficated and masturbated in public, in the Agora. This is a guy who just didn't care. Indeed, he even urinated on someone who trashed his way of living. Plato called him "Socrates gone mad." He was called 'dog', not like the 'dawg' of today's slang, but the dog as in 'behaves like a dog.' He finally had to move to Corinth where Alexander found him laying down in the street and asked if there was "anything he could do for Diogenes." Diogenes replied, "Get out of my light." (EP)410-320
Greek Hellenistic Philosopher
ARISTOTLE
384-322
Greek Philosopher
DEMOSTHENES
An orator who bridged the Hellenic and Hellenistic periods in Greece. As a child he had an impediment of the speech, which he overcame with the help of an actor after a humiliation. His political speeches (both written and spoken) shook Athens down, at a time when unification was needed to oppose Philip's invasion. His words enlivened a coalition to fight it at Chaeronea, but this did fail. The Philippics remain a classic series of speeches. As Alexander won the world and died young, Demosthenes committed sucide so as not to be arrested. (DM)383-322
Greek Orator
PHILIP II
Father of Alexander the Great and reformer of Macedonia (which was on the brink of collapse when he ascended the throne), and reformer of the Macedonian military, Philip dreamed of uniting the ever-divided and independent Greek polei under his rule. He was voracious, a womanizer and an alcoholic. He attacked Greece and was victorious where Persia failed, but was assassinated after the conquest of Greece at his daughter's wedding. His son Alexander was to succeed him. (WM)
382-336
King of Macedonia
ANTIGONUS
382-301
Ruler of Hellenistic Greece
PRAXITELES
375-325
Greek Sculptor
MENCIUS
371-289
Chinese Philosopher
DARIUS III
370-330
Emperor of Persia
PTOLEMY I
366-283
Ruler of Hellenistic Egypt
SELEUCUS I
358-281
Ruler of Hellenistic Asia
ALEXANDER THE GREAT
Born in tiny Pella, Macedonia, tutored by Aristotle in Greek culture, and sufficiently engrained with a notion of Greek superiority, as to succeed in a life-mission of world conquest and the spreading of Hellenic culture to its very corners. One of the total surprises in history, Alexander marched 11,000 miles, and showed unbelievable military prowess: he never lost a battle. (ES)356-323
World Conqueror
EPICURUS
341-270
Greek Hellenistic Philosopher
ZENO
336-265
Greek Hellenistic Philosopher
EUCLID
The mathematician who created the building blocks of geometry. He lived for some time in Hellenistic Alexandria, and taught at the school there. He wrote the longest running textbook in history, called "The Elements," about geometry. His proofs and theorems are still used today, and he sought to show how people can gain knowledge through rational methods.320-260
Greek Mathematician
PYRRHUS
318-272
Greek Warrior
ARISTARCHUS
310-230
Greek Scientist
ARCHIMEDES
287-212
Greek Mathematician
ASOKA
284-238
King of India
ERATOSTHENES
276-194
Greek Scientist
APPOLONIUS
275-225
Greek Mathematician
