Greek Historical Notes

This information was provided by Leonidas G. Konstantinopoulos.

AGESILAUS II Spartan king considered to be one of the most brilliant military leaders of antiquity, he successfully defended Sparta during the Corinthian War (394-387).

AGIS and CLEOMENIS or KLEOMENIS Two of the most important Spartan Kings, who tried to reform the Spartan society along the lines of the Code of Law of Lycourgos. At the time, around the third century BC, Sparta had declined, and had abandoned most of the laws and principles of Lycourgos.

ARMODIOS (OR HARMODIUS) and ARISTOGEITON Two Athenian citizens, friends who decided to murder the Athenian tyrant Peisistratus, thus putting an end to the oligarchic regime imposed on Athens by Sparta as a consequence of the Athenian defeat in the Peloponnesian war. Extremely famous and revered in Greece even today, they are immortalized in a statue in the museum of the Acropolis in Athens, Greece.

EPAMEINONDAS Famous military leader of the Thebians, considered one of the most brilliant strategists and military minds of Ancient Greece. Instrumental in making Thebes, his home city, the greatest military power of Ancient Greece at the time, shortly before the rise of Macedonia. Immortalized for forming one of the most famous military organizations of history, alongside the Macedonian Phalanx and the Roman Legion, namely the "Ieros Lochus" (Greek for Holy Regiment). He was also the military instructor of Philippus of Macedon, the future Philippus I, father of King Alexandros the Great. The former, was a hostage of Thebes in his youth.

DIINEKIS or DIHNEKIS Spartan warrior, member of the elite King's Guard, who fell at Thermopylae. He was immortalized, because he remarked in front of the Persian envoys who demanded that the Greeks should give them "Land and Water" that despite the fact that the Persian King had so many archers that one volley of arrows would literally eclipse the sun, they were actually happy because they would fight under shadow.

GYLIPPUS Famous Spartan (450?-404 B.C) of the Peloponnesean War who commanded a Spartan expeditionary force, succesfully defending the Spartan Colony of Syracusae (Syracuse) on the island of Sikelia (Sicily), from the arrogant Athenians. He was instrumental in crushing the Athenian military might of the era, and ending the Athenian hegemony over the Greeks.

LEONIDAS Spartan military king (Died 480 B.C.) who led a small force of 300 Spartans and 700 Thespii (Thespiis) against a huge Persian army at the pass of Thermopylae, in the region of Thessaly (Thessalia), in Northern Greece . All of the Spartans, including Leonidas, were killed, after fighting valiantly against the Asiatic Barbarians, thus immortalizing the indomitable Greek fighting spirit. The name "Leonidas", means somewhat freely translated, "the one with the lion spirit". A statue of the hero still stands today, near the site of the battle. Another statue also stands in the heart of the modern city of Sparti, in the modern Province of Laconia, in the Peloponnesos, also known as Peloponnese and Peloponnesus.

NOTE: Ancient Sparta (Sparti), also known as Lakonia (Laconia) and Lacaedaimon (Lakedaimonia), had two kings who ruled together at the same time. That is why Leonidas I is herein referred to as the "Military King". The 300 Spartans who fell with Leonidas, were the elite King's Guard, the finest warriors of Sparta, and of all Greece at the time. Suggested Reading: "Plutarch on Sparta", Oxford University Press.

LEOTYCHIDAS Spartan king famous for his remark before the proud, corrupt, and decadent members of the Athenian nobility of the 5th Century BC. When asked why the Spartans never drunk alcoholic drinks, he said, "Ina mi ymon yper allon vouleuontai alla ymeis yper allon" ["So that others may not think on our behalf, but us on their behalf")].

NEARCHOS or NEARCHUS or NIARCHOS Famous Macedonian Admiral of King Alexandros the Great, immortalized because he was the first European, officially recorded to sail from the Red Sea to the Persian Gulf via the Gulf of Aden, and possibly to India. The Hellenic (Greek) Navy has named a Destroyer after him, the HS "Nearchos".

NIKIAS or NICIAS Athenian statesman and Admiral, who successfully negotiated a peace treaty with the Persians, known as the "Niciios Eirini."

KIMON Famous Athenian admiral.

KLEITOS or CLEITUS Commander of the Macedonian cavalry, also known as "ETAIROI or HETAERI" (Greek for companions) under King Alexandros the Great. Famous as a hero, and for his unrivalled bravery.

PTOLEMEUS or PTOLEMEOS the Macedonian, son of SELEYKOS Commander of the Macedonian infantry under King Alexandos the Great, also known as the "PEZAETAERI or PEZETAIROI" (Greek for Foot (Soldier) Companions). Famous for fighting always on the front line, abreast with his soldiers, he died in battle before the completion of the Alexandrian Campaign, as a result of his bravery and contempt for death.

© 2008 Ella Quince