Ancient Greece Athens vs. Sparta

Primary Sources Definition: Raw materials of history Examples: Original documents & objects Secondary Sources Definition: Accounts or interpretations of events created by someone without firsthand experience Examples: Original documents & objects

Ancient Greeks: Athens Athena was the Greek goddess of wisdom. Athens was her city.

An ostrakon. It's a piece of broken pot, with the name 'Themistocles' on it. He led the Athens navy in the war with Persia, but was later 'ostracized' (banished).

A marble bust (head-sculpture) of Pericles A marble bust (head-sculpture) of Pericles. He was leader of Athens when the Parthenon was built.

A dancing girl, probably a slave (she has short hair) A dancing girl, probably a slave (she has short hair). The young man lying on a couch, with a cushion, is holding a pair of flutes.

This photo of the Acropolis shows the stone platform called the Pnyx This photo of the Acropolis shows the stone platform called the Pnyx. This was where people stood to make speeches.

Men lead a young cow to sacrifice during the festival in Athens Men lead a young cow to sacrifice during the festival in Athens. This scene comes from the frieze around the top of the Parthenon temple.

A racing chariot carved in stone A racing chariot carved in stone. The prize for the winning chariot at the Games in Athens was jars of olive oil! The jars were placed on this stone.

The Parthenon today. The temple stands on top of the Acropolis hill in Athens.

Ancient Greeks: Sparta A Spartan cup shows hunters chasing the Calydonian Boar. This monster of legend terrorized the countryside until a group of Greek heroes killed it.

The ruins of the theatre at the ancient capital of Sparta The ruins of the theatre at the ancient capital of Sparta. Legend told how a king named Lacedaemon named Sparta after his wife.

An archer in Persian-style clothes An archer in Persian-style clothes. In the armies of Alexander, Persians fought alongside Greeks, not against them as in the earlier Persian Wars.

A bronze statue of a girl running A bronze statue of a girl running. In Sparta, girls as well as boys took part in sport. Unlike other Greek girls, Spartans wore short skirts sometimes.

The Dromos in Sparta was a sports ground The Dromos in Sparta was a sports ground. This is an artist’s idea of what it was like.

A modern statue of Leonidas, king of Sparta A modern statue of Leonidas, king of Sparta. It is at Thermopylae, the battlefield where he and his Spartans died bravely.

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