ISSUE SEVENTEEN

An Age of
Legends
honesthistory.co
 ISSUE SEVENTEEN• FALL 2022

CONTACT US
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Brooke Knight GENERAL INQUIRIES
[email protected]
PUBLISHER
David Knight PARTNERSHIPS
[email protected]
LEAD HISTORIAN
MEDIA REQUESTS
Heidi Coburn
[email protected]

OUR CONTRIBUTORS FOLLOW US

WRITERS INSTAGRAM
Grace Seeman Ɣ Ben Shawn Ho
Ɣ
@honesthistory
Ɣ Khadija Tauseef Ɣ Jonathan Shipley
Ɣ Julian McBride
FACEBOOK
Honest History Magazine
ILLUSTRATORS
Ɣ Itziar Barrios Ɣ Elizabeth Sanduvete
Ɣ Hannah Ross Ɣ Aimee Hagerty Johnson Honest History is published quarterly as a
Ɣ Daniela Galliski Ɣ Luke Godding place for kids to explore the past and
Ɣ Jordan Houston-Taylor Ɣ Ellen Duda discover stories of people who changed the
Ɣ Ashling Tu Ɣ Hannah Bruton world. We’re excited you’ve joined us on this
Ɣ Patricia Bolaños Ɣ Lorena Bayona Ɣ adventure, and as always, happy reading!
Marian Femenias Moratinos
Imagined and created in Los Angeles,
DESIGNER California.
ƔCarly Barton
SPECIAL THANKS
ƔMeghan Zanskas
CONTENT & COPY EDITOR
ƔDr. Jon Frey
ƔRomy Godding

Honest History Magazine (ISSN 2578-5664) is published quarterly by

© Honest History Co. 2022. All Rights Reserved.
Honest History Company, 1620 Centinela Avenue, Suite 301B,
Inglewood, CA 90302-1045. Periodicals Postage Paid at El Segundo,
Reproduction of material in whole or in part is
CA, and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address
strictly prohibited without prior written consent.
changes to Honest History, PO Box 451973, Los Angeles, CA 90045-
8525.
 A Letter for Young

Hi, Young Historians!

Like so many students of history, I love learning about ancient
Greece. In fact, I often listen to college lectures and read
books about what it was like to live in that time and culture!
Ancient Greece gave us more than we can possibly imagine, far
more than just the concept of democracy. From the stories of
heroes and gods to art and architecture, the people of ancient
Greece continue to impact the world with their ideas to this
very day.
The sad news is we can only scratch the surface when it comes
to the history of this magical country, but there is good news.
Your learning experience doesn’t have to stop at the end of
this magazine! I encourage you to visit your local library and
check out books about ancient Greece to keep this adventure
going. There is always so much more to learn when it comes
to the past, and I hope you feel inspired by these pages to
continue your journey as a young historian.
Happy reading!

Cheers,

Editor-In-Chief
 IN THIS ISSUE
7. . . A L P H A B E TA G A M M A
8...WELCOME TO GREECE
1 0 . . . Y O U P R O B A B LY D I D N ' T K N O W

1 2 .. . PEO PLE W E SHO ULD KNOW

14 ...ART IN ANCIENT GREECE
20...THE AMAZING WOMEN
OF ANCIENT GREECE
24...GODS FEAT
URE
STOR
Among Men Y

33...WORDS WE SHOULD LEARN

34...ENTERING THE STAGE
38...A SEASON OF WAR
44...ALEXANDER THE GREAT
48...INTERVIEW WITH A
CLASSICAL ARCHAEOLOGIST
54...THE HUNT FOR TROY
6

e t r e
F a u d Yo u n g
Historian
My favorite color is: blue and green.

What is your favorite thing to eat?

Pizza and Cacio e Pepe!

Are you the oldest, middle, or NAME: Luca C.

youngest?
AGE: 10
I am the oldest. I have two little sisters, I’M FROM: Santa Monica, CA
Emilia and Francesca, who are four and I LIVE IN: Hanalei, Hawaii
seven.

What do you want to be when you Who are your heroes and why?
grow up? An artist. Kobe Bryant and Stan Lee.
Kobe taught me about
What do you like to do for fun? focus and determination.
Stan Lee taught me about
Draw, surf with friends, read, and listen creative vision and using
to music. my imagination to make up
stories.
What is your favorite thing to study in
school? Why do you think it’s
Social studies and science. important to study history?
It’s important so that we can
My favorite things to read are: learn from the past and use it
to shape the future.
0\VWHULHVVFLHQFHƪFWLRQFRPLFV
Right now I’m reading The Book of Boy.
Is there a topic or subject you
think Honest History should
Would you rather live in the past or cover? If so, what?
the future? Why?
I want to learn more about the
I would rather live in the future Jurassic period and what earth
because I want to see how things turn was like hundreds of millions
out and meet my great great great of years ago.
grandchildren.
 7 7

A L P H A B E TA
GAMMA
The Greek alphabet has been in use for thousands of years and is
still used today! Copy the uppercase and lowercase letters of the
alphabet, and see if you can remember all the names and symbols!
 8

WELCOME TO

OFFICIAL NAME: HELLENIC REPUBLIC

CAPITAL: ATHENS

POPULATION: 10,761,523 PEOPLE

OFFICIAL LANGUAGE: GREEK

CURRENCY: EURO

CONTINENTS: EUROPE

BORDERS: ALBANIA, BULGARIA, TURKEY,

AND NORTH MACEDONIA

OCEANS: AEGEAN SEA, MEDITERRANEAN SEA,

AND THE IONIAN SEA
9
10

O U P R O B
Y A B LY
word
The Greek eaning
máthēma, m t of
“the subjec ,” is
instruction ord
w
where the tics”
“m a thema
At a dinner banquet,
c omes from.
people would lay
on their sides on long
couches while they ate
. The ancient Greeks
invented the yo-yo.
ea r A ” w a s the
“Lin he first
na m e o f t The
te m in
writing syse. m ythical
Greec Greek hero
,
Heracles, is
m ost often
Greece has 18 sites known by
on the UNESCO World his Roman
Heritage name,
List. Hercules.

The total la
Greece is r nd area of
o
size of the ughly the
US
of Alabamastate
.
 11

D I D N ' T K N O W. . .
The Parthenon
is considered a
monument to
democracy and is
one of the most
recognizable buildings
Greek architecture ca of the ancient world.
be seen in famous bu n still
like the US Capitol buildings
ilding.

th e M y c e naean
During r m o r was
peri od , a
f t hi ck li nen and
made o w it h bro nze.
reinforced The Minoans, who liv
the island of Crete, m ed on
the first major civiliz ade up
ation in
Greece.
Greece is
made up of Today
approximately Athen ,
6,000 islands consi s is
and islets. one odered
oldes f the
t
the wcities in
orld.
12

People We
Should
Know
Herodotus
Known today as “The Father
of History,” Herodotus was
the first person credited
with the study of the past.
Born into a wealthy family
in modern-day Turkey,
Herodotus became a Greek
foot soldier and traveled
extensively, which many
scholars believe helped spark his love of
history. His work, The Histories, records accounts of important
battles and events leading up to and during the Greco-Persian
Wars. Many historians suspect Herodotus overexaggerated many
of the stories in The Histories, and some historians have even
disproved many of his accounts. But overall, Herodotus is praised
for his recordkeeping and for developing the study of history that
we know and love today.
 13

Artemisia I
Recognized as one of
the fiercest females
to fight in the Greco-
Persian Wars,
Artemisia I was
famous for her naval
experience and
incredible influence
over the Persian
king, Xerxes. When
the Persians were
seeking revenge
for their defeat by
the Greeks at the
battle of Marathon,
Artemisia, the acting
queen of Caria, sailed
into battle with her
troops, which was certainly
uncommon for the time. It was said that she would sometimes fly
a Greek flag on her ships in order to get close enough to make
an attack, then switch back to a Persian banner before she struck.
Artemisia was also legendary for her influence on King Xerxes of
Persia and was one of his counselors who suggested he return
to Persia instead of continuing to fight against the Greeks. While
many women were often left out of historical texts, Artemisia’s
accomplishments were so great that Herodotus made an extreme
effort to include her in his works.
14

ART IN

Art is always in motion. Styles change and

transform. Leading artists try new techniques to
advance their skills. Art in ancient Greece
was no exception. Let’s look at the four
phases that define its artwork!
 GEOM ET RIC P E RIOD
This era lasted from about 1050 to 700 BCE. It was a season
of dramatic transformation within Greece. In a time of
development, when the country was expanding its borders,
art was focused on geometric designs. The human figures
on the pottery were often represented by triangles, and
they didn’t have small details like eyes or teeth. The people
resembled stick figures rather than actual humans during this
period’s designs. There is little doubt that the characters and
stories that make up Greek mythology existed at the time.
However, it is difficult to tell because there were no clear
drawings of the Greek gods or goddesses.
16

A RCHA IC P E RIOD
A striking change appeared in Greek art. The abstract geometric
pattern gave way to a more naturalistic style, meaning that
the stick figures started to look more like humans. If they were
telling the story of Hercules, you could see Hercules drawn on
the pottery. The people of the Greek colonies, especially the
eastern craftsmen from Crete and Cyprus, inspired Greek artists.
Eastern pictorial motifs were introduced into the artwork, like
griffins, sphinxes (from Egypt), and even sirens. The Greek
artists rapidly assimilated foreign styles and motifs into new
portrayals of their myths and customs. An important point to
note is that each of the Greek city-states reflected their own
style in their art.
 17

The prominent artistic centers of Greece were Sparta,

Corinth, and Athens. Sparta and its neighbors produced ivory
carvings and unique bronzes while the artists in Athens drew
inspiration from myths and the vase painters focused on
illustrated mythological scenes.

CL A SS ICAL PERIOD
Between c. 480–323 BCE, the Classical era of Greek art
took place. This period was also known as the Golden Age of
Greece. After the Greeks defeated the Persians in 479 BCE,
Athens rose to power on the Greek mainland. It was during
this time that the Parthenon was
constructed, which shows the
architectural and sculptural
At one
grandeur of Athens’
time, giant statues
building program. Valued
were made with
for its strength and
bronze to show the gods,
reflective surface, bronze
but many were either
rather than marble
destroyed or melted
became the preferred
down to be reused
medium for free-standing
later.
sculptures. Even the way
vases were painted changed. In
the past, the black-figure technique
was used, but by the Classical period, the red-figure technique
became more popular.
18

H ELL ENISTIC PE RI OD
The Hellenistic era started in 323 BCE after the death of
Alexander the Great. He had conquered much of the known
world by the time he died, thus establishing an unprecedented
contact with different cultures. Greek artists were exposed to
new, unique styles. Murals on the walls of Greek homes began
depicting the everyday lives of the people. Some corners of the
houses were even dedicated to the gods, and art became a way
to show one’s status in society.

Art collectors emerged for the first time, and they would
commission not only original works of art but would also order
copies of earlier Greek statues.

Whether in paintings, buildings, statues, or even clothing,

Greek art continues to inspire!
19
20

THE

AMA Z I N G
W O M E N
R E E C E
I E N T G
OF ANC

Women were often left out

of the historical records,
but a few made such an
incredible impact that
historians couldn’t exclude
them. Here are just a handful
of the remarkable women of
ancient Greece.

HYDNA OF SCIONE
The top swimmer of her time (c. 500
'(*XMJX\FRTZYYTYMJ5JWXNFSƵJJY
during a war and cut the moorings of
the Persian ships, causing them to crash
into each other.
 21
GORGO OF SPARTA
(TSXNIJWJITSJTKYMJRTXYNSƵZJSYNFQ\TRJS
in Sparta, Gorgo was known for her wisdom,
cleverness, and authority throughout the
city-state of Sparta.

AGNODICE OF
ATHENS
A female doctor who disguised
herself as a man in order to practice medicine and
help women during childbirth.

HYPATIA OF ALEXANDRIA
An astronomer, philosopher, the earliest known female
mathematician, and leader of a school of philosophy.
22

TELESILLA OF ARGOS
Is said to have defended her city of Argos by marching a troop
of women against the invading Spartans. The Spartan
FWR^XF\YMJ\TRJSTSYMJGFYYQJƴJQIFSI
retreated, and Telesilla saved her city.

SAPPHO
An accomplished poet who
wrote thousands of lines of poetry (many
of which did not survive to present day)
and is considered one of the greatest female
poets of all time.
FILL IN THE THEATER SCENE 23
24

Among Men
U The ancient Greeks were brilliant people whose
U 25

accomplishments have echoed through the ages. Like many

ancient cultures, the Greeks are celebrated for their ingenuity and
for helping to create the backbone of modern Western society.

We can thank the ancient Greeks for the concepts of

democracy, theater, and even the first computer! But
perhaps one of the most exciting creations the
Greeks are known for is their pantheon of gods.

The polytheistic Greek religion, or belief in many

gods, has been a source of inspiration for art,
music, dance, theater, television, and writing
throughout the ages. But the ancient Greeks
did not simply worship their gods, they used them
as a way to help define the natural world.

The Sky and Sea

From his seat of power on top of Mount Olympus,
the god Zeus ruled over the land and skies. Zeus was the king of
the gods, and together with his two brothers, Poseidon and Hades,

U they helped keep the other gods under control.

U
26
U Zeus was the god of thunder and weather and was the
U
giver of justice. If a great storm was followed by a bird flying on
someone’s left side, the Greeks might
take that as an omen, or a sign, that
Zeus was angry and offer an animal
sacrifice to appease the god.

Poseidon was the god of seas and

rivers, the bringer of destruction who
controlled storms and floods. Because
of his status as ruler of the seas,
fishermen and seafarers would often
worship him and offer sacrifices before
traveling. In the epic Greek poem, the Odyssey, it is said that the
main character, Odysseus, angered Poseidon. On his journey home
after the 10-year battle at the city of Troy, Odysseus encountered
many hardships, and the god of the seas made it so difficult for
him to sail that it took him 10 years to return home from the war.

The Underworld
Hades, the god of the underworld and Zeus’s second brother, has

U been seen as mysterious throughout the centuries.

U
U He was the only god not to live on Mount Olympus.
U 27

Instead, he chose to live in the dark underworld. But

Hades was not the god of death or even seen as evil the way
the Christian religion views Satan. Hades was simply the ruler of
the underworld, and he had several
lesser gods to do the majority of the
dirty work when it came to death.

If a family member in ancient

Greece died, the grieving family
would place coins in the deceased
person’s mouth. It was believed that
when the soul reached the River
Styx, the boatman named Charon
would take the coins as payment to ferry the soul to the gates
of Hades (what the underworld was called, like the god himself).
Souls were judged and placed based on their deeds on Earth.
Good souls were taken to the Elysian Fields. Souls who were not
so wonderful had their misdeeds punished. And souls who made
no sacrifices to the gods were sent to a place of eternal torment.

For this reason, piety and sacrifices to the gods were of great

U importance in the ancient Greek religion.

U
28
U U
The Land and Harvest
Perhaps one of the most popular stories in Greek
mythology is that of the goddess
Persephone, her mother Demeter,
and Hades. It was believed that
the god Hades fell in love with
Persephone, the goddess of
agriculture, when he saw her
picking flowers in a field. He
kidnapped her and took her to the
underworld, and there she became
his bride. Persephone’s mother,
Demeter, the goddess of agriculture,
searched for her daughter, forcing the ground
to freeze and no crops to grow until her daughter was returned.

Meanwhile, in the underworld, Persephone was believed to be

happy and in love with Hades. When she discovered that her
mother had frozen the ground and people were dying, Persephone
agreed to return. She would spend a portion of time with her

U U
mother, tending the fields of the earth, and the rest of
the year in the underworld with her husband.
U Thus, it was believed that fall and winter were when
U 29

Persephone was in the underworld with Hades, and Demeter, in

her anger, would freeze the ground so nothing could grow. But in
the spring and summer, Persephone would return to her mother,
and the crops would grow
once again.

Life with the

Gods
Like many religions today, the
ancient Greeks believed that
certain gods and goddesses
acted like patrons on behalf
of different people or cities.
Artemis (daughter of Zeus
and twin sister to Apollo) was
the goddess of hunting, wild
nature, and childbirth. It was believed that she was the patroness
to women and young girls. The goddess was so loved by the
people that they built her a temple—the Temple of Artemis at

U U
Ephesus—and it is regarded as one of the Seven
Wonders of the Ancient World.
30
U Perhaps one of the most powerful goddesses in
U
Greek mythology was Athena. Commonly referred to in classical
literature as Pallas Athena, she was the
goddess of war, wisdom, inspiration, and
civilization. She was believed to be the
most cultured of the gods, and the city
of Athens was named in her honor. Due
to her status as a powerful goddess and
because of her wisdom, Athena was the
patroness of several great cities, such as
Sparta.

The Stories of the Gods

Long before the Greeks had a writing system, stories of the gods
and heroes of old were sung by bards. It wasn’t until a formal
writing system was developed that these stories were written
down, and in many ways, solidified in their form. Even looking at
written stories about the Greek gods today, historians find many
contradictions and different versions of these stories that don’t
match up with one another. Thankfully, historians have several

U U
scholars to thank for the written records of Greek myths that
survive today.
U Hesiod, for example, was a Greek poet and is often
U 31

called the father of Greek poetry. His works have provided

historians with useful information about life in ancient Greece.
His poem, Theogony, gives a detailed genealogy of the gods and
background information about each of the gods and goddesses
who were both loved and
feared in ancient Greece.

But perhaps one of the

most famous poets of
all time is the mythical
Homer. His epic poems,
Iliad and Odyssey, are
considered two of the
most important works in
European literature. They
provide a detailed account
of the gods and heroes of
ancient Greece and how their actions shaped the world. Though
many scholars believe Homer to be several people and not a single
person, these two poems have provided information about what

U U
life might have been like during a time when history
is shadowed in mystery.
32
U U
The Greek Gods Today
While the belief in Greek gods is still practiced in some
communities currently, many see them as inspiration
for other forms of entertainment. In fact, the Greek
gods are still at the center of art, literature, music, and
theater today. Think about the planets in our solar
system that are named after the Roman versions of
the Greek gods!

Greek mythology and the gods of Mount Olympus will

likely always have a big influence on European and
American culture and will continue to inspire stories
about their deeds for centuries to come.

U U
 WORDS WE
33

SHOULD LEARN
BARD
A poet who recites poems through song or speech

CONTRADICTION
The state of being in denial of or in complete disagreement
with something else

EPIC POEM
A long poem that describes the deeds of a hero

ILIAD
An epic poem about the final days of the Trojan War that is centered
on the Greek warrior Achilles

INGENUITY
The quality of being clever or inventive

ODYSSEY
A poem written about the end of the Trojan War and about Odysseus,
the Greek hero, and his 10-year journey home to Ithaca

PANTHEON
A group of important and respected people

PIETY
To be religious and show respect
34

ENTERING
THE STAGE

The ancient Greeks were a competitive bunch; and it wasn’t just in the
Olympics! Every spring, the Great Dionysia was held in Athens. This
yearly festival celebrated Dionysus (the Greek god of wine, fertility,
agriculture, and theater), and to honor him, a theater contest took place.
 35

This contest was special—only three poets were allowed to compete,

and they were chosen by an Athenian official who was in charge of
guaranteeing the quality of the event. Each poet wrote four plays, all
about a single theme. Finally, at the end of the festival, judges declared
the winning poet.

Three of the plays were known as “tragedies.” Almost every tragedy told
a story from Greek mythology, stories that were religious to their Greek
audiences. Because of this, the plays usually had grave tones and taught
moral lessons.

For their fourth play, each poet wrote a satyr play to cheer up the
audience. To do this, the poet borrowed many of the same characters
and adventures from his tragedy—but he introduced a rowdy bunch of
satyrs. These satyrs were part man and part beast; they loved wine and
women, and they played tricks on the noble heroes in the play.

Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides were masters of creating

tragedies and satyr plays. They are considered the three greatest Greek
tragedians.
36

Comedy was the other type of Greek play. It was so different from
tragedy that a Greek poet would only write one or the other. Comedies
were colorful, rude, and comical, poking fun at everything from current
events to religious practices.

Aristophanes is considered the greatest Greek comedian.

Even though ancient Greek comedies and tragedies were different in so

many ways, they shared one specific group of characters: the chorus.

Only three actors were allowed in comedies and tragedies, but they
shared the stage with a chorus—and choruses could include between 12
to 50 extra people!
 37

The members of the chorus interacted with the main plot by singing
and dancing. They helped interpret the events of the play, and they
invited the audience to connect the play’s lessons to their own lives.

At first glance, Greek theater seems very different from its modern
counterpart. Besides only having three actors, only men were allowed
to perform. By wearing elaborate masks, the trio played multiple
characters—including girls, women, and animals.

But if we look closer, some important things have stayed the same
People still love excellent stories, funny jokes, and impressive costumes.
People are still curious about new worlds and mindsets. People still
ask hard questions about history and society,
and they still appreciate having a safe place to
This form of
explore possible answers.
entertainment is
still around! You
By putting a stage to good use, the theater is a
can go to Greece
place where these things can happen—even if
today and see a it doesn’t look the same as it did in Athens all
performance at those centuries ago. No wonder it fascinated
an ancient Greek them, and no wonder it continues to fascinate
theater. audiences, actors, and actresses even today!
38

A SEASON OF

Through the ashes of various brutal conflicts in ancient Persia and

Mesopotamia, around 550 BCE, a commander known as Cyrus the Great
created the largest empire the ancient world had ever known. The
Achaemenid Empire, also known as the First Persian Empire, expanded
its territory from Persia to
Mesopotamia, the Levant, Egypt, The Levant is the
region along the
the Caucasus, and Asia Minor. eastern Mediterranean
As the empire grew, it came into that includes modern-
day Jordan, Israel,
conflict with a strong adversary—
Lebanon, and Syria.
the Greek city-states.
 39

As the Persian Empire

expanded, the Persians came
into contact with the Greeks
living on the Ionian coast of
Asia Minor, or modern-day
Turkey.

The empire was divided into

provinces called satrapies,
which were ruled by
governors chosen by the
Persian king. Like many large
empires at the time, the Persian king demanded taxes and military
service from each province. When the taxes became heavier,
the Greeks living along the Ionian coast wanted to rebel against
Persian rule and called the powerful city-states of Athens and
Eretria for help. The Greeks took their rebellion one step further by
inspiring other Greeks living across Asia Minor and nearby islands
to fight against the Persians, causing Persian trade routes in the
Mediterranean to suffer.

By blocking important trade routes, the Greeks gave the

Achaemenid Empire a reason to go to war. Thus began the
decades-long Greco-Persian War.
40

The First Invasion

The Persians decided to invade Greece, hoping to get many of the
Greek city-states on their side as possible. The first invasion was
led by Darius I, also known as Darius the Great. In this war, the
Persians used the help of the master shipbuilders to assemble a
navy that could gain control of the Aegean Sea. It was during this
time that Macedon, Thrace, and the Aegean isles would come
under Persian rule, but the attack on Athens, known as the Battle
of Marathon, failed, with great losses for the Persians.
 41

Shifting
Tides
In the second war, the new
king of Persia, Xerxes I,
was the ruler. At this time,
Greece was far from united.
Many of the city-states
competed with each other
for farmland, trade routes,
and power. While some
city-states joined together
against the Persians, many
chose to remain neutral
throughout the war.
During the second war, the Persians gained significant control of
Greece with little resistance. That is until the Spartans made a stand
at Thermopylae. In this battle, the Persians suffered heavy casualties,
but ultimately won against the Spartan king, Leonidas. After this
victory, many more cities began to submit to Persian rule.

Without the defense of Thermopylae, the Persians sacked Athens,

which was a great cause for celebration. The next major battle
would be in the sea at Salamis where the Greek city-states,
42

historically at odds, came together and used their knowledge of the

tides, wind, and currents to stop the Persian ships. The Achaemenids
were defeated, and the battle marked a turning point for Persian
influence in Greece. The second war ended with a Greek victory,
even with the Persians maintaining control throughout Greece.

The Final Showdown

The final Greco-Persian War would see the Delian League emerge.
This league incorporated many city-states into a unified army led
by Athens. The Persians, and certainly none of the Greeks, ever
imagined a unified Greece; however, the armies of the Delian
League were able to defeat the Achaemenids
by taking control of the Aegean and most
of its coastal areas. The Persians would
take no revenge on the Greeks.
Instead, they focused their defenses
on the western frontier in the
event of a massive Greek invasion.
This would later occur in 334 BCE
when Alexander the Great would
ultimately conquer the Achaemenids
and bring an end to the First Persian
Empire.
 43

No Greek wall paintings have

survived, but historians
have found images
painted on pottery
that depict myths
and scenes from
everyday life. In many
ways, the images on
these vases are
like snapshots
of what life was
like or moments
from a favorite
story. Using this
image, draw a scene
from your daily life
or a scene from your
favorite story.
44

Alexander the Great was

born in 356 BCE as
Alexander III, the
son of King Philip Beginning at age
II of Macedon. 13, Alexander was
Macedon, also taught by the famous
called Macedonia, Greek philosopher,
was a kingdom in Aristotle. For the rest
ancient Greece. of his life, he would
be influenced and
inspired by politics,
medicine, and science.

When he was just 20 years old,

his father was killed at a wedding
celebration. Young Alexander took
control of the Macedonian army and
became king in his father’s place.
He would go on to create one of
the largest empires of the ancient
world, stretching from Greece to
the Indian subcontinent.
 45

During Alexander’s conquests, he named somewhere

between a dozen to 70 cities after himself. It was his hope
that these would become centers of art and business. The
most famous city is Alexandria in Egypt, and its lighthouse—
built after Alexander’s death—is known as one of the Seven
Wonders of the Ancient World.

A legend of his time spoke of a knot

in the city of Gordium that
could only be untied by the man
destined to rule Asia. According
to tradition, Alexander sliced it
in half with his knife. Today, when
someone solves a difficult problem
with a simple solution, people call
it “cutting a Gordian knot.”

Upon taking Egypt from the

Persians, Egyptian priests
crowned Alexander with
the double crown of the
pharaohs, declaring him
ruler over Upper and Lower
Egypt. Alexander went on to
make a sacrifice (the killing
of an animal) to honor the
Egyptian god, Apis. He also
visited the famous oracle of the
Egyptian god, Ammon, and legend
says that the chief priest declared
Alexander to be Ammon’s son.
46

Greece and Persia had a long history of

war. After Alexander conquered the
Persian capital of Persepolis in 330
BCE, he burned down the palace there.
Ancient historians wrote that this
was in revenge for all the wrongs the
Greeks had suffered at the hands
of the Persians.

After defeating King Darius of Persia,

Alexander honored his old enemy with
a royal burial. As the new Great King of
Persia, Alexander began to blend Persian and Macedonian
customs. Sources from the time claim that he began wearing
articles of Persian clothing, including the diadem (headband) of the
Persian kings.

In 326 BCE, Alexander

invaded India and won a
hard-fought battle against
a king named Porus, whose
army included between
85 to 200 war elephants.
Alexander wanted to
continue deeper into India,
but his army was tired and
homesick. They refused to
follow him, so he agreed to
turn back.
 47

Alexander the Great died in Babylon

in 323 BCE. He was not yet 33
years old. The cause of his
death was unknown, though
some thought he had been
poisoned. Modern scholars
think he may have died
from a natural disease like
malaria or typhoid fever.
However, one scholar
recently proposed a new
theory that he died from a
disorder called Guillain-Barré
syndrome.

He was buried first in Memphis, Egypt, before his remains

were moved to Alexandria. Some say
his body was embalmed (made into a
mummy) using honey. Today,
archaeologists are hard at work
searching for the exact location
of his tomb.

The Macedonian Empire

broke up after Alexander’s
death, but Grecian culture
continued to spread. In
fact, Greek remained
a common language
throughout the region for
800 years.
48
 49

INTERVIEW WITH A
CLASSICAL
ARCHAEOLOGIST
What is a classical archaeologist?

Classical archaeology is unique in

being one of the oldest forms of
archaeology—excavations in places
like Pompeii began as early as the
16th century—and unlike many
other types of archaeology, we
have the advantage of written
works left to us in Greek and
Latin.

What made you decide to

become an archaeologist?

I was always interested in history, but the real

moment came when I got a chance in college to participate
in an excavation. It was so exciting seeing things come out of the ground and to
realize that no one else had seen these items in thousands of years! That thrill
of discovery is what keeps me coming back year after year.
50

What has been one of your favorite

discoveries while doing research?

This is going to sound silly, but one of my favorite

discoveries was a simple brick. In Roman times, the brick
İÑĦøŗŜſĺūĩñøĕťđøŗñŗÑČťđøĕŗƧıČøŗŜÑëŗĺŜŜťđøŜūŗċÑëøĺċ
ťđøêŗĕëĦŜĺŗøžøıŜĺİøťĕİøŜŜŖūĕŜđťđøĕŗƧıČøŗŜĕıťĺťđøêŗĕëĦ
before it dried. The idea was to roughen the sides of the brick
so the mortar would stick to it better. One time I pulled one
ĺċťđøŜøêŗĕëĦŜĺūťĺċťđøČŗĺūıñLjñūŜťøñĕťĺƥLjÑıñŔūť
İƅƧıČøŗŜĕıťđøŜÑİøđĺĩøŜťđÑťťđøêŗĕëĦİÑĦøŗ
had left behind. I thought to myself—I’m as close
as you can get to shaking hands with someone
else across 2,000 years of history! These bricks
are quite common, but each time I do it, I get the
same thrill.

What are some of the skills

a great archaeologist should have?

You need patience, discipline, and an ability to recognize and record lots of
details. Whether we’re drawing an artifact or monument, describing the progress
of an excavation, or taking measurements that will help us to reconstruct an
ancient settlement, it is important to remember that no one will ever get the
chance to see what we are seeing at the moment of discovery.

What happens to the things you discover?

Any artifacts and monuments that we may discover remain the property of
Greece. We are allowed to study them and share what we learn about them, but
we cannot take them home with us. Instead, it is our responsibility to make sure
that they are well cared for. This means that if we discover something that is
 51

likely to fall apart or is in need of repair, we need to

make sure that this work is done as soon as possible.

Tell us a little bit about your work as a

classical archaeologist.

We’re trying to do something new at the Michigan State University excavations

at Isthmia. In the past, some archaeologists excavated more than they could
share with the public, so the storerooms at Isthmia are full of artifacts, notes, and
drawings that need to be organized and prepared for publication. I know that
when people hear that I’m an archaeologist, they think I’m busy all day digging
ťŗøıëđøŜÑıñƧıñĕıČťŗøÑŜūŗøŜǍ–ŗūŜťİøLjHǨñĩĕĦøťĺêøñĺĕıČťđÑťťĺĺNJūťÑťťđø
present, I’m trying to make good on the promises made by our archaeological
predecessors to publish all that we found in the past.

Remember, when an archaeologist gets permission to excavate something, that

deal comes with an obligation to share what’s been found with the local Greek
community, other scholars, and anyone else who may be interested. So right now,
ſøǨŗøťŗƅĕıČťĺŔūêĩĕŜđÑĩĺťĺċťđøŜĕťøǨŜøƄëÑžÑťĕĺıƧıñĕıČŜċŗĺİťđøưƸƵƯŜÑıñ
ưƸƶƯŜǍHťǨŜťđøŗĕČđťťđĕıČťĺñĺǍıñťĺêøđĺıøŜťLjĕťëÑıêøĦĕıñĺċċūıǍ°øđÑžø
the advantage of time and distance between us and what was recognized. This
allows us to identify patterns in the archaeological record that our predecessors
didn’t see in their time. So for me at least, it’s just as exciting as making new
discoveries in a trench.

You work in digital archaeology. Can you describe what that is

ÑıñđĺſĕťêøıøƧťŜťđøŜťūñƅĺċťđøŔÑŜťǎ

There’s an ongoing discussion about whether “digital archaeology” is a real

thing or just a catchphrase to make what we do more interesting. On the one
đÑıñLjģūŜťêøëÑūŜøſøūŜøñĕƥøŗøıťťĺĺĩŜñĺøŜıǨťıøøñťĺİøÑıťđÑťÑŗëđÑøĺĩĺČƅ
đÑŜëđÑıČøñǍ–đøŗøūŜøñťĺêøÑťĕİøĕıťđøưƷƯƯŜſđøıÑŗëđÑøĺĩĺČĕŜťŜñĕñıǨť
52

even use cameras. Does the invention and use of cameras mean that we began
practicing “photographic archaeology”? Actually, maybe it does because cameras
allow us to record things in our work (snapshots of ongoing work,
İÑČıĕƧøñŔĕëťūŗøŜĺċÑŗťĕċÑëťŜLjøťëǍǛťđÑťđÑžøŗøÑĩĩƅëđÑıČøñťđø
way we understand the past. So in that sense, maybe the use of
computers, GPS, databases, and modeling software have changed
the way we do our work today. To be sure, they have certainly
allowed information to be gathered, processed, and shared more
quickly and with a wider range of people than ever before. So most
of what we do has not changed, but some digital
technologies have really helped us to share
with others what we’ve discovered and how we
interpret the past.

Do your children get to go with

you to the archaeological sites?

–đøťſĕıŜǨƧŗŜťťĕİøĕı?ŗøøëøſÑŜƱƯưƳLjſđøı
ťđøƅſøŗøƧžøƅøÑŗŜĺĩñǍHťǨŜêøøıċūıťĺſÑťëđťđøĕŗ
attitude toward the dig change. It used to be “somewhere Dad goes during the
day” or “somewhere we have to sit all day while Mom and Dad work.” Now, it’s
more like “somewhere we get to help out.” This year, they are assisting those who
ñĕČĕťĕƍøøƄëÑžÑťĕĺıŗøëĺŗñŜÑıñƧıñĕıČÑıñŜĺŗťĕıČŔĺťťøŗƅǍ

A SHORT INTERVIEW WITH DR. FREY’S TWINS:

TIMOTHY AND THEODORE
What is your favorite part of being at the dig?

Timothy: Mostly the dig dogs. They always come where we’re at, and they like to
hang out with us. When we’re gone, their job is to guard the site but they’re very
nice to us. I also like to be able to hold the old pots.
 53

Theodore: The dig dogs. I also like going down to the bath (a monument at the
ŜĕťøǛǍHťǨŜċūıťĺđøĩŔİƅñÑñǨŜŜťūñøıťŜëĩøÑıŔĩÑıťŜĺƥťđøſÑĩĩŜøžøŗƅŜūİİøŗǍ

What is your least favorite?

Timothy: Probably the heat, although you get used to it. Some days it’s really bad,
and you get really hot.

Theodore: How hot it is. Also, there are a lot of prickly plants and rocks that get in
your shoes.

What advice do you have for people your age who visit Greece?

Timothy: Try to learn a little Greek. A few

expressions like ‡ţũşŷŞŶ ǚđøĩĩĺǛLjŰŞūǚƅøŜǛLj
ųžũǚıĺǛLjÑıñˆţŰůũŮƁţŮŮŦŰũŭş (I don’t speak
?ŗøøĦǛëÑıêøŗøÑĩĩƅūŜøċūĩǍ°øÑŗ
lighter clothes that don’t get as hot.
ŗĕıČÑŜıĺŗĦøĩêøëÑūŜøťđøŗø
ĕŜÑĩĺťťĺŜøøūıñøŗſÑťøŗǜƧŜđLj
urchins, and sometimes if you’re lucky, even
an octopus.

Theodore: Remember to drink lots

of water because it gets hot there.
Also bring something to entertain
yourself because there can be
long drives between places.
Greek-style dinners last a long
ťĕİøťĺĺǍŗĕıČŜſĕİİĕıČ
masks and swimsuits because
there are a lot of good beaches.
54

The story of the Trojan War has entertained audiences for thousands of
years. Its heroes demonstrate the do’s and don’ts of battle and reveal to
the modern reader what life could have been like for the Greeks before
any written record was kept.

The Trojan War centered on the great Mycenaen king, Agamemnon, who
gathered the Greek forces to invade the city of Troy across the Aegean
Sea. Homer, the author of the epic poems the Iliad and the Odyssey, gave
accounts of the war. The poet stated that the war lasted approximately
 55

10 years, and in the end, the Greeks defeated the Trojans and burned the
city. The city of Troy famously fell due to the Greeks hiding inside a large
wooden horse given to the Trojans as a gift. When they brought the horse
into the city, the Greeks snuck out and attacked.

While the epics of Homer are full of battles and warfare, they are also
filled with a cast of memorable characters. Achilles, whose anger is the
central theme of the Iliad, is the greatest hero in Greek mythology and was
said to have chosen his fame and an early death rather than living a long
life and being unknown. Hector, the most accomplished Trojan warrior,
demonstrated characteristics that are still considered heroic to this day. He
loved his family and felt it was his duty to protect Troy at all costs.
56

With heroes like

Achilles and Hector
(along with many others)
inspiring students of
Greek literature, it is no
wonder that people began
to wonder, was the story of
the Trojan War real?

That question began to nag

at German businessman and archeologist, Heinrich Schliemann. In 1871,
rumors began to spread about a discovery of artifacts in Hisarlık, Turkey.
Many archaeologists believed the ruins to be the site of the legendary
Troy. Schliemann heard these rumors and was so
excited about the idea of uncovering the ancient
city, he began digging.

Schliemann and his team found

ruins stacked on top of each
other and assumed the first
layer would be the city of
Troy. Sadly, the team
destroyed many of
the upper levels
of the ruins, even
stealing much of
the discovered treasure.
 57

Schliemann eventually
published his work in 1875,
stating that he had indeed
found the ancient city of
Troy. It was only later that
archeologists were able
to determine the truth:
Schliemann’s ruins were
built much earlier than
the supposed date of
the Trojan War, and the
decimated layer was more
than likely the actual city he so
desperately sought.

Today, Schliemann is both praised

for his discovery and looked down
on for his poor practices. While
he uncovered ruins that date
far back into antiquity,
his destruction of
other ruins and the
mishandling and
stealing of artifacts
have left a dark stain
on the archeologist’s
reputation.
58

IN CASE YOU
MISSED IT
STA R T

c. 750 BCE:
Archaic period
begins

c. 1184 BCE: The

start of the Trojan
War according to
Eratosthenes
499 BCE:
The Greco-
c. 480 Persian
BCE: Wars begin
Classical
period
starts

323 BCE:
Hellenistic
period
begins and
the death of
Alexander
332 BCE: the Great
Alexander the
Great establishes the new
capital of Egypt and calls
it Alexandria

432 BCE: The Parthenon is

completed
 59

776 BCE: The c. 762 BCE: The

first Olympic date historians
Games believe the Iliad
take is written
place

507 BCE:
Democracy is
introduced in
Athens c. 600
BCE: Coins
become a
standard of
currency

FIN
ISH

c. 300 BCE: The 146 BCE: Rome

mathematician, Euclid, defeats Greece
writes his famous at the battle of
textbook, Elements Corinth
48 BCE: The
famous library
of Alexandria is
burned by Julius
Caesar
60

THINKING IT
OVER
What do you think it was like to be a woman in ancient Greece?

Do you think the first people to perform in a Greek play were nervous?
Why or why not?

Do you think the Trojan War actually happened? Why or why not?

Who is your favorite Greek god or goddess and why?

 61

1. Alexander the Great was king 5. Which Greek god was said
of all of these countries except: to rule the land and sky?
a. Persia a. Demeter
b. Macedonia b. Hades
c. Egypt c. Zeus
d. India d. Poseidon

2. Heinrich Schliemann thought 6. All of the following were

he discovered the ruins of: known for creating tragedy
and satyr plays except:
a. Atlantis
a. Agamemnon
b. Troy
b. Aeschylus
c. Alexandria
c. Sophocles
d. Athens
d. Euripides

3. Which of the following was not

a phase in ancient Greek art? 7. True or False: The
Achaemenid Empire was also
a. Athenian
known as the First Persian
b. Hellenistic Empire.
c. Geometric T / F
d. Classical
8. True or False: Herotodus
is known as the Father of
4. The capital of Greece is: Classical Theater.
a. Mycenae T / F
b. Troy
c. Corfu
d. Athens
7. True / 8. False: The Father of History
1. D / 2. B / 3. A / 4. D / 5. C / 6. A /
ANSWER KEY
62

find these words in

the word search
Alexander Greece Sparta
Artemisia Hellenic Troy
Athens Herodotus Theater
Democracy Persia Zeus

e a c a k h a z t b a c y d a

n d l s g t g h g q r i l m t

b h z e h y e n a h t n b o j

b l v e x a s u e z e e d b j

e l n l t a r e c j m l m z e

u s q e s y n v c h i l p s s

n i r l e b w d o n s e g u j

s y c a r c o m e d i h t q n

p e r s i a e x s r a o g g f

t y w u o d e e t p d r f q u

r i o t n b v v r o a y i u h

o x v m t n d o r g l r f f g

y q v a a g p e s b n t t g y

e s z v c k h o s s b a s a d

b y g d c i a v h o x o y d s
 63

Get the Trojan

Horse to Troy
 E X T A DV ENTURE
OT H E N
ON T ew bo o k series an
d
n
Explore our tions.
n e y, fo o d, and inven
o
h is tory of m
discov
er the
h o n es thistory, ore.
o re a t @ ook st
Learn m t yo ur local b
a
a co p y today
up
and pick

hols
haun S. Nic
Written by S S m ith
ophy
Drawn by S

ok b y
a bo

More adventures

through history are just ahead.

Subscribe and receive a bundle of

THREE NEW ISSUES

delivered straight to your door
months.
every three
o
Visit honesthistory.c
to get started.
We want to hear
from you!
We love hearing your suggestions and what you’ve
learned from reading Honest History. Cut out the
postcard below and mail in your ideas. Who knows?
Your postcard might be seen in our next issue!

From:

To:
Honest History
PO Box 451973
Los Angeles, CA
90045
 THE
ADVENTURE
MAGAZINE
FOR YOUNG
HISTORIANS