People, Great Greeks

Aristotle:  Aristotle was a famous teacher in ancient Greece. Like Confucius, the famous Chinese philosopher, Aristotle is remembered for his sayings. He used sayings to help his students become wiser. He is still quoted today. For example, Aristotle said: "We think in pictures. If you wish to change what you think, change the picture."

Socrates: There were many teachers in ancient Athens. Socrates was one of the most famous. He used questions to help his students think about things and question things. He asked questions like: "How can we improve our government? Are the stories about the gods real? " Some nobles in Athens thought he was mocking the gods and they put him on trial, which was a sad day for free speech in ancient Athens.

Aesop: Some scholars think Aesop never existed. Others believe he was a slave in ancient Greece. There is no record that Aesop ever wrote anything down. He probably just remembered the stories he told, since he told them over and over and over again. His stories were very short and called fables. Each fable had animal characters and a lesson and a moral to teach. 

Homer wrote two of the most important pieces of ancient Greek literature, Homer's Iliad and Homer's Odyssey. They are great adventure stories and are still read and enjoyed today.

Pericles: Pericles was a famous Greek general. He gave a public speech in Athens, honoring the many warriors who were killed in battle. Scholars found a written record of this speech. It is an incredible speech. It talks about democracy and Athenian patriotism. It shares a great deal about life in Athens and events in Greek history.

Alexander the Great: Alexander was not a Greek, although he is referred to by some historians as "The Great Greek".  He was the king of Macedonia, a country to the north of ancient Greece. Alexander had many Greek teachers, one of whom was Aristotle. Alexander and his army conquered the entire Mediterranean region. Alexander taught all the people he conquered about the ancient Greeks - he shared their stories, their myths, their gods, their language - just as he had been taught. It was Alexander who spread the Greek culture throughout the Mediterranean. Without Alexander, a great deal of the ancient Greek culture might have been lost.

Famous Ancient Greeks