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The Story of the Greek People

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The Story of the Greek People Conditions and Terms of Use PREFACE Copyright © Heritage History 2009 The plan of this book is not only to present a simple Some rights reserved outline of the chief events in the history of ancient Greece, but also to picture the customs of the people, their manner of living This text was produced and distributed by Heritage History, an organization and thinking and feeling. So far as the size and scope of the little dedicated to the preservation of classical juvenile history books, and to the volume will permit, the names of those who were masters in art promotion of the works of traditional history authors. and literature are introduced, not in separate chapters as mere The books which Heritage History republishes are in the public domain and adjuncts to political history, but in their natural connection with are no longer protected by the original copyright. They may therefore be reproduced the annals of their times, and ever in accordance with Plutarch's within the United States without paying a royalty to the author. dictum, "Often an action of small note, a short saying or a jest, shall distinguish a person's real character more than the greatest The text and pictures used to produce this version of the work, however, are the property of Heritage History and are licensed to individual users with some sieges or the most important battles." restrictions. These restrictions are imposed for the purpose of protecting the integrity In treating of the wars of Greece, I have followed their of the work itself, for preventing plagiarism, and for helping to assure that course as briefly as possible, and have given the space often compromised or incomplete versions of the work are not widely disseminated. allotted to details of battles to characteristic stories of some of In order to preserve information regarding the origin of this text, a copyright the famous leaders, or a description of some one military by the author, and a Heritage History distribution date are included at the foot of operation that illustrates the difference between ancient and every page of text. We request all electronic and printed versions of this text include modern ways of conducting such affairs. In short, I have used these markings and that users adhere to the following restrictions. the wars to illustrate the people, and not the people to display the 1) This text may be reproduced for personal or educational purposes as long as minutiae of the wars. the original copyright and Heritage History version number are faithfully The illustrations for the book are intended to put the reproduced. reader into the spirit of the Greek world, and to aid the 2) You may not alter this text or try to pass off all or any part of it as your own imagination in interpreting the text. They have been taken from a work. great variety of sources, in the majority of cases representing Greek art in the form of architecture, statuary, bas-reliefs, vase- 3) You may not distribute copies of this text for commercial purposes unless paintings, and coins, which reveal something of the artistic you have the prior written consent of Heritage History. genius and the wonderful versatility of this people. 4) This text is intended to be a faithful and complete copy of the original The never-failing fascination of the study of the Greeks, document. However, typos, omissions, and other errors may have occurred during preparation, and Heritage History does not guarantee a perfectly of their brilliancy of intellect, their love of country, their reliable reproduction. versatility, even their very faults, must seize upon one who becomes familiar with them in ever so slight a degree. If this Permission to use Heritage History documents or images for commercial little book affords as much pleasure to the reader as its purposes, or more information about our collection of traditional history resources preparation has given to the writer, its existence will be justified. can be obtained by contacting us at [email protected] EVA MARCH TAPPAN Original Copyright 1908 by Eva March Tappan. 2 Distributed by Heritage History 2009 IMPORTANT DATES IN GREEK HISTORY 338 Battle of Chaeronea subjects Greece to Macedonia 334 Alexander crossed the Hellespont to invade Persia. B.C. 323 Death of Alexander and the division of his empire. 776 Beginning of First Olympiad. 621 Draco reformed the Athenian laws. TABLE OF CONTENTS 594 Solon reformed the Athenian laws. IN THE DAYS OF MYTHS.......................................................... 4 509 Clisthenes reformed the Athenian laws. IN THE DAYS OF MYTHS (CONTINUED) ................................... 9 500-494 Revolt of the Ionians. HOW THE EARLY GREEKS LIVED .......................................... 15 HOW THE SPARTANS BECAME POWERFUL ............................ 21 490 Battle of Marathon (Beginning of Persian War). THE EARLY DAYS OF ATHENS: THEY LAWS OF SOLON......... 28 480 Battles of Thermopylae and Salamis. THE RULE OF PISISTRATUS AND THE ALCMAEONIDAE .......... 33 479 Battle of Plataea (End of Persian War). THE OLYMPIAN GAMES ........................................................ 38 THE GREEK COLONIES: THE TYRANTS .................................. 41 477 The Delian League was formed. THE FIRST AND SECOND PERSIAN EXPEDITIONS ................... 44 445 Peace of Pericles gave quiet to Greece. THE GREAT PERSIAN INVASION ............................................ 49 THE GREAT PERSIAN INVASION (CONTINUED) ...................... 54 445-431 Age of Pericles. AFTER THE PERSIAN WAR ..................................................... 59 421 Peace of Nicias (End of first phase of THE AGE OF PERICLES .......................................................... 66 Peloponnesian War). THE PELOPONNESIAN WAR ................................................... 74 415-413 Sicilian Expedition. THE SICILIAN EXPEDITION .................................................... 81 THE FALL OF ATHENS ........................................................... 87 405 Battle of Aegospotami. WHEN SPARTA RULED .......................................................... 92 404 Fall of Athens (End of Peloponnesian War). WHEN THEBES WAS IN POWER .............................................. 99 401-400 Retreat of the 10,000 in Persian. PHILIP OF MACEDONIA ........................................................ 102 ALEXANDER THE GREAT ..................................................... 107 387 Peace of Antalcidas ended Corinthian War. 371 Battle of Leuctra began the downfall of Sparta. 362 Death of Epaminondas end supremacy of Thebes. Original Copyright 1908 by Eva March Tappan. 3 Distributed by Heritage History 2009 CHAPTER I "I should like to drive it," perhaps the little Greek boy would say; and then his mother would tell him of the time when a boy once tried to drive it, and of what happened to him. IN THE DAYS OF MYTHS "He was called the son of Apollo," the story went, "and There was one thing that must have been especially his name was Phaëthon. One day a playmate was angry with pleasant for the boys and girls who lived in Greece nearly three him and cried out, 'You are nobody! You are not Apollo's son!' thousand years ago. It was that so many of their questions were Phaëthon did not say a word in reply, but went straight to far- answered by stories. For instance, if a boy asked the name of a away India, and walked boldly into the palace of Apollo. The mountain that rose far to the northward, his mother would reply, ceilings were of ivory and the doors of silver. At the farther end "That is Mount Olympus. On its summit is the most beautiful of the long room stood a throne, which glittered and gleamed palace you can imagine. It is made of clouds, white and rosy and and shone like sunbeams sparkling on the water. On this throne golden, and it is the home of Zeus, King of the Gods. He often sat the Sun-God himself. He wore a crimson robe, and on his calls the other gods to come to him; and then they journey from head was a crown made of long rays of golden light that flashed the earth, the water, and the underworld, and meet in the great and blazed even more brilliantly than the sun at noonday. hall of the palace. There they feast upon ambrosia and nectar, the Phaëthon walked up the room and stood before the throne. Muses sing, and Apollo plays on his lyre. By and by, when the Apollo looked kindly upon him and said, 'Tell me who you are sun sets, they pass through the gates of cloud and return to their and why you have sought me.' Then the boy told the god about homes. The sun is a splendid golden chariot. Apollo drives it up his playmate's declaring that he was no child of Apollo. 'And I the sky every morning and down again every afternoon. It is all have come,' he said, 'to beg that if I really am your son, you will ablaze with diamonds, and that is why it dazzles your eyes to give me some proof.' look at it." THE COUNCIL OF THE GODS. (ZEUS IS SEATED ON THE THRONE) APOLLO IN HIS SUN-CHARIOT. "Apollo was pleased with the boy's courage. He threw his arms around Phaëthon's neck and said, 'You are my own dear son and to prove it I will give you whatever you ask.' Now, what Original Copyright 1908 by Eva March Tappan. 4 Distributed by Heritage History 2009 did the foolish boy ask but permission to drive the fiery chariot Father Zeus!' cried the Earth. Then Zeus hurled his thunder bolt for one day. Apollo looked very grave. 'Even the other gods at Phaëthon, and he fell from the chariot down into the stream cannot do that,' he said. 'Zeus himself would not attempt it. I beg Eridanus. His sisters stood on the bank and wept for him, and of you to choose some other gift.' But Phaëthon was bent upon by and by they were turned into poplar trees; and even to-day, if this one thing; and as Apollo had given his word, he had to yield. you listen to the poplars, you can hear them whispering softly The headstrong boy sprang into the chariot and seized the reins.
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