Draco was an Athenian lawgiver noted for his harsh legislation. The penalty for stealing food was death. The adjective 'draconian', meaning 'harsh' or 'severe', was derived from Draco's name which was synonymous with cruelty. It is believed that Athenians finally got frustrated with the severity of his laws and drove him out of the country.
2. Homer
Answer: Poet
Greek legend credits Homer as being the author of the epic poems the "Iliad" and the "Odyssey". There are varying accounts of the reality Homer's existence as passed down through the ages. Whether he truly existed or not, these poems are considered classic works of literature that inspired many other literary works, films, art, and music.
3. Pythagoras
Answer: Mathematician/Philosopher
Pythagorus is credited with discovering the Pythagorean Theorem that bears his name. It is a fundamental geometric theory that the sum of the area of a square which is built upon the hypotenuse of a right triangle is equal to the same area of the squares for the remaining sides. Pythagoras was also a philosopher who believed that the harmony of music could also be translated into mathematical equations.
4. Aristophanes
Answer: Playwright
Aristophanes was a playwright of more than 40 players. His satirical comedic works were written for the citizens of Athens and performed at festivals. Some of his noteworthy plays are "The Birds", "The Wasps", and "The Frogs". Aristophanes used his comedies as a method of conveying his political views.
5. Hippocrates
Answer: Doctor
Hippocrates has often been credited as the father or founder of modern medicine. The hippocratic oath is still in effect as physicians of today pledge to abide by an updated version of the oath and uphold ethical standards. Hippocrates shunned the conventional belief that diseases were caused by the gods.
His practical approach that diseases were the by-product of the environment and diet laid the foundation for modern views of medicine.
6. Alexander
Answer: Conqueror
Alexander the Great, King of Macedon, was schooled by the philosopher Aristotle. Alexander assumed control of Greece upon his ascension to the throne. He then invaded Asia. He was a military genius whose tactics are still studied today. Alexander died at the young age of 33 of an illness not related to battle.
7. Leonidas
Answer: Spartan King
Leonidas was the warrior King of Sparta. He lived from around 540 BC to 480 BC. Leonidas fought and lost to the Persian ruler Xerxes in the Battle of Thermopylae. This battle cost him his army and his life. It is said that he was decapitated and crucified.
8. Aesop
Answer: Fabulist/Storyteller
Aesop is credited with telling fables through animals that had human characteristics and taught a moral objective. None of his works survived in written form and the details of his life are unclear. Others throughout Greek history mention the collective fables known as "Aesop's Fables". "The Tortoise and the Hare" is an example of one of his fables.
The tortoise outwits the faster hare by using his brains and ingenuity rather than physical abilities.
9. Herodotus
Answer: Historian
Herodotus has been called the "Father of History". His style of conveying historical events using an investigative method differed from his peers. His only published work, "The Histories", details the events of the Greco-Persian Wars. The word history means inquiry in Greek. Herodotus researched and compiled facts as no other had done before him.
10. Socrates
Answer: Philosopher
Socrates was a philosopher known mostly through other writers, such as Plato. His Socratic Method employed the use of questions to seek answers. He was sentenced to death for corrupting the youth of Athens. He drank poison and died in prison.
This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor bloomsby before going online.
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