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Ancient Greek Rulers Trivia Quiz

Some questions about the tyranny of Peisistratus and the rule of Pericles. Please note that the term archon refers to the person elected to lead the Athenian City state. In this quiz, I only refer to the Eponymus archon, or political leader.

A multiple-choice quiz by maquiladora. Estimated time: 6 mins.

Author
maquiladora

Time
6 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
68,581

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Difficult

Avg Score
5 / 10

Plays
1879

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. Who wrote the main source that scholars use for information regarding Peisistratus? Hint

Herodotus

Plato

Thucydides

Plutarch

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Question 2 of 10

2. What were the names of Peisistratus' sons?

Answer: (Spelling is important. Separate names linked by and.)

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Question 3 of 10

3. Peisistratus' close friend was the long time archon of Athens. Who was he? Hint

Pericles

Cliesthenes

Solon

Megacles

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Question 4 of 10

4. On how many different occasions did Peisistratus take control over Athens? Hint

Four

One

Three

Two

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Question 5 of 10

5. After Peisistratus died in 527 BC, his two sons took over control of Athens jointly. During a botched assasination plot, one was killed and one survived. Which brother was killed?

Answer: (50%2F50 Chance!)

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Question 6 of 10

6. There have been many comparisons between the reigns of Pericles and Peisistratus. In what year did Pericles die? Hint

441 BC

424 BC

405 BC

429 BC

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Question 7 of 10

7. Who was the first elected archon of Athens after the death of Hippias in 510 BC? Hint

Isagoras

Themistocles

Cleisthenes

Cimon

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Question 8 of 10

8. The rise of Athens during the reign of Pericles has been well documented. Pericles had something moved in 454 BC that gave Athens the monetary means to start an empire. What was moved? Hint

The Acropolis

The Delian League Treasury

A Gold Mine

The Tax Rate

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Question 9 of 10

9. Who was the ruler of Athens after the death of Pericles in 429 BC? Hint

Xanthippus

Cleon

Phidias

Ephialtes

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Question 10 of 10

10. In a campaign against the Island of Samos in 440 BC, which great ancient Greek poet fought alongside Pericles? Hint

Aristogeitan

Thucydides

Sophocles

Anaximander

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Who wrote the main source that scholars use for information regarding Peisistratus?

Answer: Herodotus

There are very few mentions of Peisistratus and his rule over Athens, but the best source for this material appears in Herodotus's Histories.

2. What were the names of Peisistratus' sons?

Answer: Hippias and Hipparchus

More on these two later!

3. Peisistratus' close friend was the long time archon of Athens. Who was he?

Answer: Solon

Solon was powerless to stop his friend from becoming tyrannt after his retirement from public life.

4. On how many different occasions did Peisistratus take control over Athens?

Answer: Three

Twice he used trickery, and once he used the simple tactic of 'my army is bigger than your army'.

5. After Peisistratus died in 527 BC, his two sons took over control of Athens jointly. During a botched assasination plot, one was killed and one survived. Which brother was killed?

Answer: Hipparchus

Hipparchus made advances to one young gentleman. When his advances were spurned, he refused to let this man's neice participate in the panathenia festival to honor the god Athena. It was this that led to the plot being hatched. After Hipparchus's death, Hippias became even more paranoid, executing or banishing entire families from Athens.

6. There have been many comparisons between the reigns of Pericles and Peisistratus. In what year did Pericles die?

Answer: 429 BC

Pericles died from the plague that consumed much of Athens in the late 5th century. It also killed his son, his sister, and many of his close friends.

7. Who was the first elected archon of Athens after the death of Hippias in 510 BC?

Answer: Isagoras

Isagoras ruled for two short years. Next was Cleisthenes, credited with 'discovering' democracy. Then Themistocles circa 500 BC. Cimon was Archon from 470 BC to 461 BC.

8. The rise of Athens during the reign of Pericles has been well documented. Pericles had something moved in 454 BC that gave Athens the monetary means to start an empire. What was moved?

Answer: The Delian League Treasury

Moving the treasury to Athens had a profound effect on Greek history. Pericles was able to pay for the improvements on the acropolis. The ruins that survive on the acropolis today were mostly built during this time, using this money. The treasury had been held on the island of Delos.

9. Who was the ruler of Athens after the death of Pericles in 429 BC?

Answer: Cleon

Cleon ruled Athens from 429 BC until his death in 422 BC. He was the son of a tanner, and his probable profession was a Lyre maker. His reign was marked by internal struggle and strife. The people of Athens did not respect him because of his modest beginings. He was the most outspoken opponent of Pericles throughout his reign.

10. In a campaign against the Island of Samos in 440 BC, which great ancient Greek poet fought alongside Pericles?

Answer: Sophocles

Sophocles, along with many other famous artists, was among those in Pericles's inner circle of friends. This circle included Phidias, the great sculptor, and Democritus the philosopher.

Source: Author maquiladora

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor gtho4 before going online.
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