30 Disgusting Facts About Ancient Greece You Never Learned in History Class

The Ancient Greeks were known for many things. They were the cornerstone of society. They came up with ways to educate people that were far more advanced than people realized, they had already mastered democracy, philosophy, mathematics, and sciences. They believed in the pagan gods, which was a religion that carried on even after the fall of Greece. Greece birthed heroes and scholars and having both of those groups changed the course of history forever.

Although the Greeks are very different today in some ways, in some, they are very much the same. For example, although they no longer worship the old gods, they do not tear away their temples and reminders of their history. They serve as a great importance to the mark they left on the Western World.

Read on further to discover some facts about the ancient world of Greece, that every major fan of classics will enjoy.

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The Amphitheatres


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Back in the day, it was at the amphitheater where most people went for entertainment. It was a place for viewing many things, including plays, sports, and other games.

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Natural Disasters


The photo above shows the island of Santorini, upon which there was a volcanic eruption that ended up preserving Akrotiri. Akrotiri was a Minoan city, and the site shows the homes and ceramics of the site. There are, however, no human traces in the rubble which means that the fate of the people is unknown.

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The Acropolis


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The Acropolis resides in Athens, and it is on top of a rocky mountain overlooking modern Athens. The Acropolis is home to many buildings that have major historical significance, and it was the center of Athens for a very long time.

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Science And Philosophy


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Socrates and Aristotle are the two most famous names to come out of Greek Philosophy. Science and philosophy were advanced even during that time. Aristarchus of Samos believed that the sun was the center of the planets, and they revolved around the sun.

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The Warriors


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Although there were numerous kinds of warriors in the armies, some of the more successful warriors were called Hoplites. They were under the rule of commanders, and they often were in formations that proved to be successful in battle time and time again.

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How Athens Got Its Name


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When the gods of Olympus saw the land that Cecrops had conquered, many of them wanted the city named after themselves, as the gods were greedy. Poseidon and Athena both made a play for the city, and when Athena extended an olive branch, Cecrops took it and named the city Athens.

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Sparta


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The Spartans were often butting heads with the Greeks, as they considered themselves to be separate. They did not always fight in the same wars, and the structure of their homes, and how the people were, were different as well.

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Alexander The Great


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Known as one of the greatest conquerors and rulers in history, Alexander the Great is the most famous name that comes out of Greek History. Before his death, he had already conquered Egypt and merged the two societies, and his plan was to continue that throughout the world. He was so intelligent that even Augustus of Rome took notes from him.

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The Battle Of Troy


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The battle of Troy has been depicted in both story and film, and likely will continue to be for years. Although there is debate as to whether or not it actually happened, the fact is that from the battle was born one of the greatest epics of all time: The Iliad. It is a story of rage, love, and loss, and what it meant to fight in one of the greatest battles of all time.

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Epics


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Homer was best known for his great tales, which included The Odyssey and The Iliad. They are the most famous stories from Ancient Greece, as they depict two of the greatest stories of all time: the wrath of Achilles at Troy, and the voyage home by Odyessus.

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The Heroes


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As famous as the Gods, so were the heroes. They are legendary even today for their trails and sufferings, and the battles they fought. They became the basis of stories in both ancient times and modern, as many people still look to the heroes to mimic.

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Music


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The Greeks appreciated all the arts, including music. Historians know, thanks to paintings and scriptures, that the Greeks played harps, amongst other instruments that they made to amuse themselves. Music was often incorporated in theatre.

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Relationships


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Despite what people believe, relationships between same genders were very common. Achilles and Patroclus, Alexander and Hephastion are just some examples. It was very common for someone to take a lover that was of the same gender as them.


The Gods


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Although paganism has died out, in Ancient Greece, they prayed to the Olympians. Their leader was Zeus, God of Thunder, and he ruled on Mount Olympus with his brothers, sisters, wife, and children. They prayed to the Gods for safe travels, love, wealth, and victories in war.

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Training


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Besides the traditional fighting, it was not uncommon at all for the Greeks to train and exercise naked. Although it is something that people would never see today, back then, the naked body was nothing to be ashamed about. It was something to toughen.

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Delphi


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Delphi is a very important part of Greek history, as it was dedicated to a very important god named Apollo. It is where the people went to speak to the oracle in hopes of answers, and where they went to pray to Apollo for guidance.

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Death


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Death was a strange thing for the Greeks. There was no heaven, only an Underworld, and that was where all souls went. Depending on the state of your soul, you fell into different parts of the Underworld.

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The Economy


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Ancient Greece was the birth of Western civilization in every sense. At the time of its rule, it was the most advanced and wealthiest economy in the world. Unfortunately, that would not last.

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Terrace Of The Lions


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The Terrace of the Lions is dedicated to Apollo, and they lined the sacred way. The ruins are on Delos, which was the birthplace of Apollo and Artemis. It is a very important piece of land for the Greeks, and it resides as one of the most spiritual places for them.
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The Parthenon


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The Parthenon is the most important part of the Acropolis in Athens, and it was used for two reasons. It was built, first and foremost, as a tribute to the goddess Athena, and inside it, there is also the statue of Athena. It was also used as the state treasury.

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The Legend Of Hercules


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Hercules is one of, if not the most well known, hero of Ancient Greece. Although there is some confusion between the Greek and Roman tales, one thing is for sure. He is one of the greatest heroes of all time, despite the madness he suffered under his trails.

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The Women


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Obviously, women were not respected in the same way that men were. Women were not even allowed to go to the Olympics if they were married. If they tried to disobey the rule, they were executed.

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Machinery


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The Greeks knew that to survive they had to build equipment, such as the olive oil machine shown above, in order to have a proper civilization. They also enjoyed pottery, which helped them to carry food and water.

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Medicine


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It is safe to say that like many other things, thanks to the Greeks, we are able to cure many diseases. The Greeks made the foundation of medicine, their first schools residing in Italy.

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The Olympics


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Much like today, The Olympic Games were competitions based on athletic skill and were also a form of entertainment. They were held of course, as a tribute to the gods, but in particular, Zeus.


The Palaces


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The palaces date back thousands of years ago and are largely from two periods: Minoan and Mycenaen. They were homes to both men and monsters and often visited by heroes and gods.

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Garments


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The garments worn were very simple, twisting and turning around bodies to fit whoever wore it. What was more intricate were the colors, and sometimes the color even depended on someone’s status.

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