Democracy: Did you mean...?

Pottery ostrakon identifying Themistocles, 480-460 BCE. These were used in Athens to vote a particular citizen to be exiled from the polis. (Museum of the Ancient Agora, Athens)

Bronze pinakia - used to allot Athenian citizens their role as jurors. On the plate was inscribed the person's name, their father's name, and their deme (township). In the centre is a bronze ball from the machine (kleroteria) used to randomly...

Bust of Pisistratus, Roman plaster cast of original 5th-century Greek marble statue. While there is dispute about the exact figure depicted by this bust, its likeness has been attributed to Pisistratus (c. 600-527 BCE), the populist tyrant...

Marble statue group depicting the Athenian tyrant-slayers Harmodius and Aristogeiton. These statues are Roman copies of 5th Century BCE Greek originals. (National Archaeological Museum of Naples)

The podium (bema) where ancient Athenian politicians spoke to the assembly. 5th century BCE.

Adolf Hitler (1889-1945) was the dictator of Nazi Germany from 1933. He gained power by making popular promises like improving Germany's economy and status in Europe, but when he took these policies too far, he was responsible more than anything...

In the late 6th century BCE, the small city-state of Rome overthrew the shackles of monarchy and created a republican government that, in theory if not always in practice, represented the wishes of its citizens. From this basis the city would...

Sparta was one of the most important city-states in ancient Greece and was famous for its military prowess. The professional and well-trained Spartan hoplites with their distinctive red cloaks and long hair were probably the best and most...

The Sacred Band of Thebes was an elite unit of the Theban army comprised of 150 gay male couples totaling 300 men. They were formed under the leadership of Gorgidas but first achieved fame under the general Pelopidas. They remained invincible...

Europe is a continent forming the westernmost part of the land mass of Eurasia and comprised of 49 sovereign states. Its name may come from the Greek myth of Europa, but human habitation of the region predates that tale, going back over 150,000...