Temple Inscription: brief inscription from the Temple of Jerusalem, now in the Istanbul Archaeological Museum.King Herod the Great rebuilt the Jerusalem temple. It consisted of the sacred building itself, situated on a court ("Court of the Women") that was surrounded…
The treaties between Persia and Sparta: series of three treaties between Sparta and the Achaemenid Empire, concluded in 412 and 411. Sparta needed Persian support in the Decelean War but had little to offer, received nothing, and lost its reputation…
Troezen Decree: the higly controversial text of a decision by the Athenian popular assembly to evacuate Athens in 480 BCE. In its present form, the text cannot be authentic.
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Woerden Elagabal Inscription: dedication to the Syrian sun god Elagabal, remarkable because it is quite old and was found outside Syria.Elagabal was a Syrian sun god, who was worshipped with rituals that are strongly reminiscent of the Babylonian Akitu festival.…
The main result of the Peloponnesian War was that the Persian Empire improved its position in Asia Minor. Several Greek cities that had for half a century been protected by the Delian League, became dependent upon the Great King. No…
Battle of Mantinea (418 BCE): important battle, in which Sparta restored its reputation as superpower, by defeating a coalition of Argos, Mantinea, and Elis, supported by Athens.
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Fall of Amphipolis (424/423): one of the most important operations during the Archidamian War (431-421 BCE). It put an end to a series of Athenian successes and made the Athenians more willing to contemplate an armistice. The Spartan and Athenian…
The Peloponnesian War started with a covert operation. It was important for Thebes to capture Plataea, because it controlled the roads to the Theban allies on the Peloponnese (Corinth and Sparta), and it is not surprising that the Thebans wanted…