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Greek Vocabulary
30 different words
| Word | Definition |
|---|---|
| Epic | A long poem that tells the story of a hero. |
| Barbarians | The name given by the Greeks to people who were NOT Greek. |
| Colonies | Areas set up in conquered lands by the Greek city-states for use when they themselves became overpopulated. |
| Minoan | An ancient Cretan civilization. |
| Myths | Legends or stories that attempt to explain natural events. |
| Dorians | A group that invaded Greece around 1000 B.C. |
| Hellenes | The name the Dorians gave themselves. |
| Acropolis | A hilltop fortress in Ancient Athens which included the Parthenon and other famous buildings where citizens met to dicuss the affairs of the community. |
| Agora | The central marketplace in Ancient Athens and the site of numerous temples and government buildings. |
| Mattock | A heavy hoe which was the chief tool of Greek farmers. |
| Drama | A serious play or theatrical event. |
| Metics | A class of people in Athens who were not citizens. |
| Helots | One of the Spartan slave classes. |
| City-state | A self governing unit made up of a city and surrounding villages and farmland. |
| Homer | A Greek epic poet and author of Iliad and Odyssey. |
| Monarchy | A system of government in which a monarch, a king,queen, or emperor is the sole and absolute ruler. |
| Oligarchy | A system of government in which a few people rule. |
| Democracy | A system of government in which the people rule, directly or through elected representatives. |
| Tyrant | A ruler who has absolute power (not limited by constitution or other officials). |
| Polis | A city-state in Ancient Greece. |
| Trireme | A major sailing vessel powered by three banks of oarsmen. |
| Fresco | A painting done on fresh plaster with water colors. |
| Peloponnesus | A hilly major peninsula in Greece. |
| Ostracized | Shunned or avoided. |
| Oracle | Places where the gods spoke directly to man. |
| Phalanx | Special Greek battle formation where the soldiers formed rows, closely pressed together. |
| Philosophy | The study of the meaning and knowledge of life. |
| Sophocles | A famous Greek writer. |
| Pericles | A Greek leader of the Golden Age. |
| Ionia | A group of Greek cities on the coast of Asia Minor. |