acropolis - A collection of buildings built as a safe haven on high ground. The acropolis at Athens had been a fortress but became the site of two temples to Athena ( the Parthenon and Erectheion) and the magnificent gateway (the Propylaea).

aesthetics - Ideas about what is good in art. The Greeks believed that balance and symmetry were very important in art.

agora - A large open space, usually situated in the center of a town, used for the open-air market and public meetings.

amphora - A two-handled pottery container for storing food.

andron - A dining room in a private house used by men only.

assembly - The chief council of Athens. Any Athenian male over the age of eighteen was a member.

barter - To exchange goods for something other than money.

caryatid - A draped female sculpture figure in ancient Greek architecture.

citizen - A man who had the right to own property and take part in politics and law.

city-state -A small country controlled by a powerful city.

Classical Age - 5th century B.C. in Greece when arts and sciences flourished.

comedy - A popular type of play in ancient Greece where characters are put in humorous situations.

cubit - An ancient measurement, about 18-22 inches, using the forearm as a rule.

demagogue - A leader who uses popular prejudices or false claims to gain power.

democracy - A political system based on government by the citizens. In Greece, only men with property were entitled to be citizens with the right to vote on matters of government.

drachma - A coin worth 6 obols.

epic - a long narrative poem; a famous example is The Iliad.

fable - A legendary story, especially where animals speak like humans, often told with morals.

gynaeceum - The women's rooms in a private house.

herm - A small statue of the god Hermes, which was placed in front of the house to protect it.

hoplite - A heavily-armed footed soldier. Greek hoplites often fought in large, disciplined groups called phalanxes.

isthmus - narrow strip of land connecting two larger areas of land.

labrys - The double-headed axe which was a sacred symbol of the Minoans.

metic - A foreigner living in a city state.

metroon - A storage place for archives (records and documents)

mina - A coin worth 100 drachmas

Mount Olympus - The mountain in Greece where the gods were thought to have lived.

oath - A promise. The Hippocratic Oath, sworn by doctors, is a promise to treat people properly and fairly.

obols - A coin of less value that a drachma, worth about 3 cents.

odeon - A theater.

oracle - A holy place where the gods could be asked questions with the help of a priest or priestess.

ostraka - A pottery fragment on which citizens wrote the names of the politicians they wished to banish from the city.

Parthenon - A temple in ancient Greece honoring Athena, patron goddess of Athens.

peplos - A long tunic worn be women only.

phalanx - A battle formation in which soldiers are arranged in a block.

philosopher - A person who seeks wisdom and enlightenment through study and reasoning.

polis - A state consisting of a city and the surrounding countryside.

sacrifice - An offering made to a god to bring good fortune or to ask the god not to be angry.

slave - A worker who was owned by a citizen. Slaves had few rights, but they could buy their freedom if they saved enough money.

soothsayer - A person who could predict the future and tell fortunes.

Sparta - A powerful city in southern Greece. Sparta was famous for its soldiers, trained from birth.

state - A small, independent country, usually controlled by a powerful city.

stoa - A portico or roofed colonnade.

stoics - Students who listened to philosophers.

strigil - A curved blade, usually of metal, used for scraping oil and dirt from the skin.

sweetmeats - A small sweet snack often made from preserved fruit or nuts.

symposium - A drinking party where discussions were held, and entertainments may have taken place.

talent - A coin worth 60 minas.

tholos - A circular building used for training choruses.

tragedy - Type of play invented by Greeks that ends sadly.

tireme - A Greek warship which had three rows of oars.

tyrant - A ruler with absolute power.