Notable Figures

Alexander the Great

356 BCE - 323 BCE

Hellenistic Period

Macedonian king who created one of the largest empires in ancient history

Alexander III of Macedon, commonly known as Alexander the Great, was born to King Philip II and Queen Olympias. Tutored by Aristotle in his youth, he...

Aristotle

384 CE - 322 CE

Classical Greece

Philosopher • Ancient Greece

Greek philosopher and polymath, tutor of Alexander the Great

Aristotle was born in 384 BCE in Stagira, Chalcidice, near the northern periphery of Classical Greece. He joined Plato's Academy in Athens at eighteen...

Cleopatra VII

69 BCE - 30 BCE

Ptolemaic Period

Last active pharaoh of Ancient Egypt

Cleopatra VII Philopator was the last active ruler of the Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt. Born to King Ptolemy XII Auletes, she was a member of the Ptolem...

Ephialtes

500 BCE - 461 BCE

Greek traitor at Thermopylae

Ephialtes was an ancient Athenian statesman and democratic reformer who played a crucial role in transforming Athens into a radical democracy. Born in...

Homer

800 BCE - 701 BCE

Archaic Greece

Poet • Greek

Ancient Greek poet, author of the Iliad and Odyssey

The epics attributed to Homer were composed around the 8th century BCE, though the exact dates and the identity of their author(s) are uncertain. They...

Julius Caesar

100 CE - 44 CE

Late Roman Republic

General and Dictator • Roman

Roman general and statesman who played a critical role in transforming the Roman Republic into the Roman Empire

Caesar rose through the ranks of the Roman political system, eventually becoming a general. He expanded the Roman Republic through a series of battles...

Khafre

2520 BCE - 2540 CE

Fourth Dynasty of the Old Kingdom

Pharaoh • Egyptian

Architect of the Second Giza Pyramid

Khafre ascended to the throne after the death of his brother, Djedefre, and ruled Egypt from his capital at Memphis. His reign was a period of great a...

Khufu

2609 BCE - 2584 BCE

Fourth Dynasty

Pharaoh • Ancient Egypt

Pharaoh of the Great Pyramid

Khufu succeeded his father, Sneferu, and ruled Egypt in the 26th century BCE. His reign is characterized by significant architectural achievements, in...

Leonidas I

540 BCE - 480 BCE

Eurypontid dynasty

King • Sparta, Ancient Greece

Spartan king who led the 300

Leonidas I was a king of Sparta from the Agiad dynasty, who became one of history's most famous military commanders. Born around 540 BCE, he was not i...

Plato

428 BCE - 348 BCE

Classical Greece

Philosopher • Ancient Greece

Greek philosopher, founder of the Academy in Athens

Plato was born into an aristocratic Athenian family, with his real name believed to be Aristocles. 'Plato' was a nickname meaning 'broad,' possibly re...

Ptolemy I

367 CE - 283 CE

Ptolemaic dynasty

General, Pharaoh • Macedonian

Founder of the Ptolemaic Kingdom and the Library of Alexandria

After Alexander the Great's death in 323 BCE, Ptolemy seized Egypt and established himself as its ruler. He consolidated his power, founding the city...

Ramesses II

1303 BCE - 1213 BCE

New Kingdom Egypt

Egyptian pharaoh known as Ramesses the Great

Ramesses II, also known as Ramesses the Great, was one of ancient Egypt's most powerful and celebrated pharaohs. Born to Pharaoh Seti I and Queen Tuya...