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Sacred Band of Thebes
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...
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Turkana Boy
Turkana Boy, also called Nariokotome Boy, is a rare nearly complete skeleton of a youth who lived near Lake Turkana, Kenya, around 1,6-1,5 million years ago. He belongs to the species Homo erectus (or Homo ergaster, depending on which theories...
Article
The Origin of Game and Corn
The Origin of Game and Corn is a Cherokee origin myth explaining how wild game first began to run free and corn came to be cultivated. The central figures of Kenati (also given as Kana'ti) and Selu are the embodiment of the Lucky Hunter and...
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A Boy with a Flying Squirrel
A Boy with a Flying Squirrel, 1765, by Anglo-American painter John Singleton Copley (l. 1738-1815). The painting depicts Copley's half-brother Henry Pelham (l. 1748-1806), later a well-known engraver and cartographer, with his pet flying...
Definition
Pelopidas
Pelopidas (c. 410 - 364 BCE) was a gifted Theban general and leader of the elite Sacred Band who, along with Epaminondas, is credited with helping Thebes rise to its greatest power. Defeating the mighty Spartans in several battles Pelopidas...
Definition
Battle of Leuctra
The Battle of Leuctra in 371 BCE gave Thebes a decisive victory over Sparta and established Thebes as the most powerful city-state in Greece. The victory was achieved through the daring and brilliant pre-meditated tactics of the Theban general...
Definition
Hoplite
A hoplite (from ta hopla meaning tool or equipment) was the most common type of heavily armed foot-soldier in ancient Greece from the 7th to 4th centuries BCE, and most ordinary citizens of Greek city-states with sufficient means were expected...
Definition
Carthaginian Army
The armies of Carthage permitted the city to forge the most powerful empire in the western Mediterranean from the 6th to 3rd centuries BCE. Although by tradition a seafaring nation with a powerful navy, Carthage, by necessity, had to employ...
Video
Units of History - The Sacred Band of Thebes
In this ancient history documentary we take a closer look at one of the most famous units of history, the Sacred Band of Thebes. The video begins with an over view of the the history of Thebes. We cover its mythology, founding in the bronze...
Article
The Bear Man
The Bear Man is a Pawnee legend exemplifying the Native American understanding of the natural world and serving as an origin tale for the Bear Dance, which was performed to awaken the bears in spring from their winter hibernation and also...