20 Unique Facts About Classical Greek Literature

The earliest Greek literature was composed orally, and was passed down through generations by word of mouth before being written down.

Homer’s epic poems, the Iliad and the Odyssey, are among the most famous works of Greek literature. They were composed in the 8th century BCE.

The Iliad tells the story of the Trojan War, while the Odyssey follows the adventures of the hero Odysseus as he tries to return home after the war.

Greek drama was divided into two main types: tragedy and comedy. The earliest surviving Greek tragedies were written in the 5th century BCE by Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides.

The Greek philosopher Aristotle wrote a famous treatise on tragedy, called the Poetics, in which he analyzed the components of tragedy and argued that it was the most superior form of drama.

The Greek philosopher Plato wrote dialogues in which he explored philosophical concepts such as ethics, metaphysics, and political philosophy.

The Greek historian Herodotus wrote a history of the Persian Wars in the 5th century BCE. His work is considered the first real history book.

The Greek historian Thucydides wrote a history of the Peloponnesian War in the 5th century BCE. His work is notable for its focus on political and military strategy.

The Greek playwright Aristophanes wrote comedies that mocked the political and social climate of Athens in the 5th century BCE.

The Greek poet Sappho wrote lyric poetry in the 7th century BCE. She is famous for her poems about love and beauty, and is often referred to as the “tenth Muse.”

The Greek poet Pindar wrote lyric poetry in the 6th century BCE. He is known for his odes to victorious athletes in the Olympic Games.

The Greek poet Hesiod wrote epic poetry in the 8th century BCE. His most famous work is the Theogony, which tells the story of the gods and their origins.

The Greek philosopher Epicurus founded a school of philosophy called Epicureanism in the 3rd century BCE. His philosophy emphasized the pursuit of pleasure and the avoidance of pain.

The Greek philosopher Zeno founded a school of philosophy called Stoicism in the 3rd century BCE. His philosophy emphasized the development of personal ethics and the acceptance of fate.

The Greek philosopher Pythagoras founded a school of philosophy that focused on mathematics and the nature of reality. He is best known for his theorem on right triangles.

The Greek philosopher Heraclitus is famous for his belief that everything is in a state of constant change. He is also known for his paradoxical statements, such as “You cannot step into the same river twice.”

The Greek philosopher Parmenides is known for his belief that reality is unchanging and eternal. He argued that the world of appearances is an illusion, and that true reality can only be apprehended through reason.

The Greek philosopher Plato is known for his theory of Forms, which asserts that there is a realm of eternal and unchanging Forms that underlies the world of appearances.

The Greek philosopher Aristotle is known for his contributions to fields such as logic, metaphysics, ethics, politics, and biology. He was a student of Plato and a teacher of Alexander the Great.

The Greek poet Homer is considered the father of Western literature. His works have inspired countless cultures around the world.