Top 10 Things You Didn’t Know About The Greek Empire

The Greek empire was home to some of the most influential and brilliant minds in ancient history. From mathematicians to philosophers, figures that come to mind include Pythagoras and Plato. They revolutionized Madison’s competitive sports architecture and much more for centuries to come. Even the Greek empire was home to some out-born characters, unusual events, and revolutionary discoveries. That happened countless hundreds of years before they became apparent to the world. These are 10 things you probably didn’t know about the Greek Empire.

10: Doctors of Greek Empire

You’re in maybe accessed dirty water to your bodies, the Greek doctors believed studying the gold stuff was the best way to diagnose patients. This included examining, feeling, and even tasting the samples. As mad as it sounds, on occasions that diagnosis was correct. Inspecting urine help Greek Madison men recognize what someone had. For instance, diabetes as seen by access to urination or internal bleeding, a sign of kidney infection. You have Hippocrates to thank for inventing ureteroscopy, the study of urine, and for the stomach-churning effect.

9: Pythagoras

Arguably the most famous figure to appear on this list Pythagoras is the great-granddaddy of astrology, mathematics, and philosophy. Let’s not forget the Pythagoras Theorem, the math equation used to measure the hypotenuse of a right-angled triangle. Pythagoras was quite a spiritual person. He believed in reincarnation. Thus, followed a strict vegetarian diet void of any meat, fish, and even beans. He set up a cult later in his life, the brotherhood of Pythagoras reflected his ideologies.

It is said that when a Tyrrhenian was turned down from joining the cult, he persuaded the philosopher’s former friends to form a mob to murder him. On the run, Pythagoras found himself at the edge of a bean field. He spent too much time debating on whether he should pass through a field of forbidden food. Too little too late, the mob caught up and killed him, taking a detour through the field would have been a wise idea.

8: Ancient Games

A gold medal is a worthy price for an Olympic champion. The ancient games of Greece held events ranging from wrestling and chariot racing to slightly more unconventional ones like poetry reciting and singing. Which were the only events that allowed women to enter as competitors? Olympians who won first place in any of these were awarded a crown of celery. There was no second or third place in those days. Celery was the equivalent of a gold medal and was deemed a very honorable prize. At the end of the fifth century, it was replaced with pine leaves and then more impressive prizes like odes or statute. At least the prizes were bundled with bonus cash. So, it wasn’t all bad news for those who backed themselves edible headgear.

Read Also: 10 Things You Didn’t Know About The Empire of Japan

7: Pigs of Greek Empire

Some animals namely pigs were groomed for an upcoming sacrifice. But would only have the throat slit and stomachs cut open if they agreed to such a gruesome fight. Insight of asking them, Greeks would splash water on their face to see if they noted. By which we actually mean fledge the heads into noted motion. If so, that was killed, cooked, and would turn into an afternoon picnic for worshipers in hopes that it would please the gods, otherwise, it was called off. A modern-day non-religious equivalent would be the barbecue.

6: Greek Empire Philosopher Democritus

Thanks to the inventions of microscopes, we know that’s all things are made up of microscopic particles called Atoms. While solid objects are made up of atoms close together liquid and gases are made up of particles floating freely. The Greek philosopher Democritus had a theory, if you cut a piece of cheese it gets smaller if you keep cutting it until it is so small that you cannot either see it or cut it any further then you have a Single Atom. Many scoffed at such an idea, but he was very close, considering this hypothesis was made in the sixth century BC. Democritus was the first person to predict the existence of atoms roughly 2000 years before the first microscope was invented.

5: Spartans of the Greek Empire

The Spartans were born and raised to be the toughest warriors around. Education was often of minimal importance compared to survival skills, fighting, and stealing. There is an old tale about a Spartan boy who stole a fox. He hit the creature under his tunic and when the court refused to admit to stealing anything. However, the fox had clawed his weight into the boy’s stomach in a frantic attempt to escape, thus killing him. The young Spartan showed no pain and simply collapsed without admitting defeat. Courageous tales like these were told to children as young as 6 in order to emphasize the importance of the Spartan way, never give up without a fight.

4: Flame Throwing Weapon

Used extensively by both the allies and axis powers during the Second World War, the flame thrower is a terrifying weapon capable of incinerating any soul within reach. The Byzantine Empire of the east created the earliest known iteration of the weapon in the mid to late 7th century. A concoction whose ingredients are so secret that historians are still trying to figure out its contents. It even stuck to water which could not extinguish the flames. Often mountain of boats to be used in naval warfare, Greek fire was attached to hollowed-out battering rams which could spew fire relentlessly. That was placed within a shelter with wheels to protect the uses from arrows. On top of that, the flammable mixture was added to jugs of pottery effectively making of the earliest examples of hand grenades in history.

3: Milo of Croton in Greek Empire

What we think of wrestlers we think of iconic sports entertainers like John Cena and Dwayne Johnson. The most iconic athletes of the Greek Empire era were Milo of Croton. After leading the Croton army to victory over the sybarites of southern Italy around 510 BC, Milo became a wrestler. During his time, he won over 30 wrestling competitions. There were a lot of legends of Milo’s superhuman strength, for example, he carried a newborn ox as a daily exercise and will continue to do so for years as the ox grew bigger and bigger.

According to Greek historians of the time, Milo died a humiliating death. He stuck his hands into a small wedge in a tree thinking he could tear it open but instead he got his hands trapped, nearby wolf ate him alive. A bit of brain of a broad and situation kind of prevented such humiliating end to Milo’s career and life.

2: Damoxenos and Creugas

Wrestling was hardcore stuff in the Greek Olympics, known as pankration, and introduced in the mid-7th century BC this sport was a mixture of grappling, punching, and kicking. Outlawed moves included stabbing opponents with fingers, biting and attacking the crutch, otherwise, anything goes. It was very popular and lasted for over 600 years. Rule breakers were disqualified on the spot, which was the case of Damoxenos. He broke the rules by disemboweling his opponent Creugas with his sharpened fingernails. Creugas would have been overjoyed to know he won by default if only he was still alive at the time. Damoxenos was the loser but at least he walks out with his entrails intact.

1: Diogenes

Diogenes is one of the most infamous and repulsive philosophers of all time. When he wasn’t lounging around on the streets he lazily snoozed in a barrel. Diogenes founded the concept of cynicism. He openly criticized the trivialness and corruption of the nature of society, family, authority, and education. Diogenes often interrupted lectures and even human dignity. He would excrete and masturbate in public. If people annoyed him, he would not only mock them but also urinate on them. Legend has it that when Alexander the Great found Diogenes lying on the street and asked him what he wanted, Diogenes asked him to stop blocking the sun, such a rude comment against a wealthy honorable man. Diogenes syndrome is named after the disgusting philosopher and is attributed to honors with little care.

Those are the 10 facts you probably didn’t know about the Greek Empire. Did we miss anything about the Greek Empire? Please let us know in the comments. Don’t forget to check out our other lists and thanks for staying with us for a while.