Archaic Greece

Timeline (800 - 500 BCE)

The Archaic Period, in history and archaeology, denotes the earliest phase of post-Dark Age Greek culture from ~800 to 479 BCE. Major events include:

~800s BCE: The Great Rhetra, the legendary Spartan constitution, was established by the lawgiver Lycurgus.

~800 BCE: Beginning of the period, marked by the slow re-emergence of urban life and development of the polis.

~776 BCE: Traditional date for the first Olympic Games in Olympia.

~750-700 BCE: Development of the Greek symposium and the accompanying cultural practices.

~750 BCE: The beginning of the practice of placing votive offerings in sanctuaries, reflecting the increasing importance of religion in daily life.

~750 BCE: Homer's epic poems, the Iliad and the Odyssey, are composed.

~750 BCE: Greek colonization begins with settlements in the Mediterranean Sea and Black Sea regions.

~740 BCE: First Messenian War begins between Sparta and Messenia.

~730 BCE: The first known Greek lawgiver, Zaleucus, creates legal codes for the city of Locri.

~725 BCE: The establishment of Metapontum and other colonies in Southern Italy, marking the spread of Greek culture into Magna Graecia.

~720 BCE: Sparta establishes the Peloponnesian League.

~700 BCE: The Greek alphabet is adapted from Phoenician via the introduction of Linear B script.

~700 BCE: Introduction of the hoplite phalanx, a new formation and style of warfare that would become characteristic of Greek city-states.

~690 BCE: Second Messenian War begins.

~680 BCE: Chalcis and Eretria (both on the island of Euboea) fight the Lelantine War, possibly the earliest historically-recorded Greek conflict.

~675 BCE: Foundation of Cyrene, a Greek colony in North Africa, which later becomes a cultural and economic center.

~650 BCE: Rise of the tyrant Cypselus in Corinth.

~650 BCE: Introduction of coinage in Aegina, one of the earliest instances of minted currency in Greece.

~650 BCE: The first recorded instance of the Olympic Games being opened to all Greeks (not just locals) indicating a growing sense of pan-Hellenic identity.

~640 BCE: The city of Argos defeats Sparta at the Battle of Hysiae.

~632 BCE: Cylon's unsuccessful attempt to take control of Athens.

~621 BCE: The publication of Draco’s law code in Athens, establishing the basis for subsequent Athenian law and order.

~612 BCE: Scythian invasion of Asia Minor.

~600 BCE: Coinage becomes widespread in Lydia and enters circulation in Greek cities.

~600 BCE: Sappho of Lesbos composes her poetry, offering insight into the roles and emotions of women.

~600 BCE: The rise of the cult of Dionysus and the introduction of the Dionysian mysteries.

~594 BCE: Solon is appointed archon and enacts social and economic reforms in Athens. He abolishes debt slavery in Athens, easing the burden on the poor and preventing social unrest.

~590 BCE: The First Sacred War over control of the Delphic Oracle.

~590 BCE: The Second Sacred War fought over control of Delphi between the Phocians and the Thessalians.

~582 BCE: Pythian Games are established in Delphi.

~580 BCE: The Siphnian Treasury is constructed at Delphi.

~570 BCE: The rise of the tyrant Peisistratus in Athens.

~570 BCE: The construction of the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

~560 BCE: The construction and operation of the Tunnel of Eupalinos on Samos, one of the earliest known aqueducts.

~550 BCE: The establishment of the Pythagorean school of philosophy in Croton.

~546 BCE: Cyrus the Great of Persia conquers Lydia; Greek cities in Asia Minor come under Persian control.

~546 BCE: The establishment of the Achaemenid Empire’s satrapies, including the satrapy of Ionia, marking the integration of Greek cities into the Persian administrative system.

~540 BCE: Polycrates becomes tyrant of Samos and begins major naval expansions.

~530 BCE: Peisistratus dies, and his son Hippias takes power in Athens.

~525 BCE: Cleisthenes reforms the Athenian constitution, laying the foundations for Athenian democracy.

~525 BCE: The first performance of choral lyric poetry at the Athenian Dionysia, setting the stage for the development of drama.

~520 BCE: The construction of the Temple of Hera on the island of Samos, one of the largest temples in Greece.

~514 BCE: Assassination of Hipparchus by Harmodius and Aristogeiton in Athens.

~510 BCE: Hippias is expelled from Athens, ending the Peisistratid tyranny.

~508 BCE: The reforms of Cleisthenes are ratified after the expulsion of the Spartan king Cleomenes I and the Athenian tyrant Isagoras from Athens.

507 BCE: Athens defeats Boeotians and Chalcidians at the Battle of Enophyta.

500 BCE: The Ionian Revolt begins against Persian rule.

500 BCE: Completion of the rebuilding of the Temple of Apollo at Delphi after a fire destroyed the earlier structure.

Very Important Persons of the Archaic Period

Legends

• Orpheus - Mythical poet and musician, reputed to have had the ability to charm all living things with his music.
• Kleobis and Biton - Sons of the priestess of Hera at Argos, celebrated for their exemplary devotion in Greek legend.
• the Iliad - depicts the most poignant, critical moments at the end of the Trojan War.
• the Odyssey - depicts Odysseus' turbulent and lengthy journey back home after the war.
• Jason and the Argonauts - depicts the journey crown prince Jason undertakes to reclaim his throne.
• Hercules - mythical hero imbued with supernatural strength.

~800s-700s BCE

• Lycurgus of Sparta - Legendary lawgiver of Sparta, attributed with the establishment of the military-oriented reformation of Spartan society.
• Homer - Semi-legendary author of the Iliad and the Odyssey, foundational epic poems of Greek literature.
• Hesiod - Early Greek poet who authored Works and Days and Theogony, offering insight into ancient Greek daily life and mythology.
• Zaleucus - the first lawmaker in Greek tradition, created legal codes for his city of Locri.

~600s BCE

• Polydorus of Sparta - King of Sparta, under whom Sparta gained significant military power.
• Draco - Athenian lawmaker, known for his harsh legal code.
• Pheidon of Argos - King of Argos, traditionally considered a reformer of weights and measures and associated with military innovations.
• Alcman - Lyric poet from Sparta, known for his partheneia, which were choral hymns sung by young girls.
• Aristodemus of Messenia - Hero of the First Messenian War against Sparta.
• Semonides of Amorgos - Lyric poet, known for his satirical and misogynistic poems.
• Terpander - Musician and poet from Lesbos, credited with structuring the format of the ancient Greek ode and improving the Greek lyre.
• Aristeas of Proconnesus - Semi-legendary poet and culture hero, known for his epic journey narratives.
• Tyrtaeus - Spartan poet known for his war songs encouraging Spartan warriors.
• Theagenes of Megara - Tyrant of Megara who improved its fortifications and infrastructure.
• Callinus - One of the earliest known Greek elegiac poets, from Ephesus, known for martial and patriotic themes.
• Arion of Methymna - A semi-legendary musician and poet, credited with inventing the dithyramb (choral hymn).