Do You Know The History of Ancient Greece?

Last updated · 7 min play time

Ancient Greece spread its culture -- government, military, religious, philosophical, and scientific developments -- throughout Eurasia. Its stunning military commanders have become legendary, and its mythology still sparks our imaginations. What do you know about ancient Greece? Find out with our quiz!

This quiz was expert written by Regina Munch. Regina has a master's degree in European history and the history of American foreign policy from Boston College. She loves learning and writing about history because it's never dead – things from the past always have relevance to today, and we're discovering things about the past all the time.


Regina has a master's degree in European history and the history of American foreign policy from Boston College. She loves learning and writing about history because it's never dead – things from the past always have relevance to today, and we're discovering things about the past all the time.

Ancient Greece Quiz Questions

20 Questions · 8.3K Plays · 1 Comment

Question 1

The ancient Greeks worshiped a vast group of gods and goddesses. Which of these is NOT a god in the ancient Greek pantheon?

  • A
    Zoroaster
  • B
    Zeus
  • C
    Athena
  • D
    Aphrodite

Question 2

One of the most famous characters in Greek literature, this character accidentally fulfilled a prophecy that he would kill his father and marry his mother. His story was written by Sophocles.

  • A
    Jonah
  • B
    Oisis
  • C
    Agamemnon
  • D
    Oedipus

Question 3

This famous and influential philosopher was written about by Plato, and used a method of questioning to explore difficult problems. He was condemned and executed in 399 AD. Who was he?

  • A
    Socrates
  • B
    Daedelus
  • C
    Jesus
  • D
    Alexander the Great

Question 4

This man wrote an oath to uphold ethical medical standards, and a version of it still observed by medical professionals today.

  • A
    Sophocles
  • B
    Eumenides
  • C
    Hippocrates
  • D
    Aeschuylus

Question 5

This famous Greek mathematician developed the theorem that a2 + b2 = c2.

  • A
    Pythagoras
  • B
    Archimedes
  • C
    Galen
  • D
    Archibald

Question 6

The most famous work of literature from ancient Greece is the Odyssey, an epic poem telling the story of Odysseus and his men trying to return home from the Trojan War. Who is credited with writing the Odyssey?

  • A
    Paul of Tarsus
  • B
    Homer
  • C
    Virgil
  • D
    Jonah

Question 7

Which of these is NOT one of Greece's islands?

  • A
    Rhodes
  • B
    Crete
  • C
    Lesbos
  • D
    Sicily

Question 8

The Greek mainland was conquered by this newly ascendant civilization in 149 BC and absorbed into their territory.

  • A
    Chinese
  • B
    Arab
  • C
    French
  • D
    Roman

Question 9

At its height, ancient Greece became one of the largest empires in history, stretching from the Mediterranean into Central Asia. This Macedonian king conquered and united the Greek city-states and much of central Asia. Who was he?

  • A
    Alexander the Great
  • B
    Darius
  • C
    Julius Caesar
  • D
    Emperor Theodosius

Question 10

Athens established the first known democracy in history in the 500s and 400s BC, with adult male citizens given the vote. The word "democracy" comes from two Greek words, which together mean what?

  • A
    "Only the best"
  • B
    "Power of people"
  • C
    "Laws of people"
  • D
    "Power of few"

Question 11

This Greek god was the king of the underworld.

  • A
    Heracles
  • B
    Hermes
  • C
    Hades
  • D
    Apollo

Question 12

According to legend, the Trojan War was fought between the Greeks and the Trojans in the 1180s BC. The war began when Paris, a Trojan, stole a Greek general's wife. What was her name?

  • A
    Artemis
  • B
    Helen
  • C
    Veronica
  • D
    Aphrodite

Question 13

Although we talk about ancient Greece as a unified thing, at first it was really a federation of city-states. Which of these was NOT a Greek city-state?

  • A
    Argos
  • B
    Sparta
  • C
    Ur
  • D
    Athens

Question 14

Who we know as Hercules is the Roman adaptation of the Greek divine hero Heracles. He had to endure twelve labors as penance for killing his family. Which of these was NOT one of these labors?

  • A
    Slay the Learnean Hydra
  • B
    Capture Cerberus the dog
  • C
    Deliver the Ark of the Covenant to Antioch
  • D
    Obtain the apples of the Hesperides

Question 15

With the death of Alexander, his enormous empire was split among his generals into smaller provinces, which were often at war with each other. This dynasty took over Egypt, and remained in power for centuries.

  • A
    Caesar
  • B
    Tudor
  • C
    Ptolemy
  • D
    Chinese

Question 16

Greece has poor soil for most agriculture. Some historians think Greece developed its empire in part to control the supply of grain from other regions. But Greece had some vital agricultural industries of its own. Which of these was NOT produced in ancient Greece?

  • A
    Olives
  • B
    Tomatoes
  • C
    Honey
  • D
    Grapes

Question 17

The Greco-Persian Wars were fought in the 400s BC, in which eastern Greek city-states that had been taken over by the Persian empire regained their independence. Which of these movies is about the Battle of Thermopylae?

  • A
    300
  • B
    Gladiator
  • C
    Troy
  • D
    The Passion of the Christ

Question 18

Alexander destroyed this empire in his march east through Central Asia.

  • A
    Roman
  • B
    Persian
  • C
    Babylonian
  • D
    Mergovingian

Question 19

Ancient Greece provided the origins for our modern Olympic Games. The ancient Greek games had much religious significance. Which god were they dedicated to?

  • A
    Dionysius
  • B
    Apollo
  • C
    Zeus
  • D
    Ares

Question 20

Which of these English words does NOT derive from Greek?

  • A
    Physics
  • B
    Daughter
  • C
    Synonym
  • D
    Telephone

Comments (1)

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Good interdisciplinary questions. Enjoyed this one.

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