Historical figures of the Ancient World
The atlas holds 93 people and 1,191 moments here, from 2566 BC to 476. The most recorded lives are Constantine the Great, Cicero and Alexander the Great. Among them Writers, Philosophers and Political Leaders.
Notable people
Roxana
from 327 BC to 310 BC
8 moments here
Bactrian or Sogdian princess, daughter of Oxyartes, who married Alexander the Great in 327 BC.…
Saint Nicholas
from 270 to 343
5 moments here
Early Christian bishop traditionally identified as Nicholas of Myra. The surviving biographical tradition is substantially later than his lifetime,…
Saint Peter
from 1 BC to 64
7 moments here
Simon Peter, also called Cephas, was a Galilean fisherman and leading figure among Jesus’ disciples and the early Jerusalem movement.…
Sappho
in 600 BC
2 moments here
Archaic Greek lyric poet from Lesbos, active from the late seventh into the early sixth century BC.…
Seneca the Younger
from 5 to 65
9 moments here
Lucius Annaeus Seneca, commonly called Seneca the Younger, was a Roman Stoic philosopher, writer, and statesman.…
Sima Qian
from 145 BC to 110 BC
9 moments here
Chinese historian of the early Han dynasty and author of the Shiji (Records of the Grand Historian).…
Socrates
from 469 BC to 399 BC
8 moments here
Classical Athenian philosopher known chiefly through Plato, Xenophon, Aristophanes, and later ancient testimony.…
Sophocles
from 480 BC to 406 BC
5 moments here
Ancient Athenian tragic playwright, probably born at Colonus in Attica and active chiefly in Athens.…
Strabo
from 64 BC to 7 BC
13 moments here
Greek geographer and historian from Amaseia in Pontus. The dates are approximate: ancient and modern sources give his birth as 64 or 63 BC and his…
Suetonius
in 69
1 moment here
Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus was a Roman biographer and imperial official, author of The Twelve Caesars.…
Sun Tzu
from 544 BC to 496 BC
2 moments here
Sun Tzu (traditionally Sun Wu) was a Chinese military strategist traditionally placed in the late Spring and Autumn period.…
Tacitus
from 88 to 112
5 moments here
Publius Cornelius Tacitus was a Roman historian, senator, orator, and provincial governor. His birth date and place are uncertain; he was probably…
Terence
in 159 BC
2 moments here
Publius Terentius Afer, known as Terence, was a Roman comic playwright whose six surviving comedies were produced between 166 and 160 BC.…
Tertullian
from 155 to 212
3 moments here
Quintus Septimius Florens Tertullianus was an early Christian Latin author associated securely with Carthage in Roman Africa.…
Thales of Miletus
in 547 BC
1 moment here
Ancient Greek philosopher, mathematician, and engineer from Miletus. The surviving biographical record is sparse and much later than his lifetime;…
The Buddha
from 563 BC to 483 BC
18 moments here
Siddhartha Gautama, known as the Buddha, was a wandering ascetic and teacher who founded Buddhism in the eastern Indo-Gangetic Plain.…
Thutmose III
from 1457 BC to 1430 BC
12 moments here
Eighteenth-Dynasty Egyptian pharaoh, traditionally dated to c. 1485–1425 BC. After becoming sole ruler around 1458 BC, he led campaigns through…
Tutankhamun
from 1330 BC to 1323 BC
3 moments here
Tutankhamun (originally Tutankhaten) was an Eighteenth-Dynasty Egyptian pharaoh whose short reign conventionally dates to c. 1332–1323 BC.…
Virgil
from 55 BC to 19 BC
15 moments here
Publius Vergilius Maro, known as Virgil, was a Roman poet of the Augustan age and the author of the Eclogues, Georgics, and Aeneid.…
Xunzi
from 283 BC to 238 BC
3 moments here
Xunzi (Xun Kuang; c. 310 BCE–after 238 BCE) was a Confucian philosopher of China’s Warring States period.…
Zhuang Zhou
in 369 BC
1 moment here
Chinese philosopher traditionally known as Zhuangzi. The surviving biographical record is exceptionally sparse and uncertain: accounts derive chiefly…
Moments
- 399 BC Attends Socrates’ trial Plato
- 399 BC Appears at the Royal Stoa Socrates
- 399 BC Defends himself at trial Socrates
- 399 BC Spends his final day in the state prison Socrates
- 396 BC Studies with Euclid in Megara Plato
- 394 BC Returns to Athens Plato
- 394 BC Studies in the grove of Hecademus Plato
- 387 BC First visit to Syracuse Plato
- 387 BC Taken to Aegina and offered for sale Plato
- 387 BC Travels through southern Italy Plato
- 387 BC Visits the craters of Etna Plato
- 384 BC Born at Stagira Aristotle
- 383 BC Establishes the Academy Plato
- 382 BC Birth at Pella Philip II of Macedon
- 371 BC Birth in Zou Mencius
- 369 BC Birth at Meng Zhuang Zhou
- 367 BC Studies at Plato’s Academy Aristotle
- 366 BC Accompanies Chabrias up the Acropolis Plato
- 366 BC Confined in the Syracusan acropolis Plato
- 366 BC Returns to tutor Dionysius II Plato
- 365 BC Reunites with Dion at the Academy Plato
- 361 BC Begins third Syracuse mission Plato
- 360 BC Removed to soldiers’ quarters Plato
- 360 BC Returns permanently to Athens Plato
- 358 BC Campaign in Paionia Philip II of Macedon
- 358 BC Illyrian campaign and battle near Monastir Philip II of Macedon
- 357 BC Capture of Pydna Philip II of Macedon
- 357 BC Siege of Amphipolis Philip II of Macedon
- 356 BC Born at Pella Alexander the Great
- 356 BC Capture of Krinides and foundation of Philippi Philip II of Macedon
- 356 BC Siege and capture of Potidaea Philip II of Macedon
- 355 BC Attack on Abdera Philip II of Macedon
- 355 BC Meeting and campaign at Maroneia Philip II of Macedon
- 354 BC Siege of Methone Philip II of Macedon
- 352 BC Victory at Crocus Field Philip II of Macedon
- 348 BC Capture of Olynthus Philip II of Macedon
- 348 BC Olympic celebration at Dion Philip II of Macedon
- 347 BC Moves to Assos Aristotle
- 347 BC Dies and is buried at the Academy Plato
- 345 BC Settles in Mytilene Aristotle
- 345 BC Campaign against the Illyrians Philip II of Macedon
- 343 BC Studied at Mieza Alexander the Great
- 343 BC Teaches Alexander at Mieza Aristotle
- 343 BC Travels to the Macedonian court at Pella Aristotle
- 342 BC Campaign in Cassopaea Philip II of Macedon
- 342 BC Thracian expedition and Philippopolis Philip II of Macedon
- 341 BC Birth on Samos Epicurus
- 340 BC Siege of Byzantion Philip II of Macedon
- 340 BC Siege of Perinthos Philip II of Macedon
- 339 BC Arrival at Elatea Philip II of Macedon