Storyteller. His fable "The Tortoise and The Hare" taught that modesty, patience, hard-work, and perseverance will outlast the contrary qualities and ultimately triumph. Other fables taught similar lessons.
King of Israel. His marriage to the Phoenician princess Jezebel and abandonment of monotheism incurred the wrath of the prophet Elijah and led to his eventual downfall.
Poet. He celebrated both physical love and wine.
Old Testament prophet. He expressed the value of monotheism, of obedience to God's Laws, and of the right to speak out against the transgressions of the powerful.
Archaic Greek Pre-Socratic philosopher
King of Assyria. The kings of Assyria were noted for their ruthlessness and cruelty, and several were assassinated. Assurbanipal, however, also promoted the arts and brought together texts for the first great ancient near-eastern library that we know of.
Political leader. He was the founder of the Roman republic.
Citizen soldier. An exemplar of courage, he stood alone on a bridge facing an entire Etruscan army until the city gates could be closed.
King. A symbol of wealth, he overreached and fell.
King. He founded the Persian Empire. When King Croesus attacked him, he defeated him, but magnanimously spared his life and permitted him to live in comfort. As part of his policy of religious tolerance, he also ended the Babylonian captivity of the Jews and allowed them to reestablish their religion in Jerusalem.
King of Israel. In his battle with the Jewish giant Goliath, he exemplified youthful daring and courage. In his lust for the beautiful married woman, Bathsheba, he exemplified human weakness.
Athenian archon. His Athenian laws were so severe they inspired the term "draconian."
Political figure. With Aristogeiton, he killed the brother of the local tyrant Hippias and won fame as a freedom fighter.
Poet. Legendary author of The Iliad and The Odyssey, which appear to have been oral poems handed down and modified by many generations of performers. The values represented are simple and bold. Competition is everything. Winning is everything. The prizes are mainly material. Strength and skill are important, but so are strategy and sometimes guile. We see these same values exemplified today in professional sports.