This Week: Athens asserts power

Posted by Robin Fowler Sep 10, 2006

September 12, 490 B.C. - Athens soundly defeats the Persian army at the Battle of Marathon, deflating King Darius' attempts at capturing Greece for his empire.

September 13, 509 B.C. - The Temple of Jupiter (king of the Roman gods), located on the Capitoline Hill of Rome, is dedicated on this date. The Capitoline Hill was the highest of Rome's 7 hills.

September 13, 122 - Construction of Roman Emperor Hadrian's massive fortification wall begins. The wall was constructed of stone, and spanned Great Britain in order to define Rome's borders, and to prevent raids by the Scottish tribes and other barbarians.

September 13, 81 - Roman Emperor Titus died on this date of a fever, more than likely malaria. Titus was a popular emperor, who saw that the Colosseum was completed, and whose relief efforts following the devastating eruption of Mt. Vesuvius and a massive fire in Rome in 80 were hailed.

September 14 - The first day of the Eleusinian Mysteries occurred on this date in Ancient Greece. These were initiation rites for the cult of Demeter (the goddess of the harvest) and her daughter Persephone. They were based in the Greek city of Eleusis, lasting for 9 days.

Septmber 16, 96 - Roman Emperor Domitian died on this date from a stabbing. He was reviled as a cruel and unstable emperor, and was generally considered to be "mad". He was murdered as part of a plot by the Roman Senate.