Achilles: greatest Greek hero in the war against Troy

acropolis: high fortified area that served as the defensive and ritual center of Greek cities such as Athens

alabastron: an oil jar traditionally made by the Egyptians of the stone alabaster; it was later made by the Greeks in baked clay

Alexander the Great 356-323 B.C.; king of Macedonia and military conqueror

Alkmene: mortal mother of the hero Herakles

Amarna: modern name for the Egyptian city site founded by the pharaoh Akhenaten

Amazons: legendary clan of warrior women who lived north of the Black Sea

Amphitrite: sea deity and wife of the Greek god Poseidon (known as Neptune to the Romans), god of the sea

amphora: jar with two handles used to store wine, oil, and other commodities; it usually had a lid