Top 10 Creepiest Mysteries From Ancient Greece

Welcome to WatchMojo, today were going back to the era of classical antiquity, where well be discussing spooky mysteries the Ancient Greeks left for historians to solve.

#10: What Killed Alexander the Great?

The ancient king of Macedon became one of the most famous humans in history and one of the most successful conquerors ever. He did all this before the age of 32, when he died under suspicious circumstances. No one has any real concrete idea about how he died, but two separate versions of Alexanders death in Babylon exist, both slightly different. Both agree that he got ill after some partying, and then died a few days later. Macedonians had some pretty bloody tendencies, so theres a high chance he was poisoned by his enemies. Not everyone subscribes to this theory, with some instead thinking it was simply natural causes.

#9: Art & Architecture of the Parthenon

The Parthenon has sat for more than 2,500 years, towering atop the Acropolis of Athens. We know it used to be a temple to Athena, but this is one of the few concrete facts we have about the building. Some think it may also have been a treasury or a political symbol. One of its biggest mysteries is the temples two inner chambers, which have puzzled historians who cant figure out their purpose. It was also built ridiculously fast, being completed in less than 15 years. Its architects, Ictinos and Callicrates, are also elusive figures. Their mathematical mastery is shown in their structures, implying they were philosophers, but thats about all we know of them.

#8: The Creators of the Two Constitutions of the Athenians

Two works both known as the Constitution of the Athenians exist, one attributed to Xenophon and another to Aristotle. Well, thats who people say wrote them anyway. Both discuss the organization and society of ancient Athens. Scholars call the first documents author the Old Oligarch, after Xenophons involvement was disputed. What some consider its highly sarcastic tone causes debate over whether it was satire or not. The second document is attributed to Aristotle, but this is similarly debated. It couldve been a team effort, or written by one of his students, or maybe even a compilation of his notes. It was lost for centuries, found in Egypt in 1890, on a piece of papyrus, making us wonder if similar documents are to be found.

#7: Eleusinian Mysteries

Every year, the cult of Demeter and Persephone held secret religious ceremonies in ancient Elefsina. The specifics of these ceremonies were a closely guarded secret, and as such they have baffled historians for centuries. If initiates revealed the secrets, the penalty was death. This means not a single ancient source exists that broke this rule, as they were all terrified of capital punishment. Writers do talk about their importance though, leading scholars to come up with a handful of theories. For instance, they drank a special potion called kykeon, which has been theorized to contain hallucinogenic substances. Despite thousands of people getting initiated, with such little physical evidence, were left to simply scratch our heads and wonder.

#6: The Life of Thespis

The Inventor of Tragedy is widely regarded as the founding father of acting. Legends claim he was the first person to act as a character in front of an audience. Not just one, but multiple, all himself but with different masks. This bold new style of entertainment would later become known as a tragedy. Alongside this, he supposedly toured across the Greek world, being the first touring artist, long before The Beatles. Unfortunately, zero contemporary sources of him seem to exist. Additionally, none of his plays or scripts survive, with the few titles attributed to him being considered later inventions. Thus, scholars are uncertain if he existed, or if he is entirely imaginary.

#5: How Did the Pythia Make Predictions?

The Temple of Apollo resided in Delphi, and at its head was the high priestess, or the Pythia, also known as the Oracle of Delphi. She was famous for making cryptic prophecies, but no one had any idea how she did it. Some scholars believe she delivered them intelligibly, talking in her natural voice. Others claim she entered a frenzy, talking in poetic riddles. Not a single detailed account of the process has been discovered, so we have no confirmation. One theory based on geology says natural gases rose from a chasm beneath the temple. These sweet-smelling vapors could have caused a trance-like state, but not everyone agrees, so were left to simply guess.

#4: The Minotaur Labyrinth

One of Greek mythologys most famous creatures is undeniably the Minotaur. With the body of a man, but the head of a bull, he lived deep in the elaborate mazes of the Labyrinth. Eventually, Theseus managed to slay the demon, but not before it claimed tons of sacrifices. No one has any clue if the labyrinth ever existed, or if it was simply a fabrication. Its generally said to have been on Crete, but no such site has been found. As such, some scholars think it was simply metaphorical, a representation of the subconscious mind or being trapped in a foreign land.

#3: The Destruction of the Statue of Zeus

Zeus was the Greek pantheons big cheese, and as such he deserved a grand statue in Olympia. It was considered one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, built in about 435 BCE, then destroyed centuries later by the end of 6th century CE, perhaps earlier. Two stories exist about how it met its demise. First comes from a medieval Roman historian Georgios Kedrenos, who says it was relocated to Constantinople, then perished in a fire in 475 CE. The second story says it was destroyed in its original home by 425 CE. Well likely never know where it ended up, unless archaeologists amazingly dig it up somewhere.

#2: The Mycenaean Civilizations End

The first mainland Greek civilization in human history was the Mycenaeans, developing during the Bronze Age, and then gradually declining after over 700 years of history. Despite their lengthy existence, we have little understanding of their decline. Within a few decades, their major centers of trade collapsed, with no record of who or what destroyed them. All we have are ruins and vague clues, causing scholars to propose several causes. None explain everything, but examples of proposed causes include an invasion, natural disasters, or an internal collapse. The most likely explanation is that it was a complex cascade of events, rather than just one specific thing.

#1: The Greek Dark Ages

So after the Mycenaeans fell, the Greek Dark Ages began, spanning almost 4 centuries. Its a blank spot between two vibrant civilizations, with historians still trying to figure out what happened. Writing experienced a massive decline, which means we have virtually no sources from the period. Towns shrunk, some vanishing entirely, monumental buildings disappeared, and art declined massively. By 800 BCE, Greece started to bounce back, so we know the people endured, just not their culture. Theres no evidence of kings, empires, battles, or organized states, a massive contrast to the vibrant Greece of antiquity.

Which mystery would you like to see solved the most? Let us know in the comments section!