5 Most Famous Pre-CE/AD people

[abou]

Honestly, although they don't get much coverage now, back in the day people like Pyrrhos or Antiochos III or Seleukos Nikator... these people had a huge impact on the known world. Pyrrhos was a destructive force like no other; Antiochos and Seleukos, despite losing in the end, were at least as influential as someone like Constantine having reigned over their respective territories 20 or 30 years.

Someone like Leonidas? Pft... fuck him. Ruling over Asia for several decades: now there is something worth remembering a person over.

[johnhughthom]

Someone like Leonidas? Pft... fuck him. Ruling over Asia for several decades: now there is something worth remembering a person over.

Indeed, though mention Diadochi, Successor States or Seleukid Empire to most people and all you will get usually is a blank look. What chance is there then of people knowing the leaders? The only ancient history most people know nowadays is whatever the mass media spoon feeds them.

Edit: Oh yeah my five:

Adam
Eve
(Of course they existed...)
Moses
Abraham
Julius Caesar

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Jesus/Yehoshua/Iesus/Yashua does not count.

How about Homer Simpson's friend Jebus?

[abou]

I think part of the problem is that people like quick, short stories of bravery. Leonidas fills that bill - along with the fact that we have a fairly detailed account of his actions. If it can be condensed, it can be memorized. Antiochos III has no quick easy lines to memorize such as, "Come and take them!" or "I came, I saw, I conquered."

At least back in the day, many of the successors were looked on with at least some awe as evidence by the Roman copies of their busts that we have today in many museums. Such a shame that things get glossed over so quickly and easily without care and detail.

[Azathoth]

Adam
Eve
(Of course they existed...)
Moses
Abraham

Tell me another one.

[Alsatia]

Indeed, though mention Diadochi, Successor States or Seleukid Empire to most people and all you will get usually is a blank look. What chance is there then of people knowing the leaders? The only ancient history most people know nowadays is whatever the mass media spoon feeds them.

I've asked many of my friends about the sucessors. Even my macedonian friends have no clue about the sucessors. One of them extravagantly believe that alexander conquered Siberia and China. Even if I mention spartan hoplites, they immediately go crazy, they say "this is Sparta!", and og ahoo ahoo ahoo.

Before EB, I knew little about classical history. I have learned so much moore from EB than a year of history classes.

Tell me another one.

David, Jeremaiah, Samuel, Eliah, Esther.....

The five most famous for the people force fed by the media are (probably):

Alexander
Julius Caesar
Cleopatra
Leonidas
Spartacus

[A Very Super Market]

I think Alexander (And to a smaller degree, Caesar) are justified.

[Azathoth]

One of them extravagantly believe that alexander conquered Siberia and China.

I'm pretty sure he was joking dude.

I chose to interpet this question as the 5 most famous people to someone who lived before 1 CE, and therefore cannot answer it.

[johnhughthom]

I chose to interpet this question as the 5 most famous people to someone who lived before 1 CE, and therefore cannot answer it.

That's easy, your mother, your father, your brother, your sister and that crazy leper down the street.

I think Alexander (And to a smaller degree, Caesar) are justified.

Cyrus would be as justified as Alexander, much more so than Caesar. Let's not start a "he's more justified than him" debate though.

[Irishmafia2020]

1. Moses
2. Siddhartha gautama
3. Alexander
4. Julius Caesar
5. Shi huangdi - (Qin founder, unified china)

EDIT: Actually, Plato might be more famous than Alexander, albeit possibly unfairly...