A pleasant, accessible exploration of the legacy of ancient Greece today, in all its manifestations in our daily lives and popular culture. Our modern world is inseparably Greek. Whether in a word like “pandemic”, a Freudian situation like “Oedipus”, or a representation of the Parthenon in a theme park in China, ancient Greek culture shapes the dimensions of our lives.

From the first Roman imitation, we continually succumb to the allure of the Greeks. But how does ancient Greece extend its influence so far? And how has this influence changed us? Tony Spawforth explores our classical heritage, wherever we encounter it. He reveals its inheritance in everything from religion to popular culture, and uncovers the darker side of Greek influence from the Nazis' obsession with the "racial purity" of the Spartans to the elitism of classical education.

Focusing on the vast scale and variety of Greek influence, this book paints an essential portrait of the living legacy of the ancient world, examining to whom and why it matters.