In the Western civilization as we know it today, the influence of the ancient Greeks and their culture is evident to all. Greek words are used in most European languages and in countless fields, the Olympic Games are organized based on the ancient Greek equivalents, the governance of states is democracy, while institutions that first appeared in ancient Greece are utilized in various ways.

Why, one might wonder, does the influence of a culture that flourished 2,500 years ago continue to be so strong today?

Tony Spawforth attempts to answer this question by focusing on various fields, from religious practices and culture to medicine and the obsession with physical beauty.

Spawforth admires without idealizing, and by thoroughly dissecting ancient Greek culture, he does not hesitate to mention negative aspects, such as the position of women and the existence of slaves, while also addressing the various distorted interpretations of ancient Greek culture.

“A captivating journey through our ancient Greek heritage, a valid and inspiring book!” - Roderick Beaton

“Fascinating! Spawforth, keen in his judgments, writes in an enjoyable manner for the reader [...] without shying away from addressing the less glorious aspects of ancient Greek culture.” - Robin Waterfield

“Well written and concise, as befits the inexhaustibly captivating subject.” - Paul Cartledge

The subject and theme of this book is to what extent and in what ways ancient Greece is present today in our society and culture. In other words, in how we speak and write, how we entertain ourselves, how we engage in public life, but also in fields such as medicine, religion, and sports; in how our sexual identity is defined, how we pursue self-actualization, what our ideals are for beauty. What follows is, in short, a contribution to realizing the remarkable extent of ancient Greek influences and impacts on our daily lives.” - T.S.