Journey back to the cradle of Western civilisation. From democratic experiments and monumental temples to enduring myths and philosophical inquiry, Ancient Greece laid the foundations for much of the modern world.
Classical Greek culture inspired ancient Rome and laid the foundations for much of modern Western civilisation. From political ideals and artistic achievements to philosophical inquiry and scientific discovery, the legacy of Ancient Greece continues to shape our world.
The word “democracy” comes from the Greek words for people (demos) and rule (kratos). Athens established one of the world’s earliest democracies in the 5th century B.C., where male citizens participated directly in the assembly and a council of 500 citizens chosen by lot proposed laws for the city-state.
Ancient Greek art embraced balance, harmony and proportion. Marble temples like the Parthenon honoured the gods, while sculptors created idealised figures that captured both physical perfection and the beauty of the human spirit.
Epic poems such as Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey and tragedies by playwrights like Aeschylus and Sophocles introduced timeless stories of gods, heroes and human nature. Myths explained natural phenomena and taught moral lessons that still resonate today.
Thinkers such as Socrates, Plato and Aristotle questioned the nature of existence, ethics and knowledge. Their ideas laid the groundwork for disciplines ranging from logic and politics to biology and physics.