The legacy of the Greeks

Although the Greeks were conquered by the Romans, there are many influences from Greece which can still be found in our lives today.

Look around at some of the buildings in your town or city. You will be sure to see some which have been built in the style of Greek architecture, with columns and capitals. There are still ruins of Greek buildings in Greece, which have survived for nearly 2,500 years, although pollution from our way of life is beginning to damage them.

Think about how our country is governed. We have a form of democracy in Britain, and this is a legacy of the Athenians and their assemblies and councils. Many other countries have a form of democracy based on Greek ideas.

The Greek love of theatre has influenced many people. Remember the area where the audience sits in our theatres is called an auditorium, and the group of people who play instruments is called the orchestra. The shape of the Greek theatre meant that everyone could see and hear, and the shape has been used in many of our theatres and concert halls today.

There are many Greek plays which are still performed. Perhaps you will see one one day.

The stories of Greek mythology have been passed down through the ages, and many famous sculptors and painters have used the Greek myths to give them inspiration. Watch out for books of Greek myths, and look out for films made of the stories. Look up at the stars in the sky and you will find that many of the constellations have been named after characters in Greek myths.

The Greek philosophers discovered many facts and ideas which still hold true today. Many theorems in mathematics were discovered in Greek times. The idea that Greek doctors always do what's best for the patient is still important today, and new doctors still have to take the Hippocratic oath. Many scientific ideas were first discovered in Greek times, and the alphabet we use was based on the Greek alphabet.