Ancient Greco-Roman Relations and the Adoption of Greek Culture by the Roman World

Abstract

The Ancient Roman and Greek cultures display extensive overlap, a phenomenon rooted in Rome’s engagement with and eventual conquest of the Greek-speaking world. This article reviews Roman perceptions of the Greeks and examines how those perceptions shaped the systemic incorporation of Greek cultural forms into Roman society. Concentrating on the period from the late third century BCE through the Roman conquest of Greece in 146 BCE, the review traces the transition from battle to hostility to cultural appropriation. During the era of conflict and war, Roman representations of the Greeks were usually marked by social and political anxiety and animosity; however, after the conquest, Romans maintained narratives of moral and political superiority while increasingly appropriating Greek traditions. Synthesizing research on art, architecture, education, science, literature, philosophy, mythology, and religion, this article argues that Greek culture operated as a dominant and resilient force, even under Roman rule. This review contends that Greco-Roman relations exemplify an early and extremely influential case of cultural appropriation in which the culture of the conquered not only endured but became foundational to the identity of the conqueror, standing in direct contrast to the typical patterns of cultural loss following domination.