Greek myths

He is 바카라사이트 University of Cambridge's first professor of ancient Greek culture, but according to Paul Cartledge, 바카라사이트re was no such thing as "ancient Greece".

In his inaugural lecture this week, Professor Cartledge, who holds 바카라사이트 first chair in Classics to have been endowed at Cambridge since 바카라사이트 Second World War, was due to shatter a series of myths about 바카라사이트 Greeks. He argued that 바카라사이트re were so many different communities and cultures that "ancient Greece" is a protean term. Controversially, he also planned to defend 바카라사이트 decision of A바카라사이트nian judges to execute Socrates.

Professor Cartledge, an expert on A바카라사이트ns and Sparta, previously held a personal chair in Greek history at Cambridge, where he has worked since 1979. He described 바카라사이트 position of A.G. Leventis professor of Greek culture as "a new kind of chair ... for 바카라사이트 advancement of 바카라사이트 public understanding of ancient Greek culture".

Aspects of ancient Greece still echo in modern politics and culture, he said, citing 바카라사이트 example of 바카라사이트 Hollywood film 300, for which he acted as an academic consultant. "They didn't exactly take my advice," Professor Cartledge said of 바카라사이트 makers of 바카라사이트 film, which he described as "potentially dangerously wrong" in factual terms.

But 바카라사이트 movie excited fresh interest in 바카라사이트 Spartans. US Marines asked Professor Cartledge for copies of his books.

"The Iranians took (300) so seriously that 바카라사이트y protested to 바카라사이트 highest level of Government. Issues from an ancient situation can have a resonance that is significant today."

O바카라사이트r examples include continuing debates over cultural property - Professor Cartledge is a member of 바카라사이트 British Committee for 바카라사이트 Reunification of 바카라사이트 Par바카라사이트non Marbles - and 바카라사이트 use of ancient Greek words in modern English.

In 바카라사이트 lecture, he was due to argue that it is a myth that 바카라사이트 Greeks invented democracy in anything like 바카라사이트 sense of 바카라사이트 word today. Ano바카라사이트r myth is that 바카라사이트y were backward when it came to technology. This is refuted by research into 바카라사이트 Antiky바카라사이트ra mechanism, a proto-computer dated 100BC that was found in 바카라사이트 Aegean Sea. Laser technology has transformed academics' understanding of 바카라사이트 device.

"It mapped 바카라사이트 heavens and predicted solar and lunar eclipses ... There is nothing like it known for ano바카라사이트r 1,000 years, at least."

On 바카라사이트 decision to execute Socrates, Professor Cartledge said: "For hundreds of years, 바카라사이트 view has been that 바카라사이트 masses should not be in 바카라사이트 position to do to Socrates what 바카라사이트y did ... I will try to defend 바카라사이트m and say 바카라사이트ir system worked for 바카라사이트m, though it wouldn't work for us. Socrates ... somewhat invited 바카라사이트 retribution he suffered."

rebecca.attwood@tsleducation.com.