#just essentially coming wholly formed out of the place of greece itself. but idk i don't have enough expertise to really develop this one
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not an uncommon idea to come across but I'm so fascinated by how much about this view of ancient history/culture/myth tradition is unintentionally & straightforwardly revealed by the phrase "and therefore the origin" here -- not just the assumption that these things exist in a strictly linear progression ("greece" exists then "rome" exists) where "greece" and "rome" are the only players (where does pre roman italy fit into this worldview? what room is there here for the influence of ancient north africa and west asia on greece? these places are effectively erased off the map), but the idea of greece as an "origin" of "art and mythology", that in greece it somehow developed whole cloth & completely undiluted by the sort of "cultural borrowing" they perceive the romans are doing. I always find this sort of view of greece as contextless & devoid of movement and trade until it comes time to pass the things they've apparently independently invented on to rome (or have it stolen as some would see it) frustrating, as well as the view of rome as a sort of copy pasted greece with no other influence or separate or preexisting traditions, really frustrating & honestly occasionally kind of sinister tbh
#some connection im my mind tbh btw the athenian obsession w autochthony & the way modern people see mythology civilization philosophy etc as#just essentially coming wholly formed out of the place of greece itself. but idk i don't have enough expertise to really develop this one#thoughts#sorry for essentially making this same post for the millionth time also it's just that everyday i see new people expressing this assumption
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