Were ancient Romans....Hellenized ?

[akritas]

Greeks through the uniting of their city-states by the Greek Hegemon Phillip II, initially bore some resemblance to the militarism of their western counterparts—especially, after Phillip son, Alexander the Great, conquered the vast regions of the east. However, from Greece commencement, she was enthralled with her own cultural sophistication:

Learning, philosophy, science, the arts, etc. Now, here were a people with some class!

Ancient Rome, very early (800 BC), came under Greek influence—especially, when Greek colonies were set up in southern Italy and SicilLlikewise, the Hellenized Etruscans in the north, and in Naples and Sicily in the south, virtually surrounding Rome with the culture of the Greeks. A somewhat strange ambivalence of all things Greek initiated the engagement—yet, once the Roman’s got used to it, they became utterly enamored with this “superior civilization� with its literature, arts, sophistication, entertainment, gods and her general pleasures of life.

While Roman legions marched in conquest throughout Greece, there was a Greek “invasion� of Italy, consisting of the Greek literature, myths, paintings, and sculptures that the Romans brought back. These imports fired the interest of Rome’s upper crust in things Greek, but some old-fashioned Romans, notably Cato the Elder, reacted strongly against this onslaught of Greek art, literature, drama—and the un-Roman ideals that came with them.

The first author in history that write in the Latin language was the Greek Livius Andronikus. In the 3rd cen B.C. he translated Homer in order to use him as a textbook to teach Latin and Greek to his Roman students. He also translated other works from Greek and wrote the first Roman theatrical works and poems. Thus from the very beginning the tradition was established whereby educated Romans learned Greek as the prototype of Roman letters. Thus rooted, bilinguality never ceased directing the evolution of the Hellenic Civilization of the Romans.

Cato as I said the famed Roman Senator (234-149 BC) launched an “anti-Hellenic movement,� but it failed—eventually, every branch of Roman learning;philosophy, oratory, science, art, religion, morals, manners, and dress succumbed to Greek manners and customs.

Horace said

Graecia capta ferum victorem cepit et artes intulit agresti Latio

Captive Greece captured her fierce captor and brought the arts into uncultured Latium

What is your Opinion ?

[Tsontos]

Otherwise said as "Hellenism conquored the conquoring Romans". nice post akrita

[Ehetlaios]

Conquered we conquer?

Isws.

[Istor]

No!

They were just attracted by Greekness.

Hellenized > become hellene > been hellene > been undistingishable from hellenes.

Language is the main ethnic indicator.

[Orphic_Hymn]

Huge influence even prior to 1000BC can be found throughout S.Italy in several Mycenean colonies and through the reference of the Sabines as Hellenic peoples which originated from Peloponessos.

If Hellenization can be traced through the use of language as Istor suggested, then could we speak of a partial Hellenization during the early stages of Rome's existance since their very first historic annals were written not in Latin but in Hellenic??

[Euklid]

I would like to add that when the Holy Roman empire fell to the Goths in the 3rd-4th centuries a.d.. Constantine moved the Empire seat in Constantinopole, there the Romans ethnically disappeared after some centuries with the advent of Hellenic as the official language of the State. And the distinction between West and East is invalid, because the Western Empire was never ratifiet by the Ecumenical Councils and hence their illegitimacy.

The Romans, became Greeks ethnically in Byzantium, and the Greeks became Romans politically and yes politically we are still the Romioi for the Holy Roman Empire never fell completely.

And lets forget that the Latins are children of Odysseas and the witch Circe.

[Istor]

since their very first historic annals were written not in Latin but in Hellenic??

If this is true, yes

And lets forget that the Latins are children of Odysseas and the witch Circe.

Blood and DNA are not related to ethnicity, at least within a race(color).

[Ehetlaios]

Originally Posted by Euklid

I would like to add that when the Holy Roman empire fell to the Goths in the 3rd-4th centuries a.d.. Constantine moved the Empire seat in Constantinopole, there the Romans ethnically disappeared after some centuries with the advent of Hellenic as the official language of the State. And the distinction between West and East is invalid, because the Western Empire was never ratifiet by the Ecumenical Councils and hence their illegitimacy.

The Romans, became Greeks ethnically in Byzantium, and the Greeks became Romans politically and yes politically we are still the Romioi for the Holy Roman Empire never fell completely.

And lets forget that the Latins are children of Odysseas and the witch Circe.

Welcome back mastora.

Entaksei, oi diafwnies mou einai gnwstes, den tha tis ksanapw gia alli mia fora.

[Komitadji]

Originally Posted by akritas

What is your Opinion ?

Well yes ofcourse, all of the Roman gods are a copy of Greek gods. the hyerarchy is the same, just the names are changed. Also architecture, poetry, vestments, and c.t.r.

[olvios]

http://www.macedoniaontheweb.com/for...947-951-a.html