Is it Useful to Learn and Speak Greek Nowadays?

Today, other people think that Greek is useless and never be useful in our modern age and for a few it seems impractical to learn Greek. However, if you are fascinated by the beauty and extensive culture of Greek, or maybe you’ll be mastering some courses, Biblical history, then Greek language is perfect for you.

Is it useful to learn and speak Greek nowadays? The answer is yes. Nowadays, it is very useful to learn Greek, because the Greeks were the greatest scientists, inventors, Philosophers that are still relevant today.

We learn Greek basically to read and study ancient texts written originally. You will be learning the grammar structure and syntax through oral and written examinations. We study the Greek in order to have a better idea of what the languages of ancient Greek pronounce like.

The objective is to learn ample grammar and vocabulary to be effective in reading ancient Greek literature: poetry, prose, the Bible and so forth.

Another reason, Greek has influenced -most western languages, including English, French, Spanish and Italian. With Greek you will be able to understand some terms, phrases since History began in Greece.

Greek also, plays a great part in Biology, Literature, History, Medicine and Law as well. If you have the willingness to take the course in law or medicine, you will benefit tremendously from the vocabulary construction in the ancient Greek classes.

Apart from that, there are hundreds of borrowed words from Greek into English. In truth, around 60% of all English words and 90% of technical and scientific terms were gotten from Greek.

If you are an English speaker and you are willing to learn Greek, on this aspect you will have the edge.

How useful is Greek today?

Since before, Greek is very useful in different forms. Others don’t realize that Greek is part in our everyday lives. Here are a few of the factors that Greek language is very useful.

  • Without Greek language, there’s no Greek translation made from the Biblical Hebrew, which became the written language of the Old Testament and the core of the Biblical canon in the Catholic Church today.
  • Greek Mythology has been very influential in Western Culture involving art and literature. There are usual English expressions come from Greek myths and beliefs which are used today.
  • .The Greek, Phoenician Script was very significant because it is the foundation of many writing systems of Latin, Gothic, Cyrillic, Coptic and other.
  • A large percentage of scientific words derived from Greek language which are functional in Astronomy, Biology and Astrology studies until today.
  • .Words that start with ‘ph’ have generally come from Greek, such as philosophy, physics, photography, prose, philanthropy and so much more.
  • Greek morphemes are parts of words rooting from the Greek language and are used in English. To mention a few; ‘And’ (Android), ‘Arch’ (Archaeology), ‘Biblio’ (Bibliography), ‘Chron ‘(Chronological) and so forth.
  • Since before, the Greek alphabet is useful for technical characterization and labels in various domains of science mathematics and other fields.
  • In fact, there are many amount of words, prefixes and suffixes owed from Greek into English and were classified into different classes.

What are the Influences and Contributions of Greek in Civilization Today?

The civilization of Greece was progressive over hundreds of years, and is extensively considered to be the pillar of modern Western culture. They are the reason why numerous advancements, of the world’s first steps into language, politics, education and the sciences,

Aside from all the significance of Greek influential elements of Western civilization, ancient thinkers and architects placed the theoretical foundations in different fields of education which are very useful today.

Whether it will be science, mathematics, biology, engineering, medicine, arts, music or architecture- the Greek built several standards of value in which the society benefits it all.

Enlisted here the Greek inventions and discoveries that gave in-measurable effects on Western culture and society.

  1. The Library of Alexandria

The library of Alexandria was the first library built in Egypt, however Egypt was under the power of Greek and the library was handed to Alexander’s governance.

Ptolemy a General officer under Alexander governance ordered people to declare and submit any inventions of science or philosophy at the library to be recorded. Many great discoveries took place in the library one of the discoveries was the Eratosthenes works.

  1. Mathematics and Science

Greece was the birthplace of many great mathematicians and famous scientists namely;

Eratosthenes– the mathematician who calculated the circumference of the Earth, the tilt of the Earth’s axis, and. became the chief librarian of the Library of Alexandria.

Aristarchus– the astronomer and mathematician who first to create a model with a sun around the Earth, revolving around it.

Archimedes– is the greatest mathematician of all time. He predicts modern calculus, geometry theorems, and calculate the area geometric shapes, containing the circle and sphere. Archimedes come up with an exact approximation of pi and successful levers and pulleys.

Hipparchus– is generally known as the greatest astronomer. He created the first models depicting the movement of the sun and the moon, and the first to predict solar eclipses.

Thales-distinguished as the first of the seven wise men of Greece. Thales earliest mathematics theorems and Intercept theorem were his contribution in the field of Mathematics.

  • Democracy

The world’s first democracy created by the ancient Greeks.

Athens began with a monarchy and then proceeded to an oligarchy until it finally became a democracy.

The assembly composed of 6,000 people male and female voted on issues all over Athens. In order for a law to advance, the amount of votes should be a majority. In order to exile someone, all 6,000 votes were needed.

  • The Alphabet

Comes from the origin Phoenician alphabet. The Greek alphabet was the first alphabet, featuring different letters for vowels and consonants. Originating from the first 2 letters of the Greek alphabet, which are “alpha and beta.”

Nowadays, many letters of our alphabet derived from the Greek alphabet, including letters A, B, E, and O.

  1. The Olympic Games

The Olympics Games started in the City of Olympia in Greece. In ancient Olympic, the games were held every four years and the award were fame and glory. Society today, still celebrate the Olympic Games and admired some of the old traditions- the olive leaf crowns, the lighting of the torch, and the opening and closing program.

The symbol of the rings, were designed by Baron Pierre de Coubertin in 1912. The colors of the rings with the white background representing the five participating continents: Africa, Asia, America, Oceania and Europe.

Another symbol is the flame. The historical torch relay and lighting of the Olympic flame originated in the Berlin Games in 1936. The purpose came from Greece, where a holy fire was kept burning for the celebration on the altar of the sanctuary of Hestia.

  1. Architecture

The first example of Greek architecture is the pillar which was named the Parthenon in Athens. The Parthenon, is a huge building with pillars. Nowadays, pillars are utilized in most public buildings. The Parthenon and the Erechtheum are two examples of their great structures.

  1. The Lighthouse

The first lighthouse in the world was erected in Greek govern by the Egyptian kingdom of Alexandria. The construction was called the Lighthouse of Alexandria much taller than the Statue of Liberty.

  1. System of Medicine

The practice of medicine had been implemented in Babylon, China, India and Egypt, while the Greeks were the first to design a standardized system of medicine involving medical diagnosis, prognosis, and medical ethics. These ancient achievements in medicine were entirely instituted by Hippocrates, who is the “father of medicine.”

Hippocrates was the first medical professional who classifies diseases as acute, chronic, endemic, and epidemic. He instituted terms such as exacerbation, relapse, resolution, crisis, paroxysm, peak and convalescence.

  1. Trial by Jury

The democratic people of Athens in Greece, were the first to used trial by jury as what we have today in the government. Jurors were needed to be male citizens of Athens, and the mechanism of the court was instituted by the name of “dikastaí” that no person was able to choose jurors for their own trial.

  1. The Theatre

One of the ancient Greeks’ most obvious contributions today is the theatre. The first western theatre started in Athens, the setting was a semi-circular design cut into a hillside and has the capacity of seating 10,000 to 20,000 audiences.

Today, the united States use a democratic system where people voted or appoint a person to be a leader or the decision maker in the state. But, in Greece governance people has the power to make decisions through the majority of citizens’ votes.

  1. Mythology

Most people today still engage to read Greek myths. The Greeks used these myths to demonstrate things that science couldn’t show, but in the modern world, we enjoy the Greek myths for entertainment reason.

Greek mythology has permeate each form of well-known culture imaginable. Most of the Greek myths have been conformed into modern novels, movies, TV shows, etc.

Related Questions:

Why Is Greek Mythology still taught today?

Greek Mythology is entirely taught today in the School not only as part of the literature curriculum, but it is commonly the aspect of history lessons.

You might wonder why the world is still fascinated by ancient Greek myths today when they are none existent but stories. There are Greek-themed movies and literature today still viewed.

Closely, all of the knowledge we take for granted today was first gained by the ancient Greeks. For that you’ll come to realize that Greek myths are part of our daily life never being forgotten, today and to the next generation.

With those who conclude that the ancient Greek mythology aren’t important you are wrong. These stories were written hundreds of years ago, or thousands of years, but it has the importance of being remembered as they are written by great men. Well, they are part of our civilization, forming generation into modern thinking.

What are the Greek Discoveries and Inventions that are Used Today?

Early Greece is outstanding with many inventions and discoveries, in spite of the fact that several of these have been expanded and adapted by many generations. The discoveries in the field of astronomy, geography, and mathematics made excellent in the field of science.

  • Perachora Wheel/Watermill

The watermill was an invention in the third century BC in Greece known as “Perachora wheel” and have been used all over the corner of the world. It served as a metal shaping, and most especially milling.

Since the first launch of its invention the water mill undergone a numerous adaptations, which used for milling different raw materials. The invention popularly used in many parts of the world and provide a similar function.

  • The Odometer

The odometer was entirely used in the late Hellenistic period and by the Romans for designating the distance travelled by a vehicle. Around 27 BC the odometer first described by Vitruvius as being used for measuring distance.

The instrument was largely used in the modern day as an indicator for measuring the speed or the distance travelled by a bicycle. The modern innovation today launch a digital version of this odometer which are used in auto-cars and other vehicles by land and sea.

  • Cartography

Cartography made a great role in navigation and travel.

Anaximander born between 611 and 610 BC, was the first pioneer cartographers who drew the map of the world a significant contribution to the science of astronomy and geography.

  • Geometry

Geometry is one of the oldest branches of mathematics, older than arithmetic itself. It required the use of different geometric techniques before it was recorded in the history.

From the Babylonians, Egyptians and Indus, Geometry were changed. The Greeks persisted that geometric facts must be constructed by deductive reasoning, to which it is done today.

Thales of Miletus, the father of geometry, initiated, the number of axioms and rules that basis of reasoning. Next came Pythagoras, Euclid, and Archimedes whose geometrical axioms and rules are still applied in schools today.

  • Philosophy

Greeks approached philosophy from a different perspective. They elaborated philosophy as a way of understanding the world around, without employing to religion, myth, or magic.

From Socrates to Plato, Aristotle, the Greeks widespread the new field of study in Philosophy into the union of research and conversation with regards to the mantle of knowledge, the capacity of the human mind, and how human lives within the world.

  • Clock

One of the most common mechanisms today is the alarm clock, and its origin was in ancient Greece. It was invented by the Hellenistic engineer and inventor Ctesibius in 285–222 BC.

Over the period of time the alarm clock has developed a varied changes and advancements from the mechanical alarm to modern technology like gadgets and cell phones.

  • Creative Sculptures

The ancient Greeks are also highly creative in their sculpture work. Using their natural supply of stones, marble, limestone and bronze, they made images of their different gods and heroes, and supreme elements of their culture. Their pottery created intended for daily use rather than display, many jars, and containers were designed with distinctive paintings and art that are fascinating enough to be collected on museum shelves

Why Greek developed so Advanced Progression?

The Greek developed so advanced progression because the ancient Greek’s were much organized into city-states others were democracies or oligarchies. If a certain Country has many people involved in decision making they will come up and ended a great idea out of the discussion and different views.

When you supervise less population like in a state rather than a Kingdom it’s very easy to implement the law and being accepted and ensuing excellent effects to the society.

Moreover, if the city or society is abundantly blessed with food, clothing, shelter and other necessities it opens up more leaders, educators and many more. Professions which able people contribute great ideas to the society.

This is a type of environment that grant more great thinkers and wise men to have a big result. The Greeks had many knowledgeable people and brilliant thinkers who are still honored, remembered and very significant today.

Conclusion:

Learning Greek is very useful nowadays because they influenced western languages and give a big impact to our society today. Greece is the cradle of science, democracy and western civilization.

The rise of the Greek states and their independence aided result in test with political forms, publicly tackled laws especially in Athens, extensively literacy etc. The massive development especially in sports and theatre productions was also begun there.

Additionally, Greece is in different ways the root of our civilization. Greece was the reason why Europe and Asia divided, they conquered the Persians, and stop probably Eastern civilization from overruling Europe.

Overall, all the brilliant ideas, magnificent contributions of the Greeks were adopted by the Romans and passed through the modern times because of the exceptional ideas and forms.

Nowadays, Greeks influential aspects in the field of education, sports, Theatre and others have massive impact not only western languages, but to almost states in the world.

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