CULTURE OF ANCIENT GREECE

Philosophy
Main article: Ancient Greek philosophy
Greek philosophy focused on the role of reason and inquiry. In many ways, it had an important influence on modern philosophy, as well as modern science. Clear unbroken lines of influence lead from ancient Greek and Hellenistic philosophers, to medieval Muslim philosophers and scientists, to the European Renaissance and Enlightenment, to the secular sciences of the modern day.
Neither reason nor inquiry began with the Greeks. Defining the difference between the Greek quest for knowledge and the quests of the elder civilizations, such as the ancient Egyptians and Babylonians, has long been a topic of study by theorists of civilization.

Literature
Main articles: Ancient Greek literature, Homer, Greek tragedy, Greek comedy, and Theatre of ancient Greece
Alfred North Whitehead once claimed that all of philosophy is but a footnote to Plato. The Greek world of thought was so far-ranging that many ideas discussed today were already debated by the ancient writers.

Science & Technology
Main articles: Ancient Greek geography, Greek astronomy, Greek mathematics, Medicine in ancient Greece, and Ancient Greek technology

Art

Apollo and Nike in marble, a Roman copy from the 1 st century CE of the original hellenistic work
Main article: Art in ancient Greece

Religion and mythology
Main articles: Ancient Greek religion, Hellenistic religion, and Greek mythology
Greek mythology consists of stories belonging to the Ancient Greeks concerning their gods and heroes, the nature of the world and the origins and significance of their religious practices. The main Greek gods were the twelve Olympians, Zeus, his wife Hera, Poseidon, Ares, Hermes, Hephaestus, Aphrodite, Athena, Apollo, Artemis, Demeter, and Hestia. Other important deities included Hebe, Helios, Hades, Dionysus, Persephone and Heracles (a demi-god). Zeus' parents were Kronos and Rhea who also were the parents of Poseidon, Hades, Hera, Hestia, and Demeter.