We generally see the Greeks through Roman tinted glasses, though it is seemingly an unanswerable question. Are there Greek and Roman inheritances that we wish we didn't have? Oh, I could do with quite so much sport. The Romans abolished the Olympic Games because they didn't like you. It took the British to revive competitive sport. Why did you look at the clothes? More questions, shouts. As a non-native Londoner who loves her job and enjoys travelling, where would she be happiest in Greece or Rome? You'd be better off in London, obviously.
In 2015, Intelligence Squared staged the ultimate clash of civilisations: Greece vs Rome. Boris Johnson, at that time Mayor of London and ardent classicist, made the case for Greece; while Mary Beard, today Lecturer in Classical Archaeology at the University of Sheffield and known for her extensive career as a broadcaster and writer, championed Rome. As we revisit this archive debate held in the pre-Brexit, pre-pandemic era, it's fascinating to observe how history would soon be shaped by some of the figures on stage and whose actions are the subject of much divisive debate today. Our host for the event was the journalist and broadcaster, Andrew Marr.
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