Classical Wisdom Speaks Echoes in Ancient Texts: India and Ancient Greece
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Jan 15, 2026 In this engaging discussion, Roberto Morales, an Associate Professor of Sanskrit at the University of Costa Rica, explores the intriguing parallels between ancient Greek and Indian literature. Topics include deep narrative similarities between Achilles and Bhishma, and the shared ogre motifs of Cyclops and rakshasas. Morales also examines the complexities of cultural influence, the origins of Greco-Roman and Indian exchanges, and odd details suggesting literary borrowing. His insights invite listeners to reconsider the interconnectedness of ancient cultures.
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Parallels Exceed Mere Coincidence
- Detailed, repeated parallels between Greek and Sanskrit epics suggest more than coincidence.
- Roberto Morales argues hundreds of specific similarities raise the probability of cultural contact rather than mere chance.
Use Probability Not Proof For Parallels
- Approach literary parallels probabilistically rather than seeking absolute proof.
- Morales advises keeping an open mind and presenting evidence for cultural-context explanations without claiming definitive proof.
Alexander's Era As A Cultural Window
- Key Indian epic and theatrical forms appear in the subcontinent after Alexander's campaign.
- Morales uses the 4th–3rd century BCE as a plausible window for Greco-Roman → Indian influence in epic and theater.