Harrogate is home to a great many local points of interest. We’ve got the Valley Gardens, the Grimwith Reservoir Walk, nearby Fishpond Wood and Bebra Gardens, and, of course, the historic landscape garden Plumpton Rocks, which English Heritage describes as being of outstanding interest. There’s a lot to love about our native collection of points of interest, but there’s also much to explore pertaining to our foreign influences.
Throughout history, the British Isles have been invaded, conquered, reclaimed, pillaged, and more. Some came from fairly close by, like modern-day France, Sweden, and Denmark, while others crossed continents to end up on our shores. Hailing from what’s now Italy, this is what the Roman Empire did, and with them, they introduced the local populous to the ways of the ancient Greeks and even their gods – but under different names.
Without much by way of a direct influence on British history, it’s quite incredible how much the ancient Greeks continue to influence our daily lives, and that there’s a slither of their glory right here in Harrogate.
Key to the Cradle of Civilisation
Source: Unsplash
The Mediterranean Basin is rightly known as the ‘Cradle of Civilisation.’ It was the centrepiece of a great many advancements in technology, communications, and societal structures that saw the rise of the ancient Egyptians, Greeks, Roman Empire, Carthaginians, Trojans, Macedonians, the Byzantines, the Ottoman Empire, and so many more.
Of them all, the ancient Greeks were the renowned thinkers. Great philosophers pondered the meaning of life, the origins of life, how to run society, and how to advance as a people. To this day, we still draw from ancient Greek developments, including democracy, athletic training, the development of medicine, and an alphabet. They also gave us many great characters and tales of drama in what we now call their myths.
Created thousands of years ago to explain the world around them, ancient Greek gods and deities are still instantly recognisable to this day. Of course, there’s Zeus, Poseidon, Hercules, Hades, and Athena, each of which conjures up a depiction of great power and influence. It’s why even in online blackjack, a Cards of Athena game is such an instant draw. We know we’re in for a card game battle alongside one of the most revered of the Greek pantheon.
Greek influence without the Greeks
Much like the ancient Greeks grew their influence across the Mediterranean and Alexander the Great of the Greek kingdom of Macedon went eastwards, so too did the Romans. As it turns out, the Roman Empire were inspired by the progress made by the Greeks, and so, they adopted many of their ways, as well as their gods. They would head north and then west, eventually winding up in the British Isles with their adjusted version of what the Greeks had laid down.
So, while many would say that we’re still heavily influenced by our days as a subject of Rome, the fingerprints of the ancient Greeks are all over us. So, it’s only fitting that Harrogate’s museum houses some ancient Greek artefacts. While better known for its ancient Egyptian collection, alongside the strongest sulphur wells in Europe, the Ancient World collection has many key points of interest from the civilisation that laid the foundations of ours.
You can see the influence of the ancient Greeks across our daily lives, and if you want to learn a bit more and see some ancient artefacts up close, head over to the Royal Pump Room Museum – it’s only £4 admission!
