gofer articles

Historical Greek vases are a testimony to one of the founding civilizations of Europe, one that stretched well over seven hundred years. It is the one seminal culture which is most responsible for making the West what it is. Through its own genius, and the genius it inspired in the Romans, ancient Greek methods have gone on to influence lands far outside of Europe and countries far different than any on the continent.

Part of the beauty behind Greek vases has to do with the beholder’s own awareness of such a storied legacy. Modern science, politics, mathematics, and philosophy are greatly indebted to ancient Greek thought. Of course, art and culture have been considerably Greek at their core for centuries as well. So profound has been this influence that historians and general thinkers-at-large frequently wonder why modern Greek society seems such a pale reflection.

The meditative contemplation that comes with a deep consideration of Greek vases may lead one on such flights of intellectual fancy as to draw startling connections tantalizing and tenuous as a result of their novelty. For example, China, the other great foundational influence in the human heritage (and certainly within their respective part of the world), is now rising up.

Modern day greece, nonetheless, is hamstrung by the cynicism and greed of its own citizens. Businessmen in China and Greece both understand how endemic corruption and bribery is in both countries, and yet it’s odd how China could manage to challenge even the United States despite such deficiencies while Greece needs European Union help. Is it simply a matter of size?

What exactly is it that determines that one people should prosper, and prosper again, while another shall only ever have prospered within the past? What’s the magic factor here? Is as simple as the “destiny” and “fate” that both ancient Greek and ancient-modern Chinese culture regards so highly?