Down from Olympus

Focusing on the cultural phenomenon of German Graecophilia, the book explores how the educated elite's fascination with ancient Greece evolved into a significant institutional force. Suzanne Marchand examines the legacy of nineteenth-century philhellenes, who sought to blend elitist aesthetics with a scholarly ethos to enhance education and the arts. Through the lens of classical archaeology, she highlights the collaboration between scholars and policymakers in creating state-funded cultural institutions, revealing both the advancements in knowledge and the shortcomings in social responsibility inherent in German neohumanism.