‘Cultural cringe’, that lovely Aussie coinage, perfectly describes the Roman attitude towards Greece. The curators don’t say so, but it is the theme of this inspired exhibition.

By the time the Romans finally took control of mainland Greece in 146 BC with the Battle of Corinth, they had long admired everything Greek. That date marks roughly the middle of the Hellenistic period, during which Greek culture and language dominated the Mediterranean and the Middle East. In comparison with Greeks, Romans were oafs – and knew it.

In comparison with Greeks, Romans were oafs – and knew it

In comparison with Greeks, Romans were oafs – and knew it

After the battle, Corinth was flattened – quite an oafish thing to do – and emptied of all its works of art, which were sent to Rome. The droll story went round that the commander, Lucius Mummius, was such a prize oaf that he told the carriers if any works of art were lost they would have to replace them with new ones. But the effect was dramatic: the trickle of Greek goodies reaching Rome had turned into a flood.

From then on, aspirational Romans defined themselves by how many Greek works of art they could acquire. They also imported Greek philosophers, teachers and doctors, and as many artists and........

© The Spectator