Book excerpt: Ancient Greek literature has a profound impact on western literature at large. In particular, many ancient Roman authors drew inspiration from their Greek predecessors. Ever since the Renaissance, European authors in general, including Dante Alighieri, William Shakespeare, John Milton, and James Joyce, have all drawn heavily on classical themes and motifs. Even today authors are fascinated with Greek literature, and still great works of literature are based on ancient myths and plays. The readers can still relate to these works of art and learn from them, even though written two millennials ago. This collection is based on the required reading list of Yale Department of Classics. Originally designed for students, this anthology is meant for everyone wanting to know more about history and literature of this period, interested in poetry, philosophy and drama of Antient Greece.