Page "Greek language" Paragraph 1

The Greek language holds an important place in the histories of Europe, the more loosely defined Western world, and Christianity ; the canon of ancient Greek literature includes works of monumental importance and influence for the future Western canon, such as the epic poems Iliad and Odyssey.

Greek was also the language in which many of the foundational texts of Western philosophy, such as the Platonic dialogues and the works of Aristotle, were composed ; the New Testament of the Christian Bible was written in Koiné Greek.

Together with the Latin texts and traditions of the Roman world, the study of the Greek texts and society of antiquity constitutes the discipline of classics.