Ancient culture's summer of revenge – but not in Sweden

Ancient culture is experiencing a global renaissance, with people flocking to cinemas for films like Christopher Nolan's "The Odyssey" and driving record sales for poetry. In Sweden, libraries are seeing queues for Homer's epic, and audiobook listening has exploded. Academics are increasingly discussing ancient history, women's roles, and the Trojan Horse.

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It has been a wonderful summer – finally, antiquity has taken its rightful place in our time.

For enthusiasts of classical history, this surge feels like a long-awaited vindication. However, in Sweden, antiquity is often dismissed as irrelevant. Those dreaming of learning classical Greek will find their hopes dashed, especially if they reside in Sweden and wish to study it in high school. Vasaskolan in Gävle, the last school offering such courses, has canceled Greek for the upcoming fall semester.

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For anyone with a lifelong love of ancient culture and history – awakened by the 1981 Christmas calendar and thereafter constantly burning – it feels like a revenge.

This decline in classical education mirrors a broader trend of historical amnesia in Sweden. Years ago, the Swedish National Agency for Education attempted to remove antiquity entirely from primary schools. Although forced to backtrack after strong criticism, Swedish children learn very little about ancient history in practice. This historical neglect extends beyond schools, with politicians speaking about national identity while cultural heritage crumbles. The Mediterranean Museum, housing extensive collections and expertise on the Mediterranean region over 7,000 years, faces closure.

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Those who now dream of learning classical Greek will therefore have to continue dreaming. At least if they live in Sweden and would like to read it in high school.

However, the situation is not irreversible. The past decade has seen a proliferation of new translations and reinterpretations of ancient works internationally, many receiving awards and reaching millions. As this summer's Homeric fervor demonstrates, many people crave the richness of ancient culture, a sentiment that could potentially reach Sweden.

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The Mediterranean Museum, with collections and expertise on the Mediterranean region over 7,000 years, is threatened with closure.