The intellectual foundation of the United States has been, since its inception, and remains deeply anchored in classical Greek culture and political philosophy. During the Constitutional Convention of 1787, when the Founding Fathers gathered in Philadelphia to draft the U.S. Constitution, they did not architect a nation from a blank slate. On the contrary, visionary leaders like Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and John Adams looked back over two millennia to the thinkers, institutions, and historical precedents of ancient Greece. This classical legacy directly shaped the core values, political framework, and architectural identity of the nascent American Republic.

The American “Great Experiment”, was based on three key pillars, all of them profoundly influenced by ancient Greece: (a) Philosophy (Epicurean reason and human flourishing – Virtue), (b) Governance (mixed government and Federalism to prevent tyranny), (c) Architecture (civic identity and neoclassical state buildings).

Philosophical Foundations: Virtue and the Pursuit of Happiness

The moral justification for the American Revolution (1765-1789) derived heavily from ancient Greek humanism and ethics. When Thomas Jefferson penned the immortal phrase “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness” in the Declaration of Independence, he was operating within a deeply Greek philosophical framework. Jefferson, an avid classicist who could read ancient Greek fluently, explicitly declared himself an Epicurean.

Epicurus taught that a good life is achieved through the pursuit of tranquility, peace of mind (ataraxia), and the avoidance of emotional and physical pain. Additionally, Aristotle’s concept of eudaimonia, often translated as “human flourishing” or living a life of active virtue, convinced the Founders that the primary purpose of a just government was to foster conditions wherein citizens could genuinely thrive.

From Plato and Socrates, the Founders assimilated the absolute necessity of civic virtue and individual liberty. They believed that a free society could not endure without an educated, moral citizenry willing to subordinate private interests to the common good. Greek humanism, as epitomized by Protagoras’s maxim that “man is the measure of all things”, shifted the source of political legitimacy away from the divine right of kings and placed it firmly into human hands.

Institutional Engineering: Structuring the Representative Democracy

While the Founders admired Greek intellectual rigor, their implementation of Greek political structures was executed in a highly selective and analytical way.

The word “democracy” originates from the Greek demokratia (power to the people). However, the Founders viewed the historical model of Athenian direct democracy, where citizens voted directly on every piece of legislation, as inherently dangerous. They turned to Plato’s Republic and historical accounts of Athens to analyze how unchecked direct democracies frequently collapsed into factionalism, mob rule, and eventually, tyranny. To prevent this “tyranny of the majority”, the Founders rejected a pure democracy in favor of a constitutional representative republic, utilizing elective representation to filter and temper public passions.

In order to achieve long-term institutional stability, the Founders relied heavily on the ancient Greek theory of mixed government and the separation of powers. Aristotle and later Greek historians like Polybius, argued that the ideal state should combine elements of monarchy (the rule of one), aristocracy (the rule of the few), and democracy (the rule of the many), to maintain societal forces in balance. The Founders directly translated and transposed this Greek theory into the tripartite structure of the United States government. The independent Executive Branch mirrored the monarchical element, the U.S. Senate served as the aristocratic assembly, and the House of Representatives functioned as the democratic voice of the general populace. This architectural system of checks and balances ensured that no single faction could seize total control.

During the drafting of the Constitution, James Madison and Alexander Hamilton rigorously studied ancient Greek federal alliances, such as the Lycian League and the Achaean League, to support the necessity for federalism. John Adams closely examined the Ionian Confederacy. In the Federalist Papers, the Founding Fathers analyzed how these ancient networks of independent city-states pooled their resources for mutual defense while maintaining their internal autonomy. This historical exemplar provided a structural benchmark for the American model of federalism, balancing centralized national authority with individual state sovereignty.

The Philhellenism Museum in Athens preserves a rare archival document, written by John Adams himself in ancient Greek, which substantiates the above insights. This manuscript contains an excerpt from Herodotus, known as the “Father of History”, regarding the Ionian Confederacy.

Adams referred to the case of the twelve city-states of Ionia, which were defeated by the Persians because despite the existence of the confederacy (Koinon), the individual interests of each city took precedence over the common interest of the Ionians, with the result that the Confederacy was unable to establish a unified defense against the Persians. Like most of the Founding Fathers, John Adams was deeply steeped in classical education, having been taught ancient Greek and Latin at an early age. Subsequently, through his classical studies at Harvard, he achieved genuine language mastery, which enabled him to read and translate complex classical texts from the original. In this specific manuscript, John Adams penned twelve lines in ancient Greek, concerning the Ionian Confederacy, transcribed from Herodotus’s history of the Persian Wars, Book 1, Chapter 141.

Manuscripts written by United States Presidents in any language other than English are exceedingly rare, and it is a distinct honor that such a significant historical document is preserved in Greece, and it is a profound privilege for the Philhellenism Museum to house an exhibit of such historical magnitude.

Structural Elements: The Rule of Law and Civic Aesthetics

The influence of Greek civilization extended far beyond theoretical concepts and left an indelible mark on both the legal principles and the civic landscape of the United States.

Central to both ancient Athenian governance and the American legal tradition is the foundational concept of the Rule of Law. Aristotle famously declared that “the law should govern”, emphasizing that laws must apply equally to all citizens, regardless of wealth or social standing. This Greek principle of equality before the law (isonomia) became the cornerstone of American jurisprudence. It established that no individual, including the President, stands above the legal framework of the country.

The Founding Fathers intended for the civic landscape of the young nation to visibly reflect its philosophical values, ensuring that the nation’s political ideology was visually projected onto its civic architecture. Led by Thomas Jefferson’s architectural vision, the United States consciously adopted Neoclassical architecture for its civic buildings and spaces. Government structures, most notably the U.S. Capitol and federal monuments, were designed incorporating the distinct columns, pediments, and symmetrical proportions of classical Greek temples, such as the Parthenon. This deliberate aesthetic choice was intended to reject the ornate, monarchical architecture of Europe and visually anchor the new republic to the democratic ideals of ancient Greece. The Founding Fathers embraced the ancient Greek aesthetics and the classical architecture of Pericles’ democratic Athens to visually and symbolically link the United States of America to great public buildings, and evoke the ideals that guided the nation’s Founders as they framed their new republic and shaped their new democracy.

In conclusion, the United States of America was conceived by its Founders as a “great experiment” in self-governance. By synthesizing ancient Greek political theory, ethics, and federal models (Koinon/Confederacy), the Founding Fathers constructed a resilient institutional framework designed to withstand the systemic vulnerabilities that ultimately doomed the ancient city-states. Through the separation of powers, the rule of law, and the constitutional protection of human flourishing, the classical legacy and heritage of ancient “Hellas” (Greece) remains deeply woven into the fabric of American democracy.

Constantinos Velentzas
President
Society for Hellenism and Philhellenism
Philhellenism Museum

You may read the published article in “Kathimerini” either in the attached images below or by clicking the link: https://www.ekathimerini.com/opinion/1308564/how-ancient-greek-culture-shaped-the-founding-of-the-usa/

For information: info@phmus.org

The Philhellenism Museum proudly exhibits from its permanent collections the portrait of the French Philhellene Admiral Félicité Louis Urbain Menouvrier de Fresne (1783–1848).

This prominent French officer served in the French expeditionary force of the Moreas (Peloponnese), that arrived in Greece in August 1828. His actions are linked to numerous military operations, most notably the Battle of Rio (also known as the Siege of the Morea Castle), which was the last Ottoman stronghold in the Peloponnese. The battles lasted for four days and resulted in a victory for the French forces.

The then captain, Menouvrier de Fresne, led the unit that first invaded the castle and raised the French flag himself, sealing the complete success of the French expedition. For the bravery and peerless courage he demonstrated during the battle, he was decorated by France and subsequently by Greece with the Order of the Redeemer, which he is depicted wearing on his chest in the portrait preserved at the Philhellenism Museum.

During his presence in Greece, Menouvrier de Fresne rendered invaluable services in combating the piracy that was plaguing the Aegean and the Mediterranean at the time.

Serving as a commander on principal warships of the era, his interventions to rescue civilians from the atrocities of the Ottoman fleet are documented as well.

He passed away in Lorient at the age of 64.

Also depicted:

– The battle plan for the capture of the Rio fortress (Castle of the Morea).

– The surrender of the Castle of the Morea to the French General Nicolas Joseph Maison (1771-1840), head of the French expeditionary force.

For information: info@phmus.org

The SHP and the Philhellenism Museum, in collaboration with the Embassy of Romania in the Hellenic Republic, organized on June 11th, 2026 a cultural event dedicated to the prominent personality of Dora d’ Istria (Elena Ghica), one of the most distinguished Romanian and European personalities who left their mark on the intellectual life of the 19th century.

Dora d’Istria, the literary pseudonym of Elena Ghica (1828-1888), was a great author, a pioneer of women’s emancipation, and a constant supporter of cultural dialogue between nations in promoting the right to freedom and equality.

The event took place at the Philhellenism Museum in Athens and brought together Ambassadors and members of the diplomatic corps accredited in Greece, representatives of the Greek cultural, religious and academic community and of the local authorities, members of the Romanian community, and numerous guests interested in the shared cultural heritage of Romania and Greece.

The programme opened with introductory speech about the distinguished Philhellene Elena Ghica by Mr. Constantinos Velentzas, Founder and President of the Philhellenism Museum and of the Society for Hellenism and Philhellenism. A special moment of the evening was the presentation by Mr. Velentzas, for the first time in Greece, of a unique landscape, the only known painting created by Dora d’ Istria, acquired by the Philhellenism Museum last year, highlighting a lesser-known dimension of her artistic personality.

In her address, H.E. Mrs. Carmen-Ileana Mihălcescu, Ambassador of Romania to the Hellenic Republic, emphasized Dora d’ Istria’s exceptional contribution to European culture, her advocacy for education and women’s rights, and her role in fostering intercultural dialogue throughout Europe and the region. The Ambassador underlined the enduring relevance of the legacy of Dora d’ Istria, founded on the values of freedom, knowledge, human dignity, and mutual understanding among nations.

This was followed by the presentation by professor of the University of Athens, Mr. Yiannis Deligiannis, which focused on the close connection of Dora d’ Istria with Greece, her philhellenic activity and the influence of Greek culture on European culture.

The event further featured the inauguration of an exhibition of paintings by Romanian artist Ana Iulia Miheșan, inspired by themes of identity, heritage, and cultural connection. The exhibition created a meaningful dialogue between contemporary artistic expression and the humanist values promoted by Dora d’Istria throughout her life. The exhibition by Iulia Miheșan can be visited at the Philhellenism Museum until 22 June 2026.

Information: info@phmus.org

The Society for Hellenism and Philhellenism and the Philhellenism Museum, in collaboration with the Municipality of the Sacred City of Messolonghi, continue their collaboration with the aim of promoting the city as a constant beacon of Philhellenism.

In the context of the bicentenary of the Exodus of Messolonghi, 1826-2026, a memorial ceremony and tribute was organised dedicated to the fallen British officer Frank Abney Hastings, the admiral and commander of the emblematic corvette “Karteria”, the first steam-powered warship in world history designed in London and firstly used during the Greek War of Independence.

The event took place on Saturday, May 23rd, 2026, at the historic site of the Frank Abney Hastings Monument in Aitoliko, in the city where in May 1828 the great Philhellene officer of our naval struggle was fatally wounded, in the context of the operations for the liberation of Messolonghi.

The event was welcomed by the Mayor of the Sacred City of Messolonghi, Mr. Spyridon Diamantopoulos. Speeches were conducted first by the President of the Society for Hellenism and Philhellenism and the Philhellenism Museum, Mr. Constantinos Velentzas, on the topic “Frank Abney Hastings and Philhellenism”, highlighting the deep, self-sacrificing contribution of the Admiral, as well as the overall impact of the philhellenic movement and international alliances on the outcome of the Revolution, and followed by the architect and engineer and Head of the Restoration of Ancient Monuments of the Ministry of Culture, Dr. Michalis Lefantzis, on the topic “The “Karteria” and the action of the emblematic ship”, which focused on the technological pioneering and military action of the historic corvette that changed the course of naval battles forever.

The inauguration of the exhibition “Messolonghi, City of Liberty and Ecumene” at the Trikoupion Cultural Center of the Sacred City of Messolonghi followed on Sunday, May 24th, 2026.

The first exhibition presented at the Trikoupion Cultural Center is an extensive tribute to Philhellenism with the collaboration of the Municipality of the Sacred City of Messolonghi and the Philhellenism Museum, and the support of the Hellenic Parliament.

The inauguration ceremony was held by the Mayor of the Sacred City of Messolonghi, Mr. Spyridon Diamantopoulos, the President of the Society for Hellenism and Philhellenism and the Philhellenism Museum, Mr. Constantinos Velentzas and the collector Mr. Nikitas Stavrinakis.

The exhibition presents, through more than a hundred original rare exhibits, the historical dimension of the events of the Exodus, which determined the development of international Philhellenism during the 19th century.

The curator of the exhibition, Mr. Thodoris Koutsogiannis, Dr. of Art History and Curator of the Art Collection of the Hellenic Parliament, guided visitors through the important historical documents and works of art, analysing the iconography of the era and highlighting the impact that the Exodus of Messolonghi had on an international level.

The exhibition will last until July 2026, constituting a central point of reference for visitors to the city. Masterpieces of philhellenic art by internationally acclaimed artists and rare original documents of the Revolution are exhibited for the very first time in the Sacred City of Messolonghi in the context of the 200th anniversary of the Exodus, 1826-2026.
The exhibits come from the Collection of the Philhellenism Museum, while special honorary participation is given to the collectors Evangelos Angelakos, Konstantinos Arniakos, Nikitas Stavrinakis and Nikos Lyros, whom we warmly thank for their kind response.

The exhibition is held with the support of the Hellenic Parliament and the kind sponsorship of AEGEAS AMKE, Lilian Voudouri Foundation, George and Victoria Karelia Foundation, Captain Vassilis & Carmen Constantakopoulos Foundation, John S. Latsis Public Benefit Foundation, Society for Hellenism and Philhellenism.

Information: info@phmus.org