What is the meaning of "the glory that was Greece, the grandeur that was Rome"?

Question

..pls.reply asap

Answer 1

Having just graduated with a degree in ancient history and archaeology, I would say the simple answer is this:

Greece was renowned for putting up a good fight against much bigger enemies during its history and, quite often, it won. However, the glory (of the Athenian people at least) lay not with the creation of new and sprawling monuments. Instead, they maintained those built on the Acropolis, preferring to honour their ancestors and thus confirm the special status of their descendents as having the longest and most glorious history.

By contrast, the Romans indulged in conspicuous consumption in all aspects of life, not least their architecture (a lot of which survives today). Every battle, victory, general was commemorated in marble ... all of which made for a city that shone like marble.

Just think of what remains ... Rome is a city of marble, and Athens merely an Acropolis. The Greeks preferred to remember their glory through epic poetry (think of Homer) and literature (all those plays) than to create new buildings.

Answer 2

It's a line from Edgar Allen Poe's 1845 poem "To Helen" Beyond that, I'm not sure what you need to know.

Answer 3

What do you want to know exactly? I don't understand

Answer 4

Shem is correct as to  its genesis. I think he was referring to the fact that it is generally thought that Greece was more "civilized" while Rome was only interested in expanding its borders and subjugating people.

Why don't you read the poem and draw your own conclusions. I think that would be most helpful to you.