How the ancient Greeks can help China and the U.S. avoid war

Epic poems and tragedies encourage us not to view competition as a zero-sum game

Emily Katz Anhalt

July 10, 2022 05:00 JST

Gold funeral mask discovered at the ancient Greek site of Mycenae known as the "Mask of Agamemnon" after the legendary King Agamemnon who commanded the united Greek forces in the Trojan War. © AP

Emily Katz Anhalt teaches classical languages and literature at Sarah Lawrence College in Bronxville, New York. She is the author of "Enraged: Why Violent Times Need Ancient Greek Myths" and "Embattled: How Ancient Greek Myths Empower Us to Resist Tyranny."

"When two proceed together, one sees what is advantageous before the other," claims a warrior in Homer's "Iliad," an archaic Greek epic tale from nearly 3000 years ago. Choosing a companion for a daring venture, this warrior knows that a friend's assistance improves the chances of success.