Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Relating to or characteristic of the classical Greek civilization: "Hellenistical" describes something connected to the culture, art, history, or influence of ancient Greece, particularly during the Hellenistic period following the conquests of Alexander the Great.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • The museum's new exhibit focuses on Hellenistical art from the 3rd century BC.
  • His research examines the Hellenistical influence on early Roman architecture.
  • The term describes a style that is distinctly Hellenistical in its form and decoration.

Advanced Usage

• "Hellenistical period": A specific historical era, typically from the death of Alexander the Great in 323 BC to the emergence of the Roman Empire.

  • The library of Alexandria was a major center of learning in the Hellenistical period.

• "Hellenistical culture": The blend of Greek and local cultures that spread across the eastern Mediterranean and Near East.

  • Hellenistical culture facilitated the exchange of ideas from Greece to India.

Variants and Related Words

• Hellenistic (adj): The more common and preferred form, identical in meaning to "Hellenistical".
  • Hellenistic philosophy
• Hellenism (n): The national character, culture, or ideals of ancient Greece, or the adoption of Greek culture.
  • The spread of Hellenism

Synonyms

• Classical Greek: Pertaining to the ancient Greek civilization.
• Greco-Roman: Concerning both Greek and Roman cultures (broader than Hellenistical).

Notes on Usage

• "Hellenistical" vs. "Hellenistic": "Hellenistical" is a less frequent variant of the adjective Hellenistic. In modern academic and general usage, "Hellenistic" is the standard and overwhelmingly preferred form. "Hellenistical" may occasionally appear in older texts.
• The word specifically often refers to the post-classical era of Greek history and its widespread cultural influence, not just to ancient Greece in general.

Adjective

1. relating to or characteristic of the classical Greek civilization