noun
- admiration for and support of Greek culture, history, and independence, especially during the Greek War of Independence in the 1820s
Usage: often capitalized when referring to the historical movement; commonly used in historical and cultural contexts
Examples
- Philhellenism swept through Europe during the Greek War of Independence, inspiring poets and politicians to support the Greek cause.
- Lord Byron's philhellenism led him to fight alongside Greek rebels against Ottoman rule.
- The 19th-century movement of philhellenism celebrated ancient Greek philosophy and art.
- Many Western intellectuals embraced philhellenism as a romantic ideal of freedom and democracy.
- The philhellenism of the era influenced European literature, art, and political thought.