If I had any point, it was to suggest that our ideas of "race" are anachronistic to the ancient world (and not even really scientific today), being so burdened

If I had any point, it was to suggest that our ideas of "race" are anachronistic to the ancient world (and not even really scientific today), being so burdened with post-enlightenment ideas of "savage" and cultured peoples (I've tried to keep religion out of this, but it is a critical through-line) and which later finds its most sublime form as pseudo-Darwinist notions about "race" which renders the U.S. institution of slavery (like our flavors of Christianity) quite something new and different. > I think there is a big crossover the post-apocalyptical fantasy, where the burdens of society are lifted. I agree with you on this. In fact, I've had a thesis (that is surely bogus and which no one believes) that the Godzilla movies are about the sublimated desire to see the whole facade held up against earthquake, tsunami, and atom bombs finally be done in by a monster who casually destroys Tokyo Tower. If you like coastlines, maybe that idea will give you a chuckle. The value of the ancient world to me, however, is as a counter-balance to everything timely. Sometimes it shines a brilliant light on what is today obscured by our modern confusions, but more often a deep well of fascination over how we used to speak and what we used to think, however errant it was.