The Secret History-Greek Theme

One of the main themes in The Secret History is the study of Ancient Greek. This includes the language, heriage, literature, and practices of the ancients. The class takes the subjects very seriously and is encouraged to explore every aspect of the culture by Proffesor Jullian Morrow. Professor Morrow is said to be the foremost authority of Ancient Greek studies on the east coast, and possibly further. His secretive methods almost turn the class into a type of cult. No one outside the class is permitted into Morrow's office or classroom.
There are a great number of Greek refreences, literature, chracters, and language throughout the book. One of the most important refrences to the practices of the ancients is the Bacchanal rite held at the country house. The ancients knew a great deal about various drugs, poisons and altered states and claimed to be able to use these things in order to achieve a highly-conscious state in which they could see and commune with Dionysus, Greek god of wine and inspirer of ritual madness.