Classical

The word classical has several meanings:

• Pertaining to the societies of the classical antiquity, ancient Greece or Rome. For example, the Greek and Latin languages, classical architecture and the cult of the Olympian gods. See also Greek mythology and Roman mythology. The study of all the foregoing may bear the name of the classics.

• In parallel to the preceding meaning, we can speak of (say) Classical Chinese or Classical Indian culture or aspects of culture when referring to a perceived apex in the development of a society or of its arts. See for example Indian classical music.

• Pertaining to the arts (painting, music, literature, etc.), the word "classical" often refers to the period of art or style known as Classicism, which has a high regard for classical antiquity. This style predominated in the 18th and early 19th centuries between the Baroque and Romantic periods. See classical music, classical dance.

• Any mode of scientific thought prevalent at the time of some radical new innovation. For example, contemporary scientists can characterise the physics of Isaac Newton as "classical", since the theory of relativity and quantum mechanics have challenged its assumptions. See also classical mechanics.