We in the West are often taught that our ancient roots, Roman and Greek, are solely, uniquely, even exceptional cultures, largely isolated in their brilliance. Plato’s readily acknowledged Egyptian and other eastern influences as somehow extraordinary, an “orientalist” view, despite readily acknowledging the influence of these past cultures within his own heritage. Here we explore this notion, to expand our view of the Western past as one far more interconnected, of far-away interactions, a common ground within which many of these traditions live.