obviously I think there's value in studying the religion/history/culture of ancient peoples no matter what, but a huge part of why I'm so drawn to ancient greece (and magna graecia) is because it's a very real part of my history and cultural heritage! again, studying an ancient culture is no less valuable if you aren't related to it, but there's something about looking at a temple or another landmark of that civilization and being able to say "my ancestors built that, my ancestors prayed in there, my ancestors lived and breathed and slept here in the ruins where I stand" which absolutely tears me up