"It is all our own, both in its new form and in its ancient antecedents."
He has the ability to relate ancient antecedents to current situations.
The elegant simplicity of the Parliament building, graceful façade of the University, and almost 'Rococo-esque' decoration on the Academy all hark back to ancient antecedents.
The neo-Classical Sferisterio, the arena where it's held, was built in 1820, deliberately echoing ancient antecedents; but it was originally an athletic stadium rather than a performance venue.
China's leaders are hoping to control a phenomenon whose ancient antecedents brought down several Chinese dynasties, and which presents a challenge of uncertain dimensions to Communist Party rule.
Yet hip-hop didn't invent flashy gold jewelry, ceremonial hair styles or oral history in musical form, all of which have ancient West African antecedents.
Elitism is the belief that government by a small ruling group is normatively desirable, a claim which has ancient antecedents in political philosophy.
The descendants are not aware of the ancient antecedents revealed to the reader by the all-knowing writer as the story progresses through the Davidic kingdom, Hellenistic times, Roman times, etc.
But it was the khorovod, the chain or round dance, with its ancient antecedents (apparently not all Soviet folklorists agree that they derive from pagan fertility rites) that was the richest in its variety.
His research also cast new light on stone figurines left by the Olmec people, ancient antecedents of Mayans and Aztecs in Mexico.