The article seeks to present various ways the Modern Greeks try to deal with their cultural and historical heritage. To what extent do the Modern Greeks consider themselves the successors of the the ancient Greeks? How do they see and understand their place in culture of contemporary Europe? These questions lie at the foundations of the Modern Greek identity. The starting point for the discussion is the book by Nikos Dimou Modern Greek Ironic Dictionary. The author of the Dictionary... in 230 entries tries to sketch the most common platitudes that are shared by his compatriots.