What is Classical DNA?

Using your raw DNA data (from a Living DNA test or an upload to us), we can do some pretty amazing things for you with your DNA without the need for taking a new DNA testing kit.

The Classical Era, when we’re talking about the ancient world, usually includes both Ancient Greek and Ancient Roman history and culture. We have included Ancient Egyptian under the umbrella of ’Classical’ in this context, due to the close links to Greece with Pharaoh Ptolemy I who was from Macedonia, and Pharaoh Cleopatra VII, who was deeply involved in Roman politics through her relationships with both Julius Caesar and Mark Anthony.

Living DNA has looked at genetic data from 279 samples of ancient people from Greece, Egypt, and Rome. These samples were taken from human remains found in 83 archeological sites across Europe, north Africa, the Near East, and West Asia.

This data helps calculate your Classical Index and Classical Population Match reports. 

Using samples from ancient burial sites, we have been able to identify a number of distinct Classical populations:

Roman groups

• Levant-Caucasus
• North Africa
• Iberia
• Italy
• England
• Northern Europe
• Eastern Adriatic

Greek groups

• Caucasus
• Iberia
• Greece
• Macedonia
• Turkey-Levant

What about Egyptian groups?

We do not currently provide the closest sample or sample group for Egyptians due to limited availability of ancient samples, but hope to do so in the future.

We can compare your DNA to each of these groups to tell you which Classical populations you are most genetically similar to!

We will also tell you your Classical Index - how closely your DNA matches each civilisation you are compared to other Living DNA members.

Your Results are presented in your Living DNA portal alongside your Ancestry or Wellbeing results.

Sadly, we can’t currently print these results in the Personalised Ancestry Book.