ancient methology

Medieval Greek/Roman science/biological-fantasy fiction written by supposedly-learned scholars who were merely trippin' out on drugs during their periods of scroll-writing, and so their fantastical hieroglyphic tales came primarily from just their own deranged-brain ramblings, rather than being rooted in any historical facts or beliefs.

I have never understood why ancient methology should be a required subject in high school --- what earthly use to the average American is knowledge of morbid-fairly-tale stuff that was written down many centuries ago, especially when it originated in a far-off country and wasn't even true to begin with??