On Thursday 7th January, we welcomed Professor Michael Scott virtually to the LSA CA for his seventh annual Presidential Lecture, in which he shed light on the inner workings of Athenian democracy. Professor Scott's TV documentaries, books, public lectures and outreach work have brought the ancient world to whole new audiences and in 2020, despite … Continue reading How Democratic was Athenian Democracy?
Hercules: World Traveller
Following Professor Llewelyn Morgan's webinar for the LSA CA on 12th November, Classics Ambassador Liv S takes us on an around-the-world cultural voyage in the company of the many named, multi faceted and paradoxical hero Hercules. For millennia, Hercules has been a familiar and popular mythical character, immediately recognisable whether in statues, on coins or vase … Continue reading Hercules: World Traveller
Spooky Stories in Antiquity
It's almost Halloween and Classics Ambassador Abigail F takes us on a ghostly trip to the ancient past where libations rather than pumpkins satiated the spirits of the dead. As with many spectacles and traditions of the modern age, much of what we celebrate and experience today derives from the myths and history of the … Continue reading Spooky Stories in Antiquity
Memory, Monuments and Mourning
Classics Ambassador Freyja H-W recounts our first online event of the 2020-21 season: Last Thursday, Professor Polly Low, Greek historian at the Department of Classics and Ancient History at Durham University, joined us over Zoom to give a brilliant insight into the Spartan commemoration of the battle of Thermopylae. Though she unfortunately couldn’t be with … Continue reading Memory, Monuments and Mourning
The Roman Monarchy: Myth or History?
Classics Ambassador and LSA CA Classics Competition Finalist 2020, Katherine Baker takes us back to 753BC and the foundation of Rome. The ancient civilisation of Rome is often remembered for its emperors; both the brutal tyrants and the benevolent leaders. Those who attended the LSA CA Classics Competition in March may already know about the … Continue reading The Roman Monarchy: Myth or History?
We’re all going on a…Villa holiday
Former Classics Ambassador and University of Leeds student Ronnais Lloyd takes a trip to north Africa and the Roman baths - all in twenty four hours! Whenever I head south, I resolve to visit Romano-British sites, despite the fact that they are normally nowhere near where we are staying and there are lots of traffic … Continue reading We’re all going on a…Villa holiday
Troy Story: A Review
LSA CA member Julia Clayton, former Head of Classics at King George V College in Southport and blogger at Classical Clayton, shares with us her review of the British Museum's 2019-2020 exhibition Troy: Myth & Reality. "Back in the Noughties, Boris Johnson wrote a book, The Dream of Rome (2006) in which he compared the European Union … Continue reading Troy Story: A Review
The Terracotta Warriors
Many museums and galleries across the UK, as well as offering virtual tours, have begun to reopen but for those of us unable to visit them, a new series of blogs focus on some of the fascinating artefacts and collections that have been displayed in British museums. Here, Classics Ambassador Liv S tells us about … Continue reading The Terracotta Warriors
It’s a Man’s World: the lives of ancient women
Classics Competition Winner and creator of The Mythology Manifest Sixth Former Connor Irving explores the oppression of women in Greek and Roman society and refutes the ancient idea that a woman who defies authority must be evil, as he seeks to understand why some women were worshipped whilst others were demonised. Succubus, Harlot, Witch: these … Continue reading It’s a Man’s World: the lives of ancient women
Zooming through the year
We recently held our first ever LSA CA Zoom meeting for our 2020 AGM and virtual celebration evening. It was a ‘bring your own cake and wine’ occasion but we still managed to celebrate in style, including a chorus of Happy Birthday for our student ambassador Declan who turned 18 during lockdown. The Chair, Secretary … Continue reading Zooming through the year