Submitted by Bija Knowles on Fri, 03/19/2010 - 13:36
Like many people, the offer of food is always enough to tempt me to visit somewhere new – and I suspect that the publicity machine of Pompeii's archaeological site are fully aware of this, as they promise an authentic Roman snack to the 300 randomly selected individuals who will take part in a one-off tour of the site this Sunday.
The event marks the restoration and re-opening of one of the Roman town's thermopolia (cafés), after having undergone an excavation and preservation process.
Submitted by Nick Gilbert on Tue, 03/16/2010 - 12:34
Re-invented by the Victorians, under the name of Boadicea, Boudicca (starring in this Ancient World in London video) was presented as an idol of nationalism, of British warrior tradition and, somewhat incongruently, as a figurehead of imperialism, even though this was the thing she had fought against. Her statue sits directly opposite Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament, overlooking the River Thames at the very heart of London. There she stands in her chariot looking over the city like some kind of fierce guardian angel for the British. But what is she doing there? Should we really be touting Boudicca as a hero?
The answer is of course that the influence was huge: Roman copies of canonic Greek masterpieces ensued, there were aesthetic influences in the decoration of sanctuaries and funerary monuments, while every-day domestic objects mimicked Greek styles too.
Nicole Favish takes a trip up north to see the Hadrian's Wall Illuminations, marking 1600 years since the Romans left! Beacons, flares and torches were lit up along the length of the Roman Hadrian's Wall, which is marked with forts, milecastles and turrets. Nicole talks to some Roman re-enactors from Germany, and learns about the Vindalanda writing tablets, one of Britains's most important discoveries.
Mayor of London Boris Johnson is to be joined by popular historian Bettany Hughes and head teachers from primary and secondary schools across the city at London’s City Hall tomorrow to launch a new drive to boost classical education in state schools. But is there any point teaching a dead language to already-bored kids?
The tousle-haired Tory studied Classics at Oxford as an undergraduate, and has long talked-up how beneficial a good understanding of classical history can be when it comes to getting to grips with modern politics. In the past he’s called for every child to be taught Latin, and even written a book, The Dream of Rome – made into a documentary by the BBC in 2006 – comparing the European Union with the Roman Empire.
