The Ancient World in London project finished in April 2010 with our Grand Prize winner announced. During this project people from all over London and around the world made their own discoveries of the Ancient World in London. We had challenges, competitions, quizzes, quests and discussions online, in the streets of London, and immersed in our breathtaking 3D virtual areas. Watch our video series, in which our intrepid explorers set out to discover how the ancient world has made London what it is today. The Ancient World in London project finished in April 2010 Grand Prize.
-
-
Heritage Key was recently introduced to Dr Ray Howell – a reader of history and historical archaeology at University of Wales, Newport and Director of South Wales Centre for Historical and Interdisciplinary Research (SWCHIR) – through the short film Reclaiming King Arthur. Filmed in association with University of Wales’ Institute of Digital Learning (IDL), it examined the Gwent roots of the legendary British monarch of round table fame – both the real figure, who may have been a 5th or 6th century local warlord, and the mythical Arthur championed in countless folk tales. Dr Howell’s latest area of research is…
-
Stonehenge leaps out from its West Country surroundings like Liberace in a dole queue, so it’s no surprise that Britain’s grandest prehistoric monument has been the focus of a myriad projects since the dawn of archaeology. So what is Stonehenge’s archaeological history? And what light has centuries of excavation shed on the enigmatic treasure? Aubrey Discovers (Some of) The Aubrey Holes Stonehenge’s recorded archaeological history begins at the turn of the 17th century, with a small dig carried out by the pre-eminent physician William Harvey. Yet as much as Harvey was a pioneer of medicine, he was hardly a dab…
-
Tucked away on an unremarkable street in central London is a chunk of oolite rock known as the London Stone. Said to date back to the founding of Roman London, the Stone is one of Britain’s most enigmatic and overlooked monuments. A proverb states that “so long as the stone of Brutus is safe, so long shall London flourish”. Like the ravens of the Tower of London, the Stone’s fate is tied to that of the city. Historical sources from medieval times reference the Stone and its importance to Londoners, yet few people today have ever heard of it. Overlooked…
-
Key Dates 1800 BC The papyrus is from the Late Middle Kingdom, between 1850 – 1700 BC. Key People Horus, god of the king, sky and vengeance in ancient Egyptian religion. Seth, aka Set, god of storms, chaos and the desert. Osiris, god of the underworld. The Tale of Horus and Seth is an ancient Egyptian myth about Horus and Seth’s rivalry for the Egyptian throne, held in the story by Osiris, Horus’ father and god of the underworld. There are several versions of the story worldwide, but this particular one, held at the Petrie Museum in London, allegedly contains…
-
1027 – 9 Sep 1087 King of England William the Conqueror otherwise known as William I, was the King of England from 1066 until his death in 1087. His reign largely impacted the course of England in the Middle Ages. William was already a successful figure, and was known as ‘the Conqueror’ before 1066 due to his military success in Brittany. William invaded England in 1066, leading an army of Normans, Bretons, Flemish people and Frenchmen, he rose to victory over the English forces of King Harold Godwinson at the Battle of Hastings. He further suppressed all other English revolts…
-
Who are we? The genetic make-up of the British people is a hotly contested subject in academic and political circles. Britain has a tumultuous history that includes Anglo-Saxon, Norman and Roman invasions, but what legacy of these settlers and invaders remains in the DNA of Brits today? The BNP’s Nick Griffin, who has recently gained a foothold in British politics, claimed recently to represent the “indiginous people” of Britain, comparing modern English, Scots, Irish and Welsh with the indiginous populations of North America and New Zealand. But today’s Brit is a complex melting pot of influences. A revealing Channel 4…
-
Key Dates Led the Iceni revolt against the Romans in 60-61 AD. Relationship People Partners Prasutagus Boudica, also known as Boudicca and Boadicea, was a queen of the Iceni tribe which was based in the modern county of East Anglia in England (Watch the Ancient World in London video about Boudicca). VIDEO: Episode 6: Boudicca, Warrior Queen Her husband, Prasutagus, was king of Iceni and was an ally of the Roman occupiers of Britain. When he died, his will stipulated that his kingdom should be divided between his daughters and the Roman empire. The Romans flouted this completed by raping…
-
Okay so you’re too far away from Stonehenge/don’t have the time/fed up of charging through 40,000 overtired revellers: where else can you see the summer solstice this year? Worry not, for here are ten other places on the British Isles you’re more than welcome to see in the midsummer sun. Remember, you can see the summer solstice at our very own Stonehenge Virtual. 1. Avebury Stone Circle, Wiltshire Just a few miles from Stonehenge, Avebury is a gorgeous megalithic rotunda – bigger than Stonehenge – with its own ancient avenue: the differences being you can freely wander round it on…
-
Key People Key People: Trajan Just outside Tower Hill tube station is a statue of who is believed to be the Roman Emperor Trajan. It stands outside one of the last remaining pieces of the London Wall. The wall was built by the Romans to surround and protect Londinium. Trajan was the 13th Roman Emperor who reigned from 98 until his death in 117 AD. Trajan is best known for his extensive public building programme, which reshaped the city of Rome and left multiple enduring landmarks such as Trajan’s Forum, Trajan’s Market and Trajan’s Column. His major campaigns as emperor…