If you only read two items, read the Blogs, they are brilliant!
Site and Museum Updates, Guest Blogs, Articles & Resources and the usual miscellaneous collection of Classics News from around the world!
Χαίρετε! Salve!
Such fabulous news regarding the huge boost in student numbers taking “Classical Subjects”. 24.7% at GCSE and 20% at A level and also that Latin is now the fourth most taught language in primary schools!
Huge congratulations to everyone who has worked so hard in bringing this to fruition.
Travel to Greece and Italy has now exceeded 2019 levels, but of course this means problems in sourcing decent Hotels and Flights; February is now the new High Season! Ryan Air hasn’t exactly been ‘honourable’ in recent dealings, but in addition to BA and easyJet we are now using Sky Express to Greece.
We too have experienced a huge increase in enquiries and bookings, and consequently are looking for a Philhellene to join the Team. Applications are of a really high standard, but there’s still time if you are interested. Closing Date 13/07/23
Group Leader Feedback for March – June Trips thankfully reported an (almost) return to pre 2019 standards in food and rooming. Nevertheless, some problems still remain –
i – Italian Sites and Museums have a nasty habit of altering opening times at the last minute (and we’ve made some errors), so we need to be more vigilant
ii – some Hotels will use roll away or camp beds, albeit with proper mattresses, not perfect but we think preferable to bunkbeds, which are sadly starting to creep in, despite our staunch resistance.
iii – following one close call, we now strongly suggest pupils with allergies have a pre-plated meal and avoid buffets
iv – take care when eating on coaches, please clean up
v – confirm with Bursary that School Credit Cards have been authorized!
vi – in the case of missing/lost Passports use your School Emergency Support Contact and concentrate on leading your group; don’t attempt both!
vii – please note Ferry schedules are weather dependent
viii – Hotel pools are also weather dependent
ix – Guardians in both Italy and Greece continue to offer incorrect information about Entrance Fees and Documentation
x – Whispering Guide Headsets are officially mandatory at only Colosseo, New Akropolis Museum, Vatican and if you hire official Guides. They are not at Delphi Museum, but Guardians have been awkward.
xi – some (mercifully few) Teachers have reported horrendous queues at Akropolis and Theatre of Dionysus. In one extreme case being bumped backwards and having the Ticket Kiosk closed so the attendant could eat her sandwiches! We are exploring the logistics of pre-paying but need to wait for a statement from the Cultural Ministry which has been delayed because of elections.
xii – entry fees will be in place for Pantheon from July 1st.
xiii – exciting news about the Rome to Pompeii direct line is tempered by the fact price and schedules have not yet been confirmed!
All of which is very frustrating and perhaps accounts for some putting their faith in the Old Gods (I half jest) –
i – Return Of The Old Gods: Temple Dedicated To Apollo Consecrated In Tarantino, Southern Italy (VIDEO)
ii – Greeks Return to Worshipping Gods of Ancient Greece.
Sadly, Tourist behaviour continues to deteriorate. Not only has a Brit been filmed carving their name into the Colosseo walls, last Summer others were caught driving a car down Rome’s Spanish Steps, surfing down the Grand Canal in Venice, smashing sculptures in the Vatican, sunbathing topless on a war memorial, skinny dipping in Venice’s canals, and stripping naked on the steps of the cathedral of Amalfi…………little wonder some Officials become belligerent
Meanwhile, back in the realms of normality TWO GUEST BLOGS of contrasting styles…
James Heath (our Roman Expert)
Summarises his experience coordinating Schools in Rome and Sorrento last Autumn.
Attachment I Blog 1
Laurence Daley of La Sainte Union
Recounts his experience on their November Trip to Greece. Pupil names have been altered to protect the innocent!
Attachment I Blog 2
If anyone plans to visit the BM for Luxury and power: Persia to Greece and would like to write a Blog, let us know and we will shower you with unimaginable riches, or at least a Book Token.
WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING IN THE CLASSICAL WORLD?
There is positively LOADS going on in Greece! The Athens City refurb continues apace with improvements in Metro stations, pedestrianised walkways and a very controversial overhaul of the National Archaeological Museum and infrastructure. 30 Archaeological Sites in Greece to be Connected by ‘Culture Avenues’ Program,
2 new Museums are opening in Argos, Eleusis has a new Museum, Kerameikos to receive an upgrade, Plato’s Academy to gain a Green Museum, Aristotle’s Lyceum is going digital and Sparta has received the go-ahead for a new Museum, again. There’s been some archaeology going on too!
Work has begun on the construction of the Venezia station of Metro C, so expect disruption in the area until at least its planned opening in 2032! The Eternal City meanwhile offers a wonderful selection of new Exhibitions, Largo Argentina is eventually open to visitors (and the cats are safe!), Pompeii opens more houses, further wonders have been unearthed and the House of the Vettii now has solar panels which imitate terracotta roof tiles! Finds at Naples, Cumae and Orvieto are also breath taking.
Lots going on here too! A new Gatehouse, Bathhouse and finds on HW, ground breaking technology in York, reconstructions at Richborough, a new Roman Wall Museum in London and two new visitor reconstruction living museum experiences in Somerset and Wales!
TURKEY, EGYPT, SYRIA, EGYPT and environs – Appendix D
Whilst Turkey may not yet be quite up for school visits (and we have a heck of a lot of research to do) it’s still worth reminding ourselves of what is there and what is being uncovered; mosaics, a child’s whistle, a bath tub, tunnel, Imperial polychromatic reliefs, inscriptions……..
CROATIA, Balkans and Crimea – Appendix E
We’ve received our first enquiry about Croatia, and even though you may not be planning to visit (yet!), the Balkans always remain ever fascinating
FRANCE, SPAIN and PORTUGAL – Appendix F
Similarly, enquiries are increasing about visits to our closer neighbours and there has been a good deal of quite amazing archaeology recently.
A MISCELLANY OF RESOURCES and TEACHING MATERIALS – Appendix G
I’ve been a tad remiss in updating new resources and interesting articles, so the attached is quite a bumper crop to keep you occupied during the Summer holidays!
Teachers, as ever, have added the fruits of their own hard work to the Classics Library, as have the BSA, Delphi’s Guide to Athens, Dr Cora Beth Fraser, Philip A. Harland Websites (Ethnic Relations and Migration in the Ancient World) and of course the new VIEWS (not Crews!). There’s even a new Greek Philosopher App!
Articles are as diverse as Trojan Ancestry in Republican Art, Being a Prisoner in Ancient Rome, whether the Ancients domesticated Foxes, Rules in Warfare, Greek Pottery and Gypsum, Artisan Signatures, Rape as a Weapon, Intercalary Triumphs and the Missing Month, Cruelty to animals in and out of the Colosseum, a Barbary Ape buried with military honours and Arachne as a Feminist. Something for everyone!
I’m also very conscious that you like to know what we’ve been up to on or travels and we haven’t been delivering on that; it’s just been so busy! However, come September, I promise to update you on Greek Pyramids, Romans in Warrington, Tusculum, Ariccia Sagra della Porchetta (Roasted Pork Meat Festival) and what Castelli Romani can offer for a school trip.
Finally, as the End of Term approaches do consider how to throw the greatest toga party or save it for celebrating Exam results!
Have a great Summer everyone!
Sarah, John, Claudia, Jamie, Vishal and Nidhi