As part of our studies on Classics this year, we had the amazing opportunity to visit the British Museum. This trip really helped make the ancient world come to life further than just in the classroom.
Reports by Classics pupils.
We began with a train ride into London, followed by a short trip on the underground. We were greeted with absolutely superb weather, with clear skies and warm temperatures that made the day even more perfect.
Inside the museum we got to see an extraordinary collection of artefacts that we have been studying throughout the year. Seeing these sculptures, vases, and historical sources up close was incredibly rewarding and intriguing. It was such a privilege to have the opportunity to connect our classroom learning with these real artefacts from the ancient world, which helped give us a deeper understanding of their culture, life, and art.
One of the many highlights of this trip was the opportunity to spend time exploring the museum independently, which allowed us to follow and explore our own interests, discover new exhibits, and appreciate the large array of history on display at our own pace.
Overall, the trip was incredibly enjoyable and educational. It gave us a real chance to directly engage with the ancient world while also getting to experience the daily life of London. By the time we made it back to school, we had gained not just new knowledge, but also many lasting memories of such a brilliant day.
This visit is undeniably a highlight of our Classics Studies this year.
Levi G – Lower Sixth
We explored as many exhibitions as possible, but particularly focused on the artefacts which link to our Classical Civilisations course. Getting to see these objects in person was really helpful in letting us understand their significance.
One of the highlights of the trip was viewing the detailed sculptures and decorations from the ancient Greek temples, including those from the Parthenon. After seeing all of the friezes in person, we were especially impressed by those depicting sacrificial processions such as the great Panathenaea and battles like the centauromachy.
Reading the descriptions alongside the artefacts was also really helpful in improving our understanding of the artefacts and our knowledge about them. However, just getting to see these items in person was perhaps the most useful part of the visit.
Another especially interesting part of the trip was encountering artefacts which we had already studied. This allowed us to recognise all of the misconceptions which we had previously had, especially about their sizes and proportions. Some objects were far larger and more impressive than we had imagined, while others were surprisingly small and intricate.
In addition to the Greek and Roman collections, we also had the opportunity to explore other parts of the museum that are not part of our course. The Egyptian collection was especially interesting, and we were really impressed by the mummies and huge granite statues.
Overall, the trip to the British Museum was a really informative and enjoyable experience which not only improved our knowledge of the artefacts which we had previously studied but also allowed us to broaden our awareness of other cultures in the ancient world.
Bea H – Fifth Form
