Last Friday, as a grand finale to our second Classics Week, 100 passionate Classics students from FHS and other schools including Brighton College, City of London Boys, Godolphin & Latymer, Maria Fidelis Catholic School and Westminster came together in St Cyprian’s Church for our first ever Classics Symposium.

Sessions were held by Professor Robin Osborne of King’s College, Cambridge, on ‘Theatre and Democracy in Classical Athens’, focusing on the contrasting political impact of Ancient Greek comedy and tragedy, and Professor Caroline Vout of Christ’s College, Cambridge, on ‘Seeing God in Greece and Rome’, focusing on the ways in which depictions of God indicate the historical progression of his perception in different parts of society.

Lower VI student Saskia Teeger has written a fantastic reflection on the symposium, which you can read here.

Our Head of Classics, Ms Simons, commented on the success Symposium, saying:

“We were delighted to host our first Classics Symposium – the first of many such events. The enthusiasm of our students – and the many students from other schools who attended our Symposium – show that Classics as a subject is alive and well and speaks to the current generation as much as any previous generation. The study of Latin, Ancient Greek and Classical Civilisation encourages pupils to be analytical and critical thinkers; qualities which have never been more relevant than in today’s society.”

Thank you to all who attended our Classics Symposium and to our two fantastic speakers. Watch this space for more thought-provoking Classical events in months and years to come.