Ancient Board Games
What if I told you that you could play a board game that is over 4,000 years old?
As part of the Classics Seminar for Upper VI students interested in reading Classics at University, Bea, an A-Level Greek student, gave a presentation on some of the most ancient board games for which we have evidence She explained rules, sources, and locations of discovery. Did you know that some of these games have been found worldwide, even in Sri Lanka?
Here, you can access a digital map showing all the spots in the world where ancient games have been found! Isn’t it impressive?
After that, students and teachers had the pleasure of playing some games The students’ team absolutely smashed the Royal Game of Ur, while the teachers turned the tables and won the Ludus Latrunculorum, the game of soldiers.
The good news is that you can play some of these too! Check out the website for the Royal Game of Ur and have fun!
Coffee with my younger self (Cicero)
Upper IV students, inspired by the popular TikTok trend of "Coffee with my younger self," took a unique turn in their Latin lessons. After delving into Cicero's political career and his pivotal role in saving the Roman Republic from Catiline's conspiracy, they felt compelled to step into the shoes of the renowned Roman orator and statesman
Interviews with our Upper VI Leavers Elektra Classics & Drama Trip
Another school year has gone and here at The Abbey we like to celebrate and reflect upon each student’s journey Check this video of Ms Lopresti chatting with Upper VI students of Latin, Classical Greek, and Classical Civilisation about their experience of studying Classics in the Sixth Form and beyond
Bea, Elie, Evie, Francesca, and Izzy talk with pleasure about what they have enjoyed, the skills that they have acquired, their favourite trips as well as the impact studying Classical subjects has had and will have on their lives We wish our Classics students all the best for their future journeys!
Click here to watch the video
Last Thursday, Lower VI and Upper VI Classics and Drama students spent a lovely sunny day in London attending Sophocles’ Elektra, directed by David Fish
Let’s hear some of their thoughts:
“On the 26th of February, Drama and Classics A-Level students were given the incredible opportunity of going to the Duke of York’s Theatre to watch ‘Elektra’. The show was an incredible modern twist on the Greek Tragedy by Sophocles, starring Brie Larson as Elektra and Stockard Channing as Clytemnestra We loved the way they used harmonies to tell the story alongside the cleverly crafted lighting, sound and set design The production was an amazing experience for us to learn about Greek Tragedies and we all had a fantastic day!”
Leah and Molly, Lower VI Drama students
“It was thrilling to see such an ancient and timeless play adapted into a new form for the modern era. The set, props, and Anne Carson’s clever translation all brought a contemporary feel to the play, along with the use of technologies such as vocal modifiers that would never have been available to the play’s original author Sophocles And yet, the play retained some of its centuries-old elements, a particular highlight being the inclusion of the chorus and their traditional song. This connection between different eras was the perfect way to present a play centered on the common human experience of grief” Francesca, Upper VI Greek student
Oedipus Rex at the Old Vic
On Wednesday 12 March, members of the Senior School Classics Society travelled to London to see a new adaptation of Oedipus Rex at the Old Vic Theatre Spirits were high among students and staff in anticipation of a night out to remember This Greek Tragedy is part of the Classical Civilisation A-level syllabus, so sixth form classics students were particularly keen to see how it had been adapted for the stage.
Shortly after taking our seats, the audience were plunged into darkness without warning This was a shocking start to a very bold and visceral production where the intention to create a ‘whole body experience’ was really felt through the booming music and intense movement of the choral dancers
Jemimah, a current Lower VI student who has studied the play, said this ‘Overall the adaptation of Oedipus Rex was captivating and moving. For me the stand out element was the chorus, who moved with impressive uniformity and completely grabbed my attention whenever they were on stage. However, I was disappointed with some of the changes to the plot that they made but the visual imagery of the rain and emotive music made up for it ’ Overall the play was hugely enjoyed by students and staff alike and gave us plenty of talking points for Classics lessons in the days to follow.
Success for
Christina
Highly commended in the Latin Reading Competition 2025!
Christina decided to expand her love for ancient languages by bringing Latin to life. She took part in the national reading competition organised by the Association for Latin Teaching.
It is with great pleasure that we can announce that Christina was awarded Highly Commended in the Junior section for her reading of the Latin story Septimus revenit. Entries were judged on accuracy of pronunciation and ability to convey the meaning and mood of the passage, and the judges were very impressed with the overall high standard of entries this year. Well done, Christina! euge!
Who speaks Latin nowadays?
“Habemus Papam”
The reporter who broke the news of the identity of the new Pope got the scoop because he understood the announcement in Latin before other major broadcasters
Check out this video:
Below is the announcement of the new Pope made by Cardinal Mamberti. How much can you understand?
annuntio vobis gaudium magnum: habemus papam eminentissimum ac reverendissimum dominum, dominum Robertum Franciscum sanctæ Romanæ ecclesiæ cardinalem Prevost. qui sibi nomen imposuit Leonem Decimum Quartum Answer on the
Chedworth Roman Villa Trip
Upper III spent a wonderful day in the sunshine at Chedworth Roman villa They saw the longest mosaic floor in Britain, and were amazed at the size of the bathhouse in the villa. Two knowledgeable guides explained the history behind it and they even learned that the Romans would have shared a sponge on a stick instead of toilet paper in their communal latrine!
In their activity session, they got to try their hand at making their own mosaic tiles and loved experimenting with different patterns and colours - they will be really useful as coasters at home! Exploring the site in the glorious weather at the end rounded off a really lovely day
Here is what Janani in Upper III had to say
“We went to Chedworth Roman Villa to discover some more about the Romans We saw a latrina (communal lavatory), a culina (kitchen), a frigidarium, tepidarium and caldarium which made part of the baths complex On top of all this, we got to make our very own mosaics with colourful and glass tesserae! We all enjoyed making the mosaics because it was a very fun and calming activity.
We also saw a triclinium with beautiful and ancient mosaics on the floor. Finally, at the end of our wonderful day at Chedworth Roman Villa, we got to go to the gift shop and explore the wonderful artefacts and architecture of the Roman ruins! In the end, I had a great time and hope to go there again someday!!”
Upper III Ovid Celebration
Upper III students joined together to celebrate their fantastic creative responses to the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice for the national Ovid Competition organised by the Cambridge School Classics Project.
A mass Kahoot on the myth of Orpheus made for a very exciting start It was fiercely contested and won by Emma Then followed the opportunity for students to share their entries with their peers, to answer questions and to explain what they were trying to convey. The highlight was definitely Sophie, Matilda, Alma and Neve’s performance of their rap.
Classics UCAS
Preparation Morning
As part of the UCAS preparation morning, Esme, who would like to study Classical Studies at University, visited Reading University. She met the Classics Department Head who answered all her questions about the content of the course, how it was taught and examined. She also found out about all the fun extra-curricular events!
After that she looked around the Ure Museum of Greek Archaeology, an inspiring space It is full of Greek pots and artefacts, illustrating so many aspects of life in Ancient Greece The special exhibition on different depictions of horses was particularly interesting and the symposia pots were especially enlightening on the different aspects of Greek dinner parties. Now Esme has plenty to inspire her as she embarks on her personal statement.
Classics Society: Pizza and Hercules singa-long event
What a fantastic afternoon it was for our Upper IV and Lower V Classics Society members! Students gathered in a relaxed environment to share their mutual love for anything classical The highlight? A fun viewing of Disney's Hercules, complete with plenty of pizza to fuel the mythological adventure! This lovely event, part of the Classics Society's vibrant calendar, wasn't just about entertainment Before heading home, students were armed with book recommendations and engaging thinking questions designed to stretch their knowledge, creativity, and critical thinking skills It was a perfect blend of fun and intellectual stimulation, proving that the classics are alive and well!
Margaret's Minecraft Colosseum: Building History, One Block at a Time!
We are incredibly proud of Margaret, one of our Upper III Latin students, who recently participated in the Warwick Classics Network's "Building Communities" competition For her entry, Margaret ingeniously recreated the magnificent Colosseum within Minecraft, demonstrating not only her impressive building skills but also her deep understanding of ancient Roman society She thoughtfully explained how this iconic structure served as a vital community hub, a place for socialising and gathering, truly bringing history to life in a modern context. We're all eagerly awaiting the results! You can see the video of her amazing creation by clicking here
