Discover Ancient Civilisations - Online Courses
Delve into stories of classics and the ancient world, learn the languages and explore their cultures. Courses are available on weekdays, evenings and weekends.
Looking for classical language courses?
- History of oriental carpetsCourse start date: Sat 18 May 2024
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Roberta MarinDiscover the origins of carpets, their threads, materials, patterns and trends as well as patrons and places of manufacture. Find out also their representations on the canvases of famous Renaissance artists.Full fee £59.00 Senior fee £47.00 Concession £38.00 - Superpowers with elephants: the battle of Raphia, 217 BCECourse start date: Sat 8 Jun 2024
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Michael BloomfieldThe decisive battle fought at Raphia in 217 B.C. between the two Hellenistic kings Ptolemy IV of Egypt and Antiochus III of Syria saw the clash of armies drawn from across the ancient world, with elephants and cavalry, transforming the world order.Full fee £29.00 Senior fee £23.00 Concession £19.00 - War and Peace in Roman Love PoetryCourse start date: Tue 11 Jun 2024
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Nikoletta ManiotiRoman love poets are proponents of peace as the condition where love can flourish. However, war permeates their poetry and is even turned into one of its characteristic motifs, the "campaign of love". This lecture will offer an overview of the themes of war and peace, with specific reference to the poems of Tibullus, Propertius, and Ovid.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £29.00 Senior fee £29.00 Concession £19.00 - The Roman legion in the Gospel of MarkCourse start date: Wed 12 Jun 2024
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Jordan DyckAll of the canonical Gospels frequently mention the Roman military; it is key to the story. Yet, in Mark’s Gospel, specific references to the Roman legion come to the fore, and perhaps to one legion in particular: Legio X Fretensis. Its symbols are coded into the story of the demon ‘Legion,’ which is placed immediately before the feeding of a ‘legion’ of 5000 men. Legionaries are involved in the torture and crucifixion of Christ, and then a statement by the centurion at the foot of the cross is at the very apex of the narrative, fulfilling the purpose set out at the start: declaring Jesus to be the son of a god – like Caesar himself. Questions over the potentially threatening nature of Jesus’ messiahship are also pervasive throughout, tying his relationship to the military to one of the core themes of the book. Probably written immediately following Vespasian’s war in Judea, which was led by none other than Legio X Fretensis, we must wonder: what is the function of the Roman legion in relation to the narrative and purpose of the Gospel of St. Mark?
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £19.00 Senior fee £19.00 Concession £12.00 - Classics DayCourse start date: Sat 15 Jun 2024
Location on this date: The British Museum
City Lit and the British Museum present the annual Classics Day, offering a day of lectures celebrating war and peace in the ancient world. This year’s inspiration is the major exhibition "Legion: Life in the Roman army". Anyone with a love of the classics is welcome. No previous knowledge required. - Art of Islamic SpainCourse start date: Sat 22 Jun 2024
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Roberta MarinDiscover the art and architecture of Spain during the Arab domination (711-1493).Full fee £59.00 Senior fee £47.00 Concession £38.00 - Up close and personal with Greek archaeological treasuresCourse start date: Sat 22 Jun 2024
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Sarah Merali-SmithDiscover stunning objects from ancient Greece and the evidence they provide for the lives of ancient people. Spend the afternoon having a close look at the British Museum's collection.Full fee £59.00 Senior fee £47.00 Concession £38.00 - Women in Ancient GreeceCourse start date: Fri 28 Jun 2024 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: William SterlingIn this course we shall examine women in myth, women in religion and the everyday life of women. It will conclude with a visit to the British Museum.Full fee £59.00 Senior fee £47.00 Concession £38.00 - Seven wonders of the ancient worldCourse start date: Fri 4 Oct 2024
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: William SterlingThe Seven Wonders fascinate us, but what were they and why were they wonders? Using art, literature and
archaeology we'll explore possible answers.Full fee £69.00 Senior fee £55.00 Concession £45.00 - Gothic language: a tasterCourse start date: Wed 9 Oct 2024
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Stephen PollingtonDiscover the ancient language spoken by the Goths, an ancient Germanic population from Scandinavia who settled in North-Eastern and Eastern Europe.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £19.00 Senior fee £19.00 Concession £12.00 - Deciphering the Rosetta StoneCourse start date: Sat 26 Oct 2024
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Hugo Cook200 years after one of history’s most famous puzzles was deciphered, tour around the British Museum’s new Decipherment exhibition and learn how the mystery of Hieroglyphs was unravelled with the Rosetta Stone, with other archaeological clues, and with a bit of genius.Full fee £59.00 Senior fee £47.00 Concession £38.00 - The EtruscansCourse start date: Fri 1 Nov 2024
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: William SterlingDiscover the mysterious people who lived in Central Italy and ended up being enveloped by the Romans. - Prostitution in Ancient RomeCourse start date: Tue 5 Nov 2024
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Sean GabbThe oldest profession as practised among the Romans - not for the squeamish.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £19.00 Senior fee £19.00 Concession £12.00 - A journey in the history and culture of SicilyCourse start date: Sat 9 Nov 2024
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Roberta MarinThis weekend course will offer an insight view of the multifaceted history and multilayered culture of Sicily, the ancient island off the shore of Italy mainland. - Queen of Egyptology: Amelia EdwardsCourse start date: Sat 30 Nov 2024
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Rosalind JanssenFamed Victorian novelist and travel writer, skilled artist, intrepid and renowned Egyptologist. No wonder that London born Amelia Blanford Edwards (1831-1892) was dubbed the ‘Queen of Egyptology’ by her American fans. Our concentration is on her legacy to London, and we end our day by visiting one of her enduring foundations in the capital: UCL’s Petrie Museum.Full fee £59.00 Senior fee £47.00 Concession £38.00
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