FHS’ first Classics week has been off to a great start so far, but things really took off on Wednesday when all the Classics teachers dressed up in their Roman outfits. While we saw 5 centurions this year, there are talks next year of the integration of the Cambridge Latin Course favourite characters, such as Cerberus the canis and the well-loved horto. During lunch at the Senior Classics Society, our Classicist-in-residence Dr Peter Jones gave a talk about the adaption of Greek Myths for theatre and its possible limitations in conveying distance and power on stage, as well as diving into the possibility of writing a tragedy in a classical style today with modern ideals. While particularly relevant to students studying Greek, this talk also appealed to interests in theatre, epics and the gods, and was greatly appreciated by the whole department.

On Thursday, another first for the FHS Classics department was the Balloon Debate from the Mythical Monsters, where girls could speak as their favourite Classics characters and defend themselves in order to remain on the sinking balloon. While Aeolus, Artemis and Persephone had convincing arguments, it was ultimately Zeus who remained on the balloon, much due to his many lightning-bolt themed jokes and well-researched classical knowledge. On Friday, our Classics Symposium looks to be very promising, with over 100 expected attendees and 2 speakers from Cambridge University.

Molly Campbell Butcher, Lower VI