SHEFFIELD CLASSICAL ASSOCIATION - Blog

The Power of Sadness in Virgil's Aeneid

Sun, 15 Feb 2026 15:07:13 GMT

Roman Ghosts at a recent Lecture!

Sun, 17 Aug 2025 10:29:15 GMT

We had almost 100 people (from local schools, U3A and even the local Historical Association) in the audience. And, as is his wont, Dr. Andrew Fear treated us to a wonderfully learned but at the same time thoroughly entertaining talk. At the end we also managed to sign up 16 new members; and a voluntary 'silver collection' raised £40.00.

This wonderful poster was designed by Gemma Allen who teaches Classics at Highs Storrs High

Funny or wot?

Sun, 17 Aug 2025 09:09:15 GMT

A Well-deserved Award!

Sat, 16 Aug 2025 13:01:49 GMT

We are very proud to share that our very own Miss Gina Johnson of High Storrs School, Sheffield has been awarded 'Outstanding State Sector' initiative, a prestigious award from The Classical Association!
This award is presented to individuals whose work is felt to have had a significant and positive impact on the teaching of Classics in the UK.
What a fantastic and well-deserved achievement for Miss Johnson, who has been teaching Classics and Latin at High Storrs for nearly 40 years!
Find out more about The Classical Association's Teaching Awards here:
https://classicalassociation.org/classical-association.../
Follow High Storrs Classics department here:
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61569857250052 edit.

ANCIENT COINS IN SHEFFIELD

Mon, 22 Apr 2024 10:23:32 GMT

The Classical Association Sheffield and District Branch
Report on coin handling sessions. 
 Session leader – Emeritus Professor John Drinkwater.
 March/April 2024
Following on from our very well-received storytelling events in January, the President of the Sheffield and District branch of the Classical Association, John Drinkwater, has been kind enough to offer some coin handling sessions to local schools and U3A groups in recent weeks. Whilst this might seem to be a very different sort of offering, in actual fact John enthralled students and adults alike by telling the story of Nero and his various relationships with the women in his life through his teaching collection of coins. The sixth form students at High Storrs School found these session fascinating and relished the opportunity to pass around and examine the coins. One was inspired to think about starting his own collection, another said it was thrilling to hold history in her hand and another couldn’t quite believe that she was handling something that had originated in Roman Egypt! We are hoping that this might become a regular event in school and another local school is planning to welcome John very soon.

WILD VISIONS UNTAMED MYTH

Fri, 24 Nov 2023 10:37:53 GMT

www.eventbrite.com/e/wild-visions-untamed-myth-tickets-768247447797?aff=ebdsoporgprofile

LAST SUPPER IN POMPEII

Sat, 15 Oct 2022 09:14:29 GMT

Sheffield We are pleased to announce the following talk presented by the Sheffield branch of the Classical Association, in conjunction with the Medieval and Ancient Research Centre:
Wednesday 8 March, 4:15pm
Dr Paul Roberts (Sackler Keeper of Antiquities, Ashmolean Museum)
'Last Supper in Pompeii: The Roman Love Affair with Food and Wine'
Regent Court, John Pemberton LT A
This talk will be an in-person event but we will also be live-streaming it. If you would like to attend online, sign up by completing this form. (You will be sent a link to join the talk closer to the time.)

We look forward to seeing you there
ill be sent a link to join the talk closer to the time.)Paul Roberts (s

Mosaic of a skeleton with wine jugs. Pompeii, AD 30-79. Naples Museum inv. 9978 .
For the Romans, life meant getting together to eat and drink, in a pub, in a simple flat or at a banquet in a triclinium or grand dining room. Last supper in Pompeii celebrates the Roman love affair with food and wine, in a journey from fields and vineyards to markets and shops, from tables to toilets and the tomb.
We visit the fertile vine-filled slopes of Vesuvius, then going into the bustling city, past shops and bars, we enter the home, with its grand reception rooms, and lovely garden filled with flowers and fountains. We recline in the dining room, with exotic food and fine wine, surrounded by Greek-style luxury; beautiful silver, mosaics and frescoes. But don’t go in the kitchen! No fridge, no running water, no hygiene (and an open cess pit next to the cooker!).
Lastly we look at how Roman ideas and customs on food caught on in Roman Britain. Along with Roman gods of fertility and wine come exotic imports like pepper, figs and finest fish sauce. We witness the birth of the British beer industry and even see the British dead, feasting into the afterlife, like all good Romans. Seize the day - Carpe diem!

Fresco showing guests at a Roman banquet convivium, drinking and talking
Pompeii, House of the Triclinium. Naples Archaeological Museum MANN 120031

Mosaic showing sea -creatures
Pompeii Naples Archaeological Museum MANN 120177

Classical Association Creative Writing Competition.

Sat, 04 Dec 2021 12:19:36 GMT

I’m sure some of you will know about this already, but don’t we need a mass entry from Sheffield? The ’Troy’ section is open to 19+. I’m going to start my entry next week!
More information from this link:
https://classicalassociation.org/competition/

Stoke Mandeville: Roman sculptures HS2 find astounding, expert says . . .

Wed, 17 Nov 2021 11:39:23 GMT

For more about this very interesting find, click here. Dr. Penny Combe from the Department of Archaeology at Sheffield University was recently on BBC Woman's Hour talking about it (about 27.56 mins in). She can follow her on Twitter at twitter.com/pennycoombe.

Apollo and Daphe

Wed, 11 Nov 2020 16:57:04 GMT

This is a recording of the talk that Dr. Tom Phillips of the University of Manchester gave to the North Staffs branch of the Classical Association to which we were kindly invited: It's very good. We are very grateful to North Staffs for the chance to hear it and see it! It's very good!
Peter