Classics Goes Competition Crazy!

Writes Michael Bull, Head of Classics

There has been a flurry of activity in the world of Classics competitions in the last few weeks, with students showing their incredible range of talents in many different areas of the Ancient World. Before half term, we received over 50 entries into our inaugural Artefact Competition, with efforts ranging from poems composed entirely in Latin to a mock WikiHow article. The winner of the Junior Category was Felix S (4ths) for his very detailed research into potential dating and translation errors on a cuneiform tablet, while the winner of the Senior Category was James G (L6th) for his work on a Pompeian cosmetic jar, composed entirely in Latin with an accompanying English commentary.

The full results were as follows:

The final day before half term also saw the staging of our Internal Latin Reading Competition, with our Junior Category reading a dialogue between Romulus and Remus, which became progressively more heated until a rather abrupt end (with various improvised weapons). The Intermediate Category read a beautiful passage of Ovid’s Metamorphoses, expressing the shock and wonder of the aged couple Baucis and Philemon as they discover their guests aren’t quite who they thought they were. Finally, the Senior Category challenged students to read a moving passage of Aeneid Book IV, as the Carthaginian Queen, Dido, ties herself in knots contemplating her love for her new guest Aeneas. The results were as follows:

And finally, just after half term we welcomed the return of the House Classics Quiz, with rounds this year ranging from ‘Name That Mythological Monster’ to ‘Latin Author Anagrams’. Apparently, the Quiz’s reputation and popularity has soared to such heights that even His Majesty The King thought that he would pop in on the day to see what all the fuss was about! The results were as follows:

My thanks go to all the students for taking part in these competitions in the right spirit and to my colleagues in the Classics and Archives Departments for all their help in adjudication.