CRGS Classics Dept.

Classics Department at Colchester Royal Grammar School. Keeping you up-to-date with Classics-related sites, news, links and information!

[CRGS Classics Dept. @CRGSClassics]

Here for Rajavel's talk on the Jewish-Roman War. Fascinating, entertaining, and a surprising number of Kardashians references!

[CRGS Classics Dept. @CRGSClassics]

Interested in studying Latin, Greek or Classical Civilisation at A Level? Or even all three? We're looking forward to meeting you at Sixth Form Open Evening tonight! @ColchesterRGS

[CRGS Classics Dept. @CRGSClassics]

Amazing turnout yesterday to our special KS3 quiz session. Wonderful to see so many of our younger students engaging with the classical world.

[CRGS Classics Dept. @CRGSClassics]

A fascinating and informative talk on the development of the alphabet from its earliest origins from Rory this lunchtime.

[CRGS Classics Dept. @CRGSClassics]

@mrs_denglish It got better after this actually with all the "killed by" added in!

[CRGS Classics Dept. @CRGSClassics]

Best family tree ever! Thank you to Charlie for an illuminating talk at this week's Classics Society.

[CRGS Classics Dept. @CRGSClassics]

A turn out of almost 30 for our first Classics Society meeting of the year. Great to hear from sixth form leaders about their interests in the ancient world - and a kahoot always goes down well! 12.50 in CLA2 on Wednesdays!

[Natalie Haynes @officialnhaynes]

AMAZING new frescos at Pompeii! And the glorious @pompei79 telling us all about them! And ROMAN STRING!

https://t.co/QX91F0YnkV

[CRGS Classics Dept. @CRGSClassics]

@ColchesterRGS One giant cookie divided between the class. Unlike Agamemnon, we understand the importance of sharing out the spoils equally!

[CRGS Classics Dept. @CRGSClassics]

Sophie in Year 12 surpassed the brief of "represent the shield of Achilles artistically" when she made it edible! YUM!!! (Can I have more homework submitted in the form of cookies, please?)

[CRGS Classics Dept. @CRGSClassics]

Started the day assisting three KS3 students in rescuing a frog (maybe a toad?). The procession to the pond was an excellent opportunity to introduce them to the croaking chorus! Brekekekex koax koax! A very wholesome start to the day!

[CRGS Classics Dept. @CRGSClassics]

Congratulations to Leo, Jakov, Daniel and Arda who won bronze medals at the Latin and Greek Reading Competition at @wschool this week. Laurel wreaths all round - we're very proud of you!

[CRGS Classics Dept. @CRGSClassics]

@LGS_Classics @bloomstheatre @GrandLat @britishmuseum We loved it!

[CRGS Classics Dept. @CRGSClassics]

Here at @bloomstheatre with our lovely GCSE & A Level Hellenists to watch @GrandLat Bacchae after a super trip to the @britishmuseum to look for depictions of Dionysus. It's the interval, Pentheus has gone to dress up as a woman to spy on the Bacchae.Surely nothing will go wrong?

[CRGS Classics Dept. @CRGSClassics]

This is so exciting! Imagine what the classicists of tomorrow will have to study!

[Nat Friedman @natfriedman]

Ten months ago, we launched the Vesuvius Challenge to solve the ancient problem of the Herculaneum Papyri, a library of scrolls that were flash-fried by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD.

Today we are overjoyed to announce that our crazy project has succeeded. After 2000 years, we can finally read the scrolls:
This image was produced by @Youssef_M_Nader, @LukeFarritor, and @JuliSchillij, who have now won the Vesuvius Challenge Grand Prize of $700,000. Congratulations!!

These fifteen columns come from the very end of the first scroll we have been able to read and contain new text from the ancient world that has never been seen before. The author – probably Epicurean philosopher Philodemus – writes here about music, food, and how to enjoy life's pleasures. In the closing section, he throws shade at unnamed ideological adversaries – perhaps the stoics? – who "have nothing to say about pleasure, either in general or in particular."

This year, the Vesuvius Challenge continues. The text that we revealed so far represents just 5% of one scroll.

In 2024, our goal is to from reading a few passages of text to entire scrolls, and we're announcing a new $100,000 grand prize for the first team that is able to read at least 90% of all four scrolls that we have scanned.

The scrolls stored in Naples that remain to be read represent more than 16 megabytes of ancient text. But the villa where the scrolls were found was only partially excavated, and scholars tell us that there may be thousands more scrolls underground. Our hope is that the success of the Vesuvius Challenge catalyzes the excavation of the villa, that the main library is discovered, and that whatever we find there rewrites history and inspires all of us.

It's been a great joy to work on this strange and amazing project. Thanks to Brent Seales for laying the foundation for this work over so many years, thanks to the friends and Twitter users whose donations powered our effort, and thanks to the many contestants whose contributions have made the Vesuvius Challenge successful!

Read more in our announcement: https://t.co/rUlrdGXBMs

[CRGS Classics Dept. @CRGSClassics]

The final meeting of Classics Society in 2023 saw the coronation of a Saturnalia Queen (io Sophie!), the judging of the meme competition and a "xi" writing contest with a surprise late entry from Mr. Chart-Boyles!

[CRGS Classics Dept. @CRGSClassics]

A Level Latinists, over to you!

[Classical Studies Memes @CSMFHT]

"He was in the Amazon with my mom when she was researching spiders right before she died" really sounds like an English to Latin exercise to test you on your knowledge of temporal clauses

[CRGS Classics Dept. @CRGSClassics]

Great turn out for Manas' talk on the First Punic War at Classics Society today. It's lovely to see the younger students getting involved and presenting so confidently.

[CRGS Classics Dept. @CRGSClassics]

Interested in continuing your studies of Latin and Greek to A Level? Or fancy something new and want to find out about Classical Civilisation? Make sure you stop by the Classics Department this evening at our 6th Form open evening! @ColchesterRGS

[CRGS Classics Dept. @CRGSClassics]

This personalised, signed copy of @EmilyRCWilson's translation of The Iliad is now available to borrow from the Classics Department. Please see Miss A if you are interested. Priority will be given to Classical Civilisation and Greek students.