Classical Civilisation
‘It is the power of the mind to be unconquerable.’ - Seneca
What We Study
Classics is the study of ancient Greek and Roman civilisations through art, architecture literature, drama, poetry, religion and philosophy. The cross-curricular nature of this vast and varied subject makes it truly unique. In Classics, you will put yourself in the shoes of a historian and use artistic sources to come to conclusions about ancient cultures. The subject is taught in the following three components:
- World of the Hero: The study of heroism in Homer’s Odyssey and Virgil’s Aeneid. In this component you will analyse the social, religious and political contexts of both epics.
- Love and Relationships: The study of ancient views on love, gender, marriage and sexuality. This component will focus on the philosophies of Plato and Seneca, and the poetry of Ovid and Sappho.
- Greek Theatre: The history of Greek theatre, it’s social and political significance, and the tragedy and comedy genres. You will study Sophocles’ Oedipus The King, Euripides’ Bacchae and Aristophanes’ Frogs, as well as relevant theatrical artwork.
Beyond the Classroom
There are many fantastic opportunities to fuel your passion for Classics both in and outside of the classroom. The Classics Department highly values extracurricular opportunities as a part of Classical Education. In the past year, A-Level pupils have undertaken theatre trips to see Oedipus Rex, Frogs and Hercules the Musical. We have also involved pupils in an annual Day of Classics at King’s College London, which involves a tour of the British Museum.
Our bi-weekly Classics Club is a popular enrichment activity for existing and inspiring Classicists to build on their knowledge of ancient civilisations and mythology in an engaging and social way. We embrace creativity in Classics Club by creating artwork and taking part in interactive tasks which are inspired by the Classical world. Additionally, our half-termly Mythology Movie Night is a great way for Key Stage 4 and Key Stage 5 pupils to enjoy films based on mythology or productions of ancient Greek plays.
Where it Might Lead
Classics graduates possess a wide range of transferable skills which makes them well-equipped to pursue careers in almost any field. As an essay subject, Classics students are taught excellent persuasive writing skills. They learn how to synthesise information and reach critical conclusions through evaluation and analysis. Therefore, graduate opportunities are extensive and include law, politics, the media, teaching, archaeology, advertising, consultancy and education.
Classical Civilisation is, of course, an excellent A-Level option for any student who wishes to further their study of the ancient world at degree level. Previous students have gone on to study:
- Classical Civilisations
- Ancient History
- Archeology and
- Anthropology
However, due to the interdisciplinary nature of Classical Civilisation, it is well-suited to degrees based in humanities and the arts, including:
- Law
- History
- Politics
- English
- Philosophy
- Theatre Studies
- Theology and
- Fine Art
By choosing Classical Civilisation as an A-Level subject, students develop a diverse skill set which is applicable to a wide variety of degree programmes and career pathways.