Last month, we were lucky enough to go to the British Museum for their one-off Young Friends Roman Sleepover with access to the Legion exhibition. It was an amazing experience, and the Legion exhibition is a must-see, and will be on until the 23rd of June.
Our first activity of the evening was learning how Romans wrote and were educated – this included writing with styli on wax tablets (cerae) and ink on wood tablets. Our very competent instructor told us all about education in Roman life!
Next, we moved on to the Roman children’s entertainment. First, we looked at a game called ‘Ludus Latrunculorum’ also commonly called ‘Ludus Latrunculi’. It was first found at Hadrian’s Wall and is an ancient version of draughts. There was a huge selection of games that ranged from playing with animal bones to full-on war games with miniature buildings and catapults.
Then we looked at a range of ancient herbs and spices, which were used to cook and some for fragrance.
We also saw what Roman soldiers would have worn in battle and how they tried to keep safe.
In the morning, we got to see the exhibition. It was presented in chronological order and told the full story of an average soldier – from when you first try to join the army to full-on battle. There was a wide range of artefacts, ranging from helmets and shields to bones of the dead. We were incredibly lucky to see the only surviving and complete Roman legionary shield (scutum). It is a remarkable painted leather surface on a red background, with Roman motifs including an eagle and a lion.
Overall, it was an amazing experience which enhanced our understanding and enjoyment of Latin and the ancient world.
James (Year 8) and Christopher (Year 8)
