Learning Classics is a bit like putting on a magic pair of 3-D glasses. Once you start delving into the language and the culture, you'll start to see it all around you. This blog is a record of the club's journey through the worlds and language of ancient Rome and Greece... and through modern times, too, searching for the influence of classics all around us. You'll also be able to find vocab, home tasks, links and generally enlightening info here, too.

Latin and Greek are all around us

An on-going album of evidence. Anything you want to add? Bring evidence to the lesson...


1. Nike trainers
'Nike' (actually pronounced 'nick-ay') is Greek for 'victory'.

2. Pound coin 
Has 'nemo me impune lacessit' on the side, which translates as, 'don't you dare mess with me.' Which is a motto of Scotland. We will not be messing with them.

 Other coins have 'decus et tutamen' on the side, which means, 'pretty, and provides security' - a good summary of what money is.

3. Greek letters in college fraternity/sorority groups
(Spotted by Lai'larni) Fraternities and sororities are clubs for students in American universities and they often have Greek letters for their names. These letters often stand for something which only the members of the club may know. 

 The words 'fraternity' and 'sorority' come from the Latin for 'brother' ('frater') and 'sister' ('soror') - the other members of the club are supposed to be like your brothers and sisters.
4. The Magna Carta (spotted by Lai'Larni)
Means 'the great charter', and can be considered the foundation of law and civil liberties in this country, as it marks out for the first time in writing what a monarch can and can't do. And guess what? It's written in Latin! You can find out more about it here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magna_Carta

5. Magnum ice creams
Well, they're big (magnus)! A good excuse to eat them - they're yummy and educational. Ironically, there's a Magnum Mini. 
6. Beauty products named after Venus (spotted by Jamelia)
If you're going to try and sell something to enhance gorgeousness, what better thing to name it after than the goddess of love and beauty?

 Have a look at some more modern things named after gods.


7. Pharmacy signs (spotted by Anna)

Pharmacies are often represented by a snake curled around a staff (or sometimes a cup). This symbol is the Rod of Asclepius (or Asklepios), the ancient Greek god of healing. It is often confused with the staff of Hermes/Mercury - two snakes coiled round a stick - known as the caduceus.
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