Last Friday, Tea Group had the opportunity to visit the British Museum and experience a guided tour by Dr Hayes, our Head of Classics. From the very first glance, we all marvelled at the grandeur of the Ionic columns which welcomed us into the museum. From there, it was nothing but full immersion as we explored a multiplicity of artefacts, including the carved marble block from the South side of the continuous frieze of the temple of Apollo at Bassai.

The East and South friezes showed the battle between the Amazons and the Greeks, which was led by Heracles, draped in his iconic lion skin whilst raising his mighty club. We were astonished by the timeless quality of the marble, as well as its emphasis on the continuing war against the barbarians from the Greek perspective. We were also fascinated at the sight of the mummies, quite literally in the flesh (!), with sarcophagi coming in a plethora of sizes, and the Rosetta Stone which unlocked the enigmatic hieroglyphic script of ancient Egypt.

We are so grateful to Dr Hayes for having shared his enriching insights. Our stroll through Ancient History came to a close with a delightful cup of tea and cake at the British Museum Cafe, before heading home with a wealth of new knowledge.

Ismay Bunce and Sofia Harris, Lower Sixth