Lucius Calpernius Pudens, a Roman soldier from the 14th Legion, spent a day with our children. To begin, they learnt all about the Roman legacy and influence on modern life: English words derived from Latin, including numbers; the months of the year; names for the countries and provinces of the Roman Empire; and the planets, named after Roman gods and goddesses.
The children then explored the chronology of and reasons for the Roman invasions of Britannia and Boudicca’s uprising against the conquering army. They found out why the Roman forces were so successful by comparing the arms and armour of the Romans and Celts.
Then, the children completed the entrance examination to establish whether they were tough enough to join the Roman army. Having passed the test, they learned to drill with a sword and shield following instructions in Latin.
Finally, they found out a little about Roman leisure and entertainment. They thought about a visit to the baths and a day out at the arena to watch the entertainment – animal and gladiator fights.
