Department of Classics at King's College London

24/07/2026

And here it is! Our King's Sustainability Bronze Award. Dr Emily Pillinger (receiving the award, first pic) said: "As teachers and researchers we know that our primary responsibility is to future generations, and we are hugely proud that this award recognises our efforts to make King's Classics as sustainable as it can be. To achieve the Green Impact Bronze Award, three of us trained to become 'sustainability champions’ and to become more carbon literate. This knowledge supported us to make new commitments as a department, including our move to fully plant-based catering.

"We will continue our efforts in pursuit of a Silver Award next year, and look forward to launching a new ‘Sustainability and Antiquity’ curriculum stream. Martin Dinter has designed the first module, which students will be able to take from spring 2027: ‘Ecohope vs Ecoanxiety - literature for a better world’."

(For more about the 2026 Sustainability Awards see link in comments.)

20/07/2026

We are feeling a little bashful sharing but are incredibly proud of being recognised by King's Sustainability with a Green Impact bronze award this year - the first in the faculty.

Hopefully we will soon have some photos to share - sometimes it's good to celebrate small things you win, especially when it's as important as making the changes that tackle climate and ecological crises.

14/07/2026

Now online: James Corke-Webster (KCL)'s talk for The Roman Society, 'Letters of Refuge: From AncientLyons to Modern Calais'

James Corke-Webster (KCL): Letters of Refuge: From AncientLyons to...

13/07/2026

How do you make a Roman mosaic? In May, KCL students were guided by Dr Will Wootton and mosaic artist Giulia Vogrig to create the new mosaic for the Roman villa at Butser Ancient Farm! You can watch it being made here:

In May 2026, a team led by Will Wootton and Giulia Vogrig created ...

07/07/2026

Now out in paperback! There is currently 20% off with the publisher's discount code ANCIHIS26.

New in paperback! The Ruins of Rome | An engaging account of the ongoing appeal, since medieval times, of Rome’s ruins and of their subsequent conservation and restoration. |
Save 20% with discount code ANCIHIS26
📚 https://cup.org/4veNfDy

22/06/2026

We are melting today, and wishing we were back in the gardens of
Sissinghurst Castle - National Trust. Our Centre for Hellenic Studies co-sponsored a special exhibition there called ‘Passion and Politics: Sissinghurst and Greece’, The exhibition highlighted the Greek connections of diplomat Harold Nicolson and his wife Vita Sackville-West: ‘For the first time, diplomat Harold Nicolson’s role in the fortunes of post-war Greece takes centre stage in this brand-new exhibition at Sissinghurst. Untold stories, unseen photographs and personal mementoes shine a light on his life, work, and the inspirations behind the design of his iconic home at Sissinghurst’.

On 4 June, four of KCL’s academic staff - Sir Roderick Beaton, Dr Rebecca Levitan, Dr Linday Allen, and Koraes Professor Gonda Van Steen - contributed to a one-day symposium with Professor Gonda highlighting in particular the personal as well as professional connections of Harold Nicolson, Vita Sackville-West, and the Greek statesman Eleftherios Venizelos. Horticulture and Hellenism afficionados joined us in what was an enjoyable day of discussion and sightseeing.

The exhibition has been extended until 28 June 2026 – so definitely go if you can (and if it's in this heatwave please do take some water, wear your sunhat, and put on sunscreen!).

04/06/2026

Post by one of our Visiting Research Fellows Dr Claire Millington.

A letter by Paterna (or whatever she's called). New blog post about the oldest writing by women in Britain, and why the claim to "the oldest" writing hides the point: letters, inventories, contracts and other documents found at Vindolanda, Carlisle and London show that literacy ran right through Roman society. Both men and women in the social circles that produced officers wives, as well as enslaved men and women were able to read and often write.

https://clairemillington.com/2026/06/03/letter-by-paterna-or-whatever-shes-called-the-oldest-writing-by-a-woman-in-britain

01/06/2026

League tables aren't everything, but it's encouraging when you see you've GONE UP A RANKING!! Our department are now No.5 in the UK.

Classics involves the study of the ancient civilisations that formed the beginnings of democracy

18/05/2026