William Sterling

Introducing

Achilles killing Penthesilea, queen of the Amazons by Exekias of Athens c. 560 BC. This type of pot is called Black Figure ware as the figures were filled in using the liquid or slip clay which miraculously turned black during the firing process. One of the incidents during the Trojan War not recorded by Homer was the fight between Achilles, hero of the Greeks, and Penthesilea, queen of the tribe of warrior women called the Amazons. Achilles won but at the moment he drove his spear into her neck their eyes met for the first time and they fell in love with each other. Exekias shows this ultimate Greek Tragedy by suggesting Achilles is trying to pull the spear out rather than thrust it home but all too late. Image © Trustees of the British Museum
My name is Dr William Sterling ~ welcome to my website. I have degrees in History and Geography with additional qualifications in Music and Education. I taught full-time at an Independent School in Kent for four years before joining the Civil Service. I worked for 16 years in the Department of Transport… Read more »

Look out for…

  • Upcoming Events

    1. British Museum Ancient Greek Tour

      When: June 3 @ 11:30 am - 12:10 pm

      This British Museum tour of the Greek Galleries takes place every day at 11:30 am.  We work on a four week rota and mine are on a Sunday.  The dates for my tours in 2018 are January 14th, February 11th, March 11th, April 8th, May 6th, June 3rd, July 1st (although I shall probably swap this one), July… Read more »

    2. British Museum Mediaeval Tour

      When: June 3 @ 2:45 pm - 3:25 pm

      This British Museum tour of the Mediaeval Galleries takes place every day at 2:45 pm.  We work on a four week rota and mine are on a Sunday.  The dates for my tours in 2018 are January 14th, February 11th, March 11th, April 8th, May 6th, June 3rd, July 1st (although I shall probably swap this one), July… Read more »

    3. British Museum Highlights

      When: June 24 @ 11:30 am - 3:30 pm

      These tours of the British Museum last 90 minutes and take in up to 15 highlights from the museum’s vast collection.  They are at 11:30 am and 2:00 pm on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. The tours cover both main floors of the museum plus some of the side rooms and examine objects from Africa, Europe,… Read more »

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Featured articles

Charles I

The Life and Times of Charles I This was a one day course run at the City Lit on Sunday 23rd March 2014.  It is the second in a series of one day courses on the kings and queens of England.  The next one will be Queen Anne.  This is how Charles I was advertised:… Read more »

Jan Sibelius

Nielsen and Sibelius This course involved comparing and contrasting the careers and music of two great Scandinavian contemporaries. Both were born in 1865, Sibelius gave up composing in 1931, the year of Nielsen’s death. The course was based round their magnificent symphonies but explored their whole contribution to C20th music. I ran this course at… Read more »

Women in Etruria and Rome

Ancient Etruscan and Roman Women Comparing and contrasting women in the societies of Ancient Etruria, Ancient Rome and Roman Britain including the importance of the worship of goddesses. Examining the position of women in Ancient Italy as well as the attitude to women as seen as goddesses. The contrasting roles of women in Etruscan and… Read more »

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