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. The Trojan War at the City Lit

      When: October 7 @ 11:00 am - October 28 @ 5:00 pm

      Over three Saturdays in October 2017 (7th, 21st and 28th) we shall examine the truth, myths and legends behind the Trojan War: its background, the events in the war and its consequences.  We shall use the poems of Homer, the plays of Aeschylus, Sophocles and Euripides and the many images on pottery and sculpture from… Read more »

    2. The Trojan War at the British Museum

      When: October 14 @ 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm

      This tour is organised by Siragusa Tours.

    3. British Museum Ancient Greek Tour

      When: October 22 @ 11:30 am - 12:10 pm

      This British Museum tour of the Greek Galleries take place every fourth Sunday.

    View All Events

Featured articles

George IV

Life and Times of King George IV George IV is perhaps best remembered as the Prince Regent whose extravagance was matched by his good taste. He built Brighton Pavilion in an exotic style which led the way to great changes in fashion. The Regency Period is still one of the most admired in architecture typified… Read more »

Music and Art Inspired by Shakespeare 4

MUSIC AND ART INSPIRED BY SHAKESPEARE No. 4: The Scandinavian Connection To celebrate being in Scandinavian waters the art and music inspired by Hamlet will be examined. Finland’s greatest composer, Sibelius, was also inspired by Shakespeare’s plays.  Music – Sibelius’s “Storm” from Incidental Music for The Tempest.  We have already heard some Sibelius this week… Read more »

Victoria and Albert

Life and Times of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert Queen Victoria was our longest reigning monarch (so far). She gave her name to an Age and her family life set the moral standard that is still referred to today as the ideal. Her family called her “more a pocket-sized Hercules than a pocket-sized Venus” and… Read more »

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