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. Figureheads, Ship Badges and Silverware – Nineteenth Century Classical References in the British Museum

      When: April 25 @ 11:00 am - 5:00 pm

      Delve into classical myths used in naval related and other items by examining some of the British Museum and other collections of C19th objects. Following on from the previous course we shall look at what Classical artworks were available to artists in the C19th and what literary works were studied in schools and were known… Read more »

    2. Great Sea Battles from the Classical World – Salamis, Syracuse and Actium

      When: May 16 @ 11:00 am - 5:00 pm

      A general look at ships and sailing techniques in the Ancient World and how vessels were used in warfare. We shall look at the strategies used by navies in the ancient world and specifically the tactics at Salamis in 480 BC where the allied Greek forces defeated the Persian fleet of King Xerxes, the second… Read more »

    3. Life and Times of Queen Anne

      When: June 7 @ 11:00 am - 5:00 pm

      Queen Anne was the last of the Stuarts and suffered much personal tragedy but she ruled over an increasingly prosperous nation that had unprecedented military success in Europe under the Duke of Marlborough. Although Anne reigned for only 12 years they were momentous years in many ways. In politics they saw the Union between England… Read more »

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Featured articles

Victoria and Albert

The Life and Times of Victoria and Albert She gave her name to an Age. He gave us a cultural heritage to be proud of. Their marriage was a true love match and her widowhood from the age of 42, a national tragedy. Queen Victoria was our longest reigning monarch (so far). Her family life… Read more »

The Etruscans: An Introduction

This course was being run by the City Lit on Saturday 13th April 2013, Saturday 29th April 2017 and Sunday 27th October 2019.  Although their language has been lost the influence of the Etruscans on the Greeks and Romans was enormous and many objects survive today. The course included a visit to the British Museum. The… Read more »

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