William Sterling

We survey Roman history in its days of glory and empire illustrated in the afternoon by a visit to the British Museum during which we will examine key artefacts including the exquisite Portland Vase.

Italy before the ascent of Rome was dominated by the Etruscans who left magnificent tombs filled with pottery, statues and jewellery. By the C2nd BC Rome was in the ascendancy and gradually took over an empire stretching all-round the Mediterranean and beyond until it became so unwieldy it was split in the C3rd AD and then the Western half fell to Germanic tribes invading from the north in the C5th. Works examined include the Isis treasure, the Boccanera tiles, the Seianti sarcophagus, the Meroe bust of Augustus, the Portland Vase, the Warren Cup, the Crocodile armour, paintings from Pompeii, silver hoards and the Goose from the Constantinople Hippodrome.