Homer, Iliad 24. 469-484

Euripides, Hippolytus 345-361

Aristophanes, Thesmophoriazusae 855-868

Ovid, Amores 3.4.1-16

Catullus 8

Virgil, Aeneid 1. 50-63

For copies of the texts click here.

St John’s College Classics and Ancient History Essay Competition

The St. John’s College Classics and Ancient History Essay Competition will be running for the second time during the academic year 2011/12.

The competition is open to all students currently studying in Year 12 anywhere in the UK, and is designed to give students of any subject the opportunity to write an essay on the classical world. The essay titles have been chosen to encourage the widest possible approach to investigation of the ancient world; topics include ancient history, archaeology, ancient literature, and philosophy.

St John’s is interested in providing an opportunity for independent research, and a taste of university study, for those who have studied the ancient world before, and for those who have never previously studied classics. 

Application is now open, and the deadline for entries is Friday 10^th February 2012.

For further information and details of how to enter, please visit www.sjc.ox.ac.uk/classicsessay or contact schools.liaison@sjc.ox.ac.uk.

Girton College Humanities Writing Competition

This competition is for Lower Sixth Form students and is aimed at anyone with interests in the Humanities. It is based on six objects from the College's small antiquities museum. Named after a Girton student, the Lawrence Room contains Anglo-Saxon finds from the College grounds, Egyptian material including the rare portrait mummy 'Hermione', and Mediterranean material from the Classical and pre-Classical worlds.

This is an opportunity for research and writing beyond the curriculum, and essays or creative responses (such as poems or short stories) are equally welcome.

We are looking for the ability to connect different areas of knowledge, to think about details and to communicate clearly.

If you'd like to advertise the competition in your school, you can download a poster.

Click here to see Pictures and Descriptions of the Six Objects

Here are examples of issues raised by the six objects, which are offered as starting points for thought from any angle you choose, with reference to any texts, periods or other contexts you are interested in.

• Burial and survival

• The moment of discovery

• Women's Education

• Human and Animal forms

• The past as a 'foreign country'

• The idea of a museum

Competition Rules

• The word limit is 1800 words (though creative writing in particular may be shorter). Include a word count, and a list of references if applicable.

• Submissions should be typed in English in a standard font, lines 1.5 spaced, and every page should be marked with the entrant's name.

• Submissions are to be posted to: Schools Liaison Assistant, Girton College, Cambridge, CB3 0JG with a completed cover sheet.

• Teachers must sign the cover sheet to certify that the submissions is the entrant's own work and does not replicate anything submitted for examination.

Cover Sheet

Closing date

The closing date for entries to be received by the College is 16th March 2012.

Prizes

The competition has the kind sponsorship of Cambridge University Press. The prize, a free choice of two books from the CUP catalogue, one for the winning candidate and one for their school, will be presented by the Mistress at Girton College in May 2012. Runners up will also be invited to the College.

Receipt of your essay will be acknowledged by email. It will not be possible to provide feedback on all the essays, nor to return them, so do ensure you keep a copy. The judges reserve the right not to award prizes if there is no entry of sufficient merit.

For further information about the study of Humanities subjects at Girton, please see the subject pages.

Further Enquiries

Please email any further enquiries to humanities-comp@girton.cam.ac.uk

JOWETT SENDELAR ESSAY COMPETITION 2012

For Year 9 and under: approximately 1500 – 2500 words. Illustrations (with captions) are welcome.

a)    ATHENS

What do you think has been the most significant contribution that the city of Athens of the 5^th Century BC has made to the modern world, and why?

In your answer you should consider at least three major contributions in detail and explain which is the most significant and why. You might consider modern evidence that proves that your chosen contribution is the most important.

b)    GREEK GODS

You are a newspaper reporter and are writing a feature entitled “Zeus: heartless adulterer or simply misunderstood?” Produce an article on this subject and include interviews with key participants such as Hera, revealing her reaction to her husband’s ongoing infidelity and Zeus himself, justifying his actions.

In your answer you should refer to at least four of Zeus’ affairs and Hera’s reaction to them and you should reach a conclusion to the question.  You have free choice as to what to include and might consider the type of newspaper you are writing for and its style of writing.

c)    POWERFUL LEADERS

Select one of the Roman emperors and one leader from the 20^th or 21^st centuries.  Which of the two should be regarded as the more successful leader?

In your answer you should define success and refer to the key achievements of the leaders, any similarities they may have had, and how their personalities contributed to their success, amongst other details.

d)    WARFARE

Which was the more effective fighting force of the Ancient World: the legionary army of Rome or the hoplite army of Sparta in the 5^th Century BC?

In your answer you should refer to the different military tactics, training and weaponry used by each army, amongst other details. You might consider the armies’ different strengths and perceptions as well as their effectiveness in key conflicts.

e)    GREEK AND ROMAN MYTHOLOGY

Odysseus and Aeneas have both been nominated for the ‘Greatest Hero’ award for their eventful journeys following the Trojan War and the difficulties faced on arrival at their homeland. Write a speech on behalf of one of the heroes detailing why you should win this prestigious award.

In your answer you should explain why your journey was more heroic than your competitor’s, what you may have achieved since arriving at your homeland, and any divine help that you may have received, amongst other details.

Submission of entries for 2012 Competition

·         Candidates must put their name, date of birth and school on the FRONT COVER PAGE of their entries. This information should NOT be placed on the pages of the essay itself.

·         The judges would like to see a bibliography or a list of the sources consulted. A word count should be given.

·         Entries may be submitted electronically or by post.

Electronic Submission

Entries should be submitted in Microsoft Word format only.  Please do not use difficult fonts (eg. all capitals).

Entries should be emailed as attachments to jowettsendelar@boltonschool.org with the email subject ‘Jowett Sendelar Competition Entry 2012.  Please include the address of your school in the email for the mailing of any prizes awarded.

By Post

Entries MUST be in A4 paper format, printed or written, in black or blue ink. Please do not use difficult fonts (eg. all capitals).

Entries should be marked “Jowett Sendelar Essay Competition” and sent to: Dr J. Reeson, Bolton School Boys’ Division, Chorley New Road, Bolton, Lancashire BL1 4PA. The closing date for entries is 1^st August 2012.  Please feel free to submit entries before this deadline.  Candidates will be notified in December 2012.

Please attach a stamped addressed envelope for the return of scripts, reports and any prizes.

CICERO INTERNATIONAL CLASSICS AND LATIN COMPETITION 2012

On Saturday March 24^th 2012, the next CICERO competition will be taking place across the globe.

The competition is open to all sixth formers and will take the form of a written exam in Latin and / or Classical Civilisation. The topic for the Classical Civilisation paper this year is Aeneas- his journey from Troy to Latium, and the Latin paper will be concerned with an aspect of citizenship.

The competition is an excellent opportunity for sixth formers not only to enhance their UCAS personal statements, but also to meet their counterparts overseas via a video conferencing link, as well as getting to know other young classicists from their region. Each centre will provide refreshments, and time for the participants to meet in a congenial and informal atmosphere. Prizes for the best entrants will be cheques, tokens or books.

There will be centres in Malvern, Liverpool, London, Edinburgh and Guernsey- details of addresses and application forms, together with suggested web resources and past papers can be found on the website http://www.ciceroconcordia.com/   or contact the UK organiser directly at carl@ciceroconcordia.com

CARL BUCKLEY- TEACHER OF LATIN AT ST MARY’S COLLEGE, CROSBY, LIVERPOOL

Download a flyer.

The winners of this year's competition can be found at:   http://cicero.rtwilson.com/Cicero2011prizewinners.pdf

 All entrants receive a Diploma, which their teachers can download.

In case you would like to add more information, all the latest news is on the UK and 2011 pages of the website and our latest Press Release is at  http://www.ciceroconcordia.com/Cicero2011PRESSRELEASE.pdf