International Grammar School Niederwürschnitz

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Living history at SMAC

"O tempora, o mores" - "Oh times, oh morals", said the ancient author Cicero. The sixth graders from Niederwürschnitz plunged into the aftermath of these times and mores on December 7, 2022 as part of the "Pompeii and Herculaneum" exhibition at the SMAC.

Interested students immersed themselves in the year 79 AD during the train ride by reading one of the classic sources on this topic, Pliny. We drew many descriptions from these two letters by Pliny and were able to get an idea of the drama of the events.

These premonitions already manifested themselves in the first installation, in which the pupils were accompanied through the day of the eruption of Vesuvius. The museum guide used the archaeological finds and findings to draw a line to everyday life in Pompeii. We learned about trade, eating habits, three-legged statues, visits to the thermal baths and the spectacle of gladiator fights. The students were impressed by the similarities between ancient cookshops and today's fast food culture. Of course, what should never be missing from everyday Roman life is the business to be done and the origin of our modern idiom.

The last part of the exhibition was more emotional for the pupils, as the fate of the victims was cast in stone here. The last seconds of the inhabitants of Pompeii were captured by an ingenious method used by the archaeologists. The dying in their last posture were covered by the ashes of the fire-breathing volcano. After the life had gone out of these people and their mortal remains had passed away, only the cavity under the ash remained. Archaeologists were able to fill this with plaster, leaving behind memorials to the natural disaster in human form.

Afterwards, things became less emotional and more practical. The sixth graders were able to try their hand at fun and games in Roman style: Writing on wax tablets, throwing nuts and writing on papyrus made for a successful end to this excursion. The momentum of this excursion to the SMAC will help us in our history lessons and has hopefully awakened interest in Roman civilization, which will have an impact on the enrolment figures for the upcoming Latin courses.

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