Topics linked to the historical novels for kids by Caroline Lawrence: The Roman Mysteries, The P.K. Pinkerton Mysteries, The Roman Quests, the Time Travel Diaries and more!
Ideas for Teachers based on the Roman Mysteries by Caroline Lawrence
THE FIRST LESSON OF HISTORY: NO TOILET PAPER! Romans used a sponge-stick instead of toilet paper. Discuss what was the same and what was different about Roman times.
INSPIRATIONAL ARTEFACTS Take a real object or a replica artefact. Study it in silence for a full minute. Touch it. Sniff it. Listen to it. Taste it. Now write a story or poem about it. DESIGN YOUR OWN SIGNET RING In Ancient Rome educated people signed documents with a signet ring, which could be recognised even by those who couldn't read. If you had been a well-educated and rich Roman, what design would you have on your signet ring? A god, like Mars or Venus? A hero, like Hercules or Atalanta? An animal, like a cricket or dolphin? Or a mythological creature, like the hydra, which had the body of a dog and nine snake heads? Design your ring.
NUBIA THE SLAVE-GIRL Read the passage in The Thieves of Ostia where Flavia buys Nubia. Now put yourself in Nubia's position and write in the first person about how Nubia feels. LUPUS THE MUTE BEGGAR BOY Read the passage in The Thieves of Ostia where Jonathan's father discovers that someone has cut out Lupus's tongue. Put yourself in Lupus's position and write in the first person about Lupus.
MORE EMPATHY Find a passage that triggers a memory of something that happened in your own life. You might have felt sad, happy, jealous, excited, etc. Compare the scene in the book with the incident from your life. How were they similar? How were they different? Detail how you felt during that experience.
HOW A BOOK COVER IS DESIGNED What is a book cover designed to do? Do you think the covers of the Roman Mysteries are good? What aspects do you like about them? What don't you like? Choose a title of a Roman Mystery that you've read and design a cover for this book that would appeal to boys. Design a cover that would appeal to girls. Now design a cover that would appeal to everybody! VOICES FROM THE PAST: PRIMARY SOURCES The author of the Roman Mysteries uses primary sources like letters by Pliny the Younger, history by Suetonius, poems by Catullus. Read part of a letter, speech or poem by a real historical character. Write a story around it or about it.
GREEK MYTHS AND MODERN STORYTELLING Think about some movies or TV shows that use Greek myths (e.g. My Fair Lady is based on the myth of Pygmalion). Star Wars, The Matrix, Spiderman, Lord of the Rings all use elements of Greek mythology. Choose a famous or obscure Greek myth and make it into a modern story. Or make it into a science fiction story. Or set the story in medieval times. You get the idea... For more ideas related to specific books in the series, check out the THEMES and TOPICS blog post.
In each of the 17 books in my Roman Mysteries series, I have consciously embedded a Greek Myth. This short guide tells which ones and also highlights the themes, topics and artefacts featured in each book. I hope teachers will find it useful. Book 1: The Thieves of Ostia SETTING - Ostia, the port of Rome (ITALY) June 79 AD Roman topic: introduction to a Roman town and social structure Real historical characters: Cartilius Poplicola (resident of Ostia) Sources: The Aeneid, the Bible, Ostian inscriptions Greek myths: Aeneas, Cerberus, Perseus and Medusa featured food: fruit, snails, stuffed dormice (ironically) artefacts: signet ring, wax tablet, stylus, oil lamp, amphoras, dice ROMANS #KS2 Related posts: How to Make a Stola, A Day in Ostia Book 2: The Secrets of Vesuvius (theme: parentage and adoption) SETTING - Ostia, Laurentum, Pompeii, Stabia (ITALY) August 79 AD Roman topic: the eruption of Vesuvius and destruction of Pompeii and surrounding towns Real historical characters: Pliny the Elder, Titus Tascius Pomponianus, Rectina Sources: Pliny the Younger, Pliny the Elder, Catullus, Ostian graffiti Greek myths: the return of Vulcan, Thetis, Achilles Roman festivals: Vinalia, Vulcanalia featured food: Pliny's simple fare: cheese, fruit, eggs; Tascius' rich fare: turbot in dill sauce key artefacts and objects: scrolls, portable inkpot and pen, flute, pan-pipes, parasol, cushions, wooden false teeth Related posts: Children in Pompeii and Herculaneum Book 3: The Pirates of Pompeii (theme: slavery and freedom) Nubia's book SETTING - Stabia, Vico Equense, Sorrento (ITALY) August/Sept 79 AD Roman topic: Patrons and clients, slaves and freedmen Real historical characters: The Emperor Titus, Pollius Felix (attested in a poem of Statius) Historical site: the villa of Pollius Felix on the Cape of Sorrento, Scraio (spa town near Sorrento) Sources: Pompeian graffiti, Statius's 'Silvae' (poems) Greek myths: Dionysus and the pirates, Ariadne & Theseus featured food: lemons (recently introduced); goat stew, flat bread, chickpeas, mineral water, sage tea key artefacts and objects: earrings, hairpins, theatrical masks, lyre, flute, kylix (Greek drinking cup) Related posts: Serendipity in Surrentum Book 4: The Assassins of Rome (theme: guilt) Jonathan's book SETTING - Ostia & Rome (ITALY) September 79 AD Roman topic: Nero's golden house, the destruction of Jerusalem, Jewish slave labour, chariot races Real historical characters: Emperor Titus, Berenice, Domitian, Josephus Sources: Suetonius, Cassius Dio, Homer, Josephus, the Bible Greek myths: Odysseus, Polyphemus the cyclops, Penelope the faithful wife Jewish festivals: Rosh Hashannah, Yom Kippur, Succot featured food: exotic oranges; buttermilk; honey dipped apples for Rosh Hashanna key artefacts and objects: wax tablet and stylus, alabastron, loom and weights, bass lyre, tambourine Book 5: The Dolphins of Laurentum (revenge and forgiveness) Lupus's book SETTING - Ostia and Laurentum (ITALY) October 79 AD Roman topic: a real maritime villa, sponge-diving on the Greek islands Real historical characters: Pliny the Younger Sources: Pliny the Younger's letter about his Laurentum villa (letter II.xvii) Greek myths: Medusa, Arion and the dolphins, Neptune & Amphitrite Roman festival: Meditrinalia featured food: honey glazed prawns, chicken soup key artefacts and objects: sponge-stick, sea-sponges, dolphin earrings, anchors, ball games Book 6: The Twelve Tasks of Flavia Gemina (love and marriage) Flavia's book SETTING - Ostia (ITALY) December 79 AD Roman topic: Love, betrothal and marriage in first century Rome Historical site: notable buildings in and around Ostia Sources: Ostian inscriptions, Ovid, Martial, Apollodorus Greek myths: Twelve Tasks of Hercules, Pygmalion, Cerberus, Atalanta Roman festival: Saturnalia featured food: lentil stew, omelettes, plums, oysters, mushrooms, quail pie, boar, ostrich, love potion! key artefacts and objects: sigilla (figurines), dice, objects in the household shrine, strigil and bath set Book 7: The Enemies of Jupiter (theme: hubris) Jonathan's book SETTING: Ostia and Rome (ITALY) February 80 AD Roman topic: medicine and doctors in first century Rome Real historical sites: Tiber Island, Palatine Hill, Capitoline Hill and the Temple of Jupiter Sources: Suetonius, Cassius Dio, Galen, Pliny the Elder, Hippocrates Greek myths: Prometheus and Pandora, Aesculapius, Niobe and her children featured food: food for medicinal properties, light, medium & heavy foods, etc key artefacts and objects: bleeding cup, votive parts of the body, medical instruments Book 8: The Gladiators from Capua (theme: blood and sacrifice) Nubia's book SETTING - Rome (ITALY) March 80 AD Roman topic: gladiators, beast-fights and the opening of the Colosseum in spring of AD 80 Real historical sites: the Flavian Amphitheatre (the Colosseum), Domus Aurea, Mons Testaccio Real historical figures: Titus, Domitian, Carpophorus the beast-fighter, Martial Sources: Martial, Suetonius, Cassius Dio, Ovid, Statius, Seneca, Pliny Greek myths: Orpheus, Ganymede, Prometheus, and more Jewish festival: Passover featured food: barley porridge for gladiators, snacks sold at games, etc. key artefacts and objects: gladiatorial arms and armour, ancient souvenirs, raffle balls thrown to crowds Book 9: The Colossus of Rhodes (theme: vows and promises) Lupus's book SETTING - Ostia, Greek islands including Patmos, Symi & Rhodes (ITALY and GREECE) April 80 AD Roman topics: the seven wonders of the world, ancient 'tourism' Historical sites: Rhodes, Symi , Kalymnos Sources: Pliny the Elder, Apollonius of Rhodes, Homer Greek myths: Jason and the Argonauts by Apollonius of Rhodes GREEKS #KS2 and #KS3 Related posts: The Colossus of Rhodes, Ancient Gum, Hylas Book 10: The Fugitive from Corinth (theme: jealousy) Nubia's book SETTING - Corinth, Delphi, Athens (GREECE) May 80 CE Roman topics: Greeks in the Roman world Historical sites: Corinth, Delphi, Athens Sources: Pausanias, Apollodorus, Herodotus, Aeschylus Greek myths: Theseus's Athenian adventures, Eumenides Book 11: The Sirens of Surrentum (theme: sex and decadence) Flavia's book SETTING - Sorrento (ITALY) June 80 AD Roman topics: Roman philosophy and the failed plot to kill Nero Historical characters: Nero, Seneca, Lucan, Polla Argentaria, Flaccus Sources: Seneca, Lucan, Suetonius, Tacitus, Statius, Propertius Greek myths: Dido and Aeneas, Odysseus and the Sirens ROMANS #KS3 Related posts: Villa Limona, Poison in the Garden Book 12: The Charioteer of Delphi (theme: faithfulness) Nubia's book SETTING - Ostia & Rome (ITALY) September 80 AD Roman topics: chariot races and factions Historical site: the Circus Maximus Historical characters: real charioteers like Scopas, Hierax and Crescens Sources: Ovid, Juvenal, Martial Greek myths: Pelops and Oenomaus Roman festivals: Ludi Romani ROMANS #KS2 and #KS3 Related posts: Fun Chariot Facts, Names of Roman Horses Book 13: The Slave-girl from Jerusalem (theme: death and birth) Jonathan's book SETTING - Ostia (ITALY) December 80 AD Roman topics: childbirth, funerals, wills, Roman law courts, gestures of a rhetor Historical backstory: destruction of Jerusalem and siege of Masada Sources: Josephus, Quintilian, Cicero, Juvenal, Seneca, Roman legal documents Greek myths: Cassandra and the Sack of Troy featured food: pea and leek soup, mastic chewing resin, sage tea, chestnut flour key artefacts and objects: birthing chair, funeral pyre, bier, tombs, seal-box for wills ROMANS #KS2 and #KS3 Related posts: Roman Law Courts Book 14: The Beggar of Volubilis (theme: piety) Flavia's book SETTING - Ostia, Sabratha (LIBYA), Volubilis (MOROCCO) March 81 AD Roman topics: Roman theatre, Cleopatra's descendants, sightings of Nero Historical sites: Sabratha, Tripolis, Volubilis, Ghadames Sources: Strabo, Pliny the Elder, Plutarch Greek myths: Diana and Actaeon featured food: millet porridge, roast locusts, lizard meat, camel-milk pancakes, senna tea, cola nuts key artefacts and objects: bow, arrows, quiver, betrothal ring, bath-set, Nero's emerald, lens Egypt #KS2 and #KS3 Related posts: Ugly Cleopatra, Volubilis Book 15: The Scribes from Alexandria (theme: going home) Nubia's book SETTING - Alexandria, stops along the Nile to Nubia (EGYPT) May 81 AD Roman topics: Roman Egypt especially Alexandria, eunuchs, the Great Library, the Nile Historical sites: Canopus, Alexandria, Giza, Edfu, Aswan, Nubia Sources: Strabo, Martial, Juvenal Egyptian myths and legends, including story of Isis, Osiris and Seth featured food: sun-bread, bean porridge, palm wine, onions, leaf-cups, dom-fruit key artefacts and objects: hieroglyphs, graffiti, riddles, codes, treasure map Egypt #KS2 and #KS3 Related posts: The Seth Animal, Upside Down Egypt Book 16: The Prophet from Ephesus (theme: redemption) Jonathan's book SETTING - Halicarnassus, Heracleia, Ephesus (TURKEY) August 81 AD Roman topics: early church in Asia Minor Historical sites: Halicarnassus, Ephesus, Hierapolis, Laodicea Historical characters: St John the Apostle, Tychichus Sources: Strabo, the New Testament Greek myths: Pluto and Persephone, Endymion and Selene featured food: grapes from the vine, cucumber, sour cherry juice, sheep entrail kebabs, pomegranates key artefacts and objects: dolls, travel baskets, reed flute, lyre, carpets, looms Book 17: The Man from Pomegranate Street (theme: resolution) Flavia's book SETTING - Ostia, Rome, Sabina, Castelgandolfo (ITALY) Sept 81 AD Roman topics: mysterious death of Titus in September AD 81 Historical sites: Rome, the Sabine Hills, Palace of Domitian and the Emissario on Lake Albanus Historical characters: Titus, Domitian, Ascletario, Gaius Valerius Flaccus, Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus Sources: Suetonius, Babylonian Talmud, Apollonius of Tyana Greek myths: Romulus and Remus, Rape of the Sabine Women, Death of Odysseus featured food: Sabine olive oil, brown bread, honey, grapes, imported oysters key artefacts and objects: needle-sharp stylus, graffiti, wedding veil and the spear to part the bride's hair
