AutumnTerm 2023

Iliona never imagined that her sea voyage from Greece to Egypt would lead to Rome, but when she is captured by pirates and auctioned off as a slave, that's where she lands. We will view the wonders of Rome through Iliona's eyes—the luxury, the excess, and the politics.

The year is AD 107 and Iliona hasn't a friend in the world... But the family she works for are not unkind, and as Iliona begins to make friends and look around her, she discovers that the teeming city at the heart of the empire is a fascinating place. Through Iliona's eyes, we'll watch the Roman army return in triumph from war against the Dacians, visit Nero's baths, witness gladiators fighting in the famous amphitheatre, attend the senate and a sumptuous banquet, escape a house fire, discover how Roman women dress their hair ... and celebrate with her on the day that she is granted her freedom for her bravery!  This books lends to opportunities for drama and discussions about the way in which the world has changed.  In our writing we will explore descriptive writing of settings, diary writing and news reports.