Latin Pupils Visit Bath’s Spectacular Roman Remains

Form 3 Latin pupils embarked on a trip to Bath to visit its extensive Roman remains and museum, widely considered one of the finest historic sites in northern Europe.

The site was one of the great religious spas of the Roman world, drawing people from across Roman Britain to bathe in the waters of the natural thermal springs and worship the goddess Sulis Minerva.

The pupils were able to explore the remarkably preserved complex, walk on the original Roman pavements, and see the ruins of the Temple of Sulis Minerva. They also visited the adjacent museum collection, which is home to numerous Roman artefacts, including – most famously – a gilt bronze head of Sulis Minerva.

The trip allowed pupils to see first hand some of the items that will feature in their studies, and walk through places mentioned in their textbook.

Speaking about the trip, Dr Will Leveritt, Head of Classics, said: “It never fails to impress when one is confronted by the physical remains of the culture we have been studying, and pupils can walk in the footsteps of the Romans.”

Form 3 pupil Maddie added: “It was incredible seeing the engineering and architecture of the Romans Baths, which was so advanced for a civilisation so ancient.

“Inside the baths, we found we could actually read parts of some of the inscriptions. We deciphered what age a person died, which legion another dead person belonged to and saw a sacrificial altar with ‘to the goddess Sulis Minerva’ carved on the side. This was a happy surprise; our Latin lessons have evidently paid off!”