Three leading academics from the Department of Classical & Archaeological Studies at Kent will give talks as part of the Beaney’s series of free lunchtime talks.
These talks, which will take place on Wednesdays between 1.15pm and 1.30pm, have been designed to provide the public with an opportunity to not only learn about or expand their knowledge on a broad range of topics – from ‘designer babies’ to Canterbury’s Roman heritage – but to also engage with the Kent academics in a relaxed and informal atmosphere.
Where possible, the speakers will make use of or refer to the Beaney’s extensive collection of artefacts, including objects from the East Kent area and Ancient Egyptian and Greek artefacts. The below talks given by Classical and Archaeological Studies staff feature a range of Roman objects found in Canterbury and the rest of Britain, as well as Roman samian table ware which was found during an archaeological dig at the Beaney itself.
- Dr Steve Willis will present on the 13 March on ‘The story of Roman life from beneath our feet: the fine Roman samian table ware from the archaeological excavations at the Beaney, 2010’.
- Dr Patty Baker will talk about ‘Roman medical instruments found in Britain and their multi-functional purposes’ on the 20 March.
- Professor Ray Laurence is due to talk on the topic of ‘A Broken Goddess Figurine from a Roman burial in St Dunstan’s – reinterpreting the Dea Nutrix in the Canterbury Roman Museum’ on the 3 April.
Other talks in the series include:
- ‘Beauty and the Beast: Renaissance representations of the darker side’, 16 January, by Jayne Wackett, Assistant Lecturer in The School of History and School of Arts.
- ‘Loving Lyly, or, why does Canterbury not celebrate its most successful writer, John Lyly?’, 6th February by Dr Andy Kesson, Lecturer in English Literature
- ‘Designer babies: myths and magic’ 27 February by Professor Darren Griffin, Professor of Genetics.
- ‘Glass in art and healthcare: a window on science’ by Professor Bob Newport, Professor of Materials Physics.
For more information on Classical and Archaeological Staff, please visit www.kent.ac.uk/secl/classics/staff
Further information on the talks will be available at www.thebeaney.co.uk