I have always been deeply interested in history, and as a child wanted to be an explorer and an archaeologist; to be like Arthur Evans and find a new civilization. No-one took this seriously! So on leaving school I started work as a bank clerk but I continued to harbour my inner love of history and devoured everything I came across associated with the ancient world. Then I spotted an advertisement in the then Coventry Evening Telegraph which was to change my world: “Do you want to be certified in archaeology, at the University of Warwick?” At last! This for me was a giant step in the right direction. In those days a certificate course involved two years of study in evening classes and an examination, but I loved every minute of it. Day trips and Study Tours followed, taking me to places I had dreamed of and read about but could now see for myself (in Primary School I was particularly fond of the legend of Theseus and the Minotaur, so a trip to Crete was just wonderful. I even met my husband in the Labyrinth there!) I continued to study at Warwick for a degree in Ancient History and Classical Archaeology and then a Master of Philosophy degree in Classics. My research combined my other great interest, ancient Roman gardens.
I have not found a new civilization (so far!) but when on Study Tours I can explore sites to my heart’s content, and by researching have come across new titbits of informations which is every bit as exciting.
My main interests concern the Roman world, their frescoes and mosaics, life and architecture in the Provinces of the Roman Empire, the Greeks and Romans in the East but also the Minoan culture of Crete and the pre-Roman culture of the enigmatic Etruscans who once ruled central Italy. I am also greatly interested in gardens of the ancient world and had a book published by Sutton on ‘Ancient Roman Gardens’ My most recent book ‘Gardens and Gardeners of the Ancient World’ was published in January 2016 by Windgather Press.
Ancient History Club, Spring Term 2020
A 5 week course with Linda Farrar
From Wednesday 12 February – 11 March 2020
Zeugma Mosaic discovered in 2000
This follows on from a previous course looking at other parts of this region. The Graeco-Roman East was the wealthiest part of the Roman Empire, and this is evident in the remains we will see. We will explore a selection of important historic cities, including the capital (Antioch). Splendid architecture, beautiful mosaics, and other works of art have been discovered in these cities, and these together with literary evidence can be used to illuminate this part of the world and bring this period back to life.
Week 1: The northern Syrian city of Zeugma, and the race to uncover it before being flooded by the Birecik Dam on the Euphrates (Zeugma is now in Turkey).
Week 2: Antioch on the Orontes, the capital of Rome’s province of Syria.
Week 3: Temples and sanctuaries (inc. Baalbek the beautiful).
Week 4: Tyre & Sidon, the great maritime cities of the Levant.
Week 5: Beirut, now the capital of Lebanon.
The fee for this course will be £32 (which will include tea/coffee)
The room capacity is limited, so course enrolments will have to be on a first come first served basis.
For further information please contact me using the form below, typing your query into the ‘comment’ box. (It won’t be published and you don’t need to complete the website box!)
Warwickshire Leisure Studies 