British Museum and Horrible Histories’ new exhibition designed to inspire kids
Legion: life in the Roman army explores the reality of life for the men, women and children who made up the Roman Empire and celebrates 30 years of the bestselling children's book series.
The British Museum has partnered with a children’s book series to engage the next generation in ancient history. A new exhibition will take young visitors on the journey of becoming a soldier in the Roman army, illustrating the trials and tribulations faced by those serving 2,000 years ago.
Legion: life in the Roman army will share the stories of real legionaries and challenge some of the perceptions about what it meant to be a Roman soldier.
Over the last three decades, more than 30 million copies of the Horrible Histories books have been sold, with an aim of inspiring children to engage with history.
Through a specially designed trail of the exhibition, children of all ages will be guided through the show, led by famous cartoon character, Rattus.
The exhibition in the Capital, which was itself founded by the Romans, is made up of over 200 objects, including loans from 28 national and international lenders, and supported by material from the Museum’s own collection.
Gold coins from the British Museum’s collection which illustrate an oath-taking scene between two soldiers Credit: British Museum
Richard Abdy, Curator Roman and Iron Age coins at the British Museum says “Every soldier has a story: it’s incredible that these tales are nearly 2000 years old.”
Many of the items will be on display in the UK for the first time, including the world’s only intact legionary shield and the oldest and most complete classic Roman segmental body armour.
A helmet found in Cumbria and material unearthed in Newstead have been brought together in the Capital to show the range of discoveries made in the UK.
Terry Deary, the mischievous mind behind #HorribleHistories, has been causing havoc in the Museum! 🏛
Author of the children’s book series, Terry Deary says that “Rotten Romans continues to be one of the most popular books and it’s no wonder as Roman life could be really horrible. But life in the Roman army was even worse – tough, dangerous and dirty (and that’s just the terrible toilets in the forts).”
The exhibition will run from 1 February – 23 June 2024 in the Sainsbury Exhibitions Gallery at the British Museum.
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StandfirstLegion: life in the Roman army explores the reality of life for the men, women and children who made up the Roman Empire and celebrates 30 years of the bestselling children's book series.
The British Museum has partnered with a children’s book series to engage the next generation in ancient history. A new exhibition will take young visitors on the journey of becoming a soldier in the Roman army, illustrating the trials and tribulations faced by those serving 2,000 years ago.
Legion: life in the Roman army will share the stories of real legionaries and challenge some of the perceptions about what it meant to be a Roman soldier.
Over the last three decades, more than 30 million copies of the Horrible Histories books have been sold, with an aim of inspiring children to engage with history.
Through a specially designed trail of the exhibition, children of all ages will be guided through the show, led by famous cartoon character, Rattus.
The exhibition in the Capital, which was itself founded by the Romans, is made up of over 200 objects, including loans from 28 national and international lenders, and supported by material from the Museum’s own collection.
Gold coins from the British Museum’s collection which illustrate an oath-taking scene between two soldiers Credit: British Museum
Richard Abdy, Curator Roman and Iron Age coins at the British Museum says “Every soldier has a story: it’s incredible that these tales are nearly 2000 years old.”
Many of the items will be on display in the UK for the first time, including the world’s only intact legionary shield and the oldest and most complete classic Roman segmental body armour.
A helmet found in Cumbria and material unearthed in Newstead have been brought together in the Capital to show the range of discoveries made in the UK.
Terry Deary, the mischievous mind behind #HorribleHistories, has been causing havoc in the Museum! 🏛
Author of the children’s book series, Terry Deary says that “Rotten Romans continues to be one of the most popular books and it’s no wonder as Roman life could be really horrible. But life in the Roman army was even worse – tough, dangerous and dirty (and that’s just the terrible toilets in the forts).”
The exhibition will run from 1 February – 23 June 2024 in the Sainsbury Exhibitions Gallery at the British Museum.
