To coincide with International Women’s Day, last week’s Anagnostics, the Sixth Form Classics Reading Group, took the opportunity to celebrate and discuss five female Greek and Roman writers.
Alongside the most famous Sappho, the group explored lesser-known writers who covered topics including lifelong friendships, civic pride, the ups and downs of love, pets, and even an invitation to a birthday party at Hadrian’s Wall.
The meeting culminated in an animated debate over which author had the greatest appeal, but it was clear that all the writers had resonated with their 21st-century audience.
The Lower Sixth students shared their thoughts:
Aadam: I found Friday’s Female Voice Anagnostics very interesting, as we often don’t get a chance to explore female voices from the classical world. I was particularly intrigued by the writer I chose, Claudia Severa, because her letter to a friend offered such a human, everyday perspective—something rarely preserved intact. Furthermore, it stood out from the others as it wasn’t just a poem.
This is one of the most famous examples of female writing from the Roman world. It comes from Roman Britain, specifically from the fort of Vindolanda near Hadrian’s Wall, where a large number of wooden writing tablets, with letters and administrative documents written in ink, have been found, mostly from around 100 CE. Claudia – the wife of an officer at another fort – was writing to her friend Sulpicia Lepidina, the wife of the commander at Vindolanda, to invite her to a birthday party.
Bea: I really enjoyed hearing classic female voices through literature. It was fascinating to gain a fresh perspective on the life of an ancient woman and to learn about lesser-known authors.
Luke: I found this an amazing opportunity to discover new figures I had never heard of before. It was fascinating to learn more about their lives and to see just how similar people were in ancient times to today.
Maggie: It was great to broaden my knowledge of female poets in the classical world, who are often forgotten but serve as important inspirations and models.
William: I really enjoyed learning about the lesser-known female voices in the classical world. It was fascinating to explore different aspects of classical life and the varied writing styles each of the writers employed.
Ruby: It was exciting to see other members of the school getting involved in discussions on gender equality. I learned a lot and really enjoyed it!
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