Who owns classical myth?

I've blogged quite a few times on this site about the wealth of classical receptions around the Roehampton University campus. Fuelled by a conviction that these can open up an engagement with our classical heritage on a number of levels and for, well, anyone, Helen Slaney and I put in bid for an event as part of the 2017 Being Human Festival.

We were successful! And, now, as soon as tomorrow, visitors will have an opportunity to experience the classical world and its reception, including as played out on the artefact I've used to accompany this posting. This year's Festival theme is 'Lost and Found'. Visitors to campus will find about how the 18th century set about re/discovering antiquity. Our visitors will also have an opportunity to find their own, new, moment in classical reception.

On returning from Cambridge yesterday,* I had a look through my emails relating to the Mythology and Education conference I had been at, and which I played a role in organising. There were some messages from participants setting out future possible areas we might explore. I have only had time for a very quick look through these so far, but from what I saw, the event was found both timely and generative.

Who owns classical myth? Last time I posted to this blog, I applied the question to children, to raise some issues around what it means for children to use - and so own? - classical myth.

Who owns classical myth? The answer I'm currently pondering is this one: Bloomsbury does. I spent the morning of 12th February with first years on mythological field trips – starting with a walking tour led by Tony Keen and followed by a session in the British Museum.  The trips themselves were eye-opening. What's happened since then has been too - not least the start of a process of discovery concerning at least one of the artefacts. I'll summarise the key highlights to date.

As noted in my previous post, my current blogging activity is focused elsewhere.

I've just received the link to an interview I recorded recently with Classics Confidential that bears on this blog's topic.  I talk about a topic that's formed the basis of several postings to date: the Hercules chimneypiece panel in the Adam Room at Roehampton.  Here's the link to the Classics Confidental site. Clicking here will take you directly to the video.