Canutillo Elementary School

Here are Ms Judith Valle's class bringing Roman history to life in their school at Canutillo, near El Paso in the US state of Texas.

May I congratulate them on a great idea as well as a great presentation. And to all you other teachers out there - why not give something like this a try ! It makes dry, old Roman history an adventure !

Behold Andy the Magnificent, the great emperor of the west ! He has presently just returned from his conquest of Canutillo and has celebrated a triumph through the streets of Rome in his chariot.

Wondering whom to condemn to death today ? No, today the great ruler of the west is in a fine mood. Instead he decides to invite the emperor of the east for a visit. 'Scribe ! Come here and transfer this message on a scroll for me !' On receiving the message emperor James of Constantinople seems a little surprised.

Receiving emperor James' acceptance, much is to be organised for the visit. Not one to shy away from doing some work himself, Andy the Magnificent goes shopping for the great event to come. But is that the right amount in his hand ? The shopkeeper doesn't seem convinced. Seems even emperors have to haggle to get the right price when shopping in Rome... :-)

Luckily, an emperor doesn't have to do everything himself. The ladies of the court also help with some of the shopping.

Finally, the emperors of the east and the west meet. Sadly, relations seem to be grim. However, once he's informed that there's going to be plenty of free food and games, the imperial guest from Constantinople soon cheers up.

The Vestal Virgins provide both beauty and dignity to these imperial affairs of state...

...that is, before they attack the buffet, before the emperors get their hands on it ! For usually, once the imperial bigwigs are there, they quickly monopolize all the best food for themselves.

Well, if ever there was a picture to prove that very point... :-)

Masters of the ancient world ! Here are the rulers of the world of old, about to lay waste to a table of Roman delicacies.

The food's delicious the wine flows - and everyone is terribly careful not to say anything which might upset the mighty emperors...

But no meeting of emperors would be complete without a gladiatorial spectacle. And so the gladiators are called to interrupt their lessons at school...

.. to appear in the arena and provide entertainment befitting such a great imperial event.

And without fail the contestants open the games with the famous greeting 'Morituri te salutant' ('Those who are about to die salute you'), before beating the living daylights out of each other ! One famous fighter, Jose the Indestructible, even chops his oppenent's head off with two swords !

Such great fighting calls for rewards. Emperor James honours Jose the Indestructible, while emperor Andy bestows honours on a local hero, Brian the Bononian Berserker.

Oh, it's so hard being an emperor these days. After the great gladiatorial fighting they're back, doing what emperors do best - being spoiled wrotten.

But soon after the two rulers' latest indulgence, emperor Andy the Magnificent suddenly falls ill and dies with James at his death bead. Poison ? Many suspect James' involvement... But what is that ? Who's on Rome's throne now ? Behold empress Jasmine the Great ! Perhaps it wasn't James after all... ;-)

But it wasn't all just games. Appears they did their homework, too !

And here is everyone involved in this project lined up for us.

Only one thing to say really. A truly fantastic effort !

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