Telling Tales in Nature Series
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Myths rooted in plants are very common, and Greek mythology has its fair share. Despite the Greek Underworld being a place for the dead, there are a number of plants that are associated with the place in ancient imagination. This little book explores four particular plants that are found in the Greek Underworld: pomegranate, mint, asphodel, and white poplar. In each chapter, there is some information about the plant itself, followed by the story in which the plant features.
In each case, the story is retold from the perspective of the spirit of the plant. Greek and Roman authors often wrote of nymphs, a form of nature spirit connected to a particular type of plant, or in some cases, a single plant. The characters are intended to be the voices of such nymphs. The chapter finishes with a few brief notes about sources for the stories.
You can order the book in paperback or kindle here.
"Over these centuries many dreams have flocked under my leaves".
Take a journey through ancient forests with four beautiful trees from Greek mythology: walnut, elm, holm oak, and black poplar. In each chapter, the voice of a hamadryad nymph, whose life was said to be tied to an individual tree, tells her tale, alongside vivid illustrations and botanical details. This is the second book in our 'Telling Tales in Nature' series.
In each case, the story is retold from the perspective of the spirit of the plant. Greek and Roman authors often wrote of nymphs, a form of nature spirit connected to a particular type of plant, or in some cases, a single plant. The characters are intended to be the voices of such nymphs. The chapter finishes with a few brief notes about sources for the stories.
You can order the book in paperback or kindle here.
“An apple tree!” It was the first time I heard my name, and the name of the fruit I grow and bear each year. The sound itself feels scrumptious, delicious, something you want to bite into.
This little book explores four beautiful fruit trees that are found in Greek mythology: apple, fig, grape and olive. In each chapter, there is an introduction to the plant, followed by a story in which it forms a key part. The characters in these tales are the voices of four 'hamadryad' nymph sisters, whose lives were said to be tied to an individual tree. This is the third book in our 'Telling Tales in Nature' series, and introduces the remaining four sisters to those met in 'Forest Tales'.
In each case, the story is retold from the perspective of the spirit of the plant. Greek and Roman authors often wrote of nymphs, a form of nature spirit connected to a particular type of plant, or in some cases, a single plant. The characters are intended to be the voices of such nymphs. The chapter finishes with a few brief notes about sources for the stories.
You can order the book in paperback or kindle here.
Meadow Tales is the fourth book in our Telling Tales in Nature series.In Meadow Tales, the flowers that grow in our gardens, fields and parks, tell their stories from Greek mythology. We hear from the poppy, heliotrope, crocus and violet. As with the first three books in the series, each chapter has an introduction on the plant, with botanical drawing, followed by a retelling of the myth of the flower. It finishes with some brief notes on the sources for the myths and explanations of the retellings.
A Compendium of all four books in the Telling Tales in Nature series can be ordered in hardback and paperback here.Primordial Soup
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We are delighted to announce that "Primordial Soup: Tales of the Greek gods in Oxford", a graphic novel written by Year Eight Classics students at Cheney School between September to December 2020 is now out!
You can read the full book here (please click on the cover):
In September 2020, two Year Eight Latin classes at Cheney School took part in a project to design, write and illustrate a graphic novel which imagines the primordial Greek gods in modern day Oxford. They found out all about the different primordial gods, explored the art form of the graphic novel, and looked at how ancient characters have been imagined in different settings. They then chose characters and storylines, and worked together as a group to decide how to plan the story arc and what to call it. In the end, they settled on having a compilation of mini stories, which they called “Primordial Soup”!
We are very fortunate to have been supported in this project by two creative artists. Ahmed Alameen, a Kuwaiti author who has created a graphic novel based on characters from the epic Gilgamesh, gave virtual workshops on how to design a graphic novel.
We are also very lucky to have been joined in this project by Oxford Brookes University Artist Lydia Hall. Lydia worked with the students on the artwork for the story, and turned their artwork and ideas into a cohesive graphic novel. You can see her beautiful illustrations in these pages!
We are grateful to be have been supported by a grant from Classics for All for this exciting initiative.
We hope you enjoy these stories!
Lorna Robinson, Director of the Iris Project and Classics Centre at Cheney School
Iris Festival of Natural History, Classics and More, 27 March 2019
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We are delighted to announce the Iris Festival of Natural History, Art and More on 27th March, 2019.
This event will be a large community event to celebrate the Rumble Museum at Cheney School as it continues the process of becoming the first Arts Council Accredited museum in a state school.
There will be five main discovery zones: Natural History, Art, Archaeology, Storytelling and Anthropology. Each zone will contain activities, stalls, exhibitions, workshops, and a wide range of visiting museums with artefacts to handle and explore. There will be shows including animatronic dinosaurs, as well as the opportunity to see birds of prey! There will also be fossils pits, an opportunity to make your own prints at a printing press, the Story Museum's Little Shop of Stories, an ancient Greek daily life museum, Roman music, artists' exhibitions, as well as a cafe serving refreshments and hot and cold drinks.
The event will include expert talks as well as a wide range of stalls, activities and exhibitions. Visitors will be able to follow an exciting new model Dragonfly Trail as they explore the site, with each discovery zone containing striking decorations, workshops, stalls, performances and activities themed on different aspects of museum learning.
The stalls, activities and exhibitions run from 3.30 until 6pm. It is free and caters for all ages. Primary and secondary school groups are warmly welcome.
The following talks will also take place throughout the afternoon and evening:
3.30 - 4pm - Professor Richard Fortey, Natural Historian and Palaeontologist
4.15 - 4.45pm - Professor Helen King, 'Ancient Greek Magic and Medicine'
5.15 - 5.45pm - Peter Randall-Page, Artist and Sculptor, Royal Academician
6 - 6.45pm - Will Gompertz, BBC Chief Arts Correspondent
The festival itself does not require booking unless you are visiting with a school group. Talks do need to be booked, and can be done so by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Garden Tales Series
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We are starting a new lockdown project this Monday! Each day, we will produce a different sheet detailing a plant, its Latin name, some facts about its use by the Greeks and Romans, the myth explaining how it came into being, and some activities for children!
You will be able to download the sheets using the links below.
We hope you enjoy our Garden Tales!
If you want to explore trees in the ancient world, you can visit this fascinating blog by Dr Andrew Fox.
Distant Lands: Telling Tales Part 2
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We are delighted to announce the publication of Distant Lands this April!
Distant Lands is a companion volume to Lorna Robinson’s Telling Tales in Latin. Also narrated by the poet Ovid, who tells the tale of his own exile, along with more well-loved tales from his Metamorphoses. Introducing readers to the history of Ovid’s life and exile, as well as an introduction to the geography of the Roman Empire, Distant Lands will engage pupils in stories such as Lycaon, the wild man who became a wolf, and Pyramus and Thisbe, the love-struck pair who whisper through a crack in their adjoining wall. These stories are woven into Ovid’s account of his last night in Rome, his dramatic journey across the seas, and the strangeness of the new world that he discovers.
Soham De’s illustrations bring Ovid’s stories alive and make learning Latin an imaginative journey of discovery while Lorna Robinson continues to build on the Latin vocabulary and grammar introduced in the first book in the series. Each story is accompanied with creative activities that update the stories around contemporary issues from history, geography, philosophy and literature.
Lorna Robinson has a doctorate in Classics from University College London and is the founder and director of The Iris Project, which promotes the study of Classics in state schools. Soham De is a graphic artist who works for an architectural firm. Evelien Bracke provided advice on the Latin text. She is senior lecturer and schools liaison officer at Swansea University.
Distant Lands costs £10 and is available to purchase in bookshops or to order online.
Praise for the previous book in the series, Telling Tales in Latin:
“Really inviting and engaging, with clear explanations and beautiful and fun illustrations by Soham De... Excellent for projects introducing... An inviting, absorbing and embracing learning experience.”
The Classics Library
