Pupils delved into the ancient world of the Greeks and Romans and learnt some Latin at Felsted School's first ever 'Classics Experience Day'.
Year 5 pupils from Heath Mount School, Felsted Primary School, and Felsted Prep School attended the event at Felsted's new Marshall Centre for Learning.
Activities included trying out the armour and weapons of an Ancient Greek soldier, unearthing forgotten Roman artefacts and learning the Latin meaning behind Harry Potter spells.
Elizabeth McLaren, Felsted’s head of Classics and Latin, said: "It was a real treat to welcome so many pupils from various schools to our first Classics Experience Day.
"The Classical World is an absolute joy to study because it underpins much of Western civilization.
"The children really enjoyed discovering clues about the past and will hopefully continue to develop their understanding of classical languages and culture throughout their lives."
During the day, pupils were taught how to construct an archaeological dig and interpret artefacts.
They discovered a Roman mortar in a pretend excavation which led them to realise that the area they were digging in would have been a Roman family’s kitchen.
Learning the Greek alphabet allowed them to translate stories featuring the Olympian gods and add to their classical knowledge.
An interactive Latin quiz gave them an insight into Harry Potter spells like 'Wingardium Leviosa', and pupils got to try out a Greek warrior's armour and weapons, and craft their own cardboard models.
One student, Rory, said the day was "super fun", and added: "My favourite parts were learning about archaeology and digging for real artefacts and also making a shield."
The day was arranged by Felsted School – an independent boarding and day school for pupils aged four to 18, set in a 90-acre campus in rural north Essex.
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Mrs Roberts, a teacher from Felsted Primary, said: "The enthusiasm and curiosity displayed by the students was remarkable.
"Events like this ignite a passion for learning and provide a unique, hands-on approach to education that the children will remember for years to come.
"Our pupils had a super day at Felsted School and were very appreciative of the opportunity to attend."
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