Category: | Our Mythical Childhood Survey

Russell T. Davies, Brian Minchin, James Moran, Colin Teague

Doctor Who (Series, S04E02): The Fires of Pompeii

‘The Fires of Pompeii’ was typical of the revived, 21st-century series of Doctor Who (1963-1989; 2005-present) with its abandonment of educational themes for ‘pure’ science-fiction, and pseudo-historical storytelling. Filmed using the same sets as the 2005-7 HBO/BBC Two series Rome, the episode attempted to present the same level of historical accuracy of costuming and set-design, while taking liberties with scripting. Aspects of Roman religion and myth – (...)

audiovisual

YEAR: 2008

COUNTRY: United Kingdom

TAGS: Divination Eruption of Vesuvius Latin (Language) Pompeii Roman History Roman Religion Spartacus

Felice Arena

Farticus Maximus (Series, Book 1): Farticus Maximus and Other Stories that Stink!

This collection of short stories begins and ends with the tale of Farticus Maximus, the greatest Gladiator of Ancient Rome. In Farticus Maximus, the written story is accompanied by sketches with speech bubbles, where the reader is introduced to the Sandals family. Baby Farticus - originally named Barticus who was renamed because of his flatulence - had a disruptive impact on the Sandals family. So much so, that his father, Petercus suggests they get rid of him. His mother adamantly rejects this (...)

literary

YEAR: 2008

COUNTRY: Australia

TAGS: Architecture Colosseum Gladiator Games Gladiators Latin (Language) Roman Empire Rome Spartacus

Felice Arena

Farticus Maximus (Series, Book 2): Farticus Maximus: Stink-Off Battle of the Century and More Stories That Reek!

Farticus Maximus: Stink-Off Battle of the Century is the second book in a series by the same title by Australian author, Felice Arena. The book is divided into eight sections of short stories. The first and last chapters are a continuation of the story of Farticus Maximus, an ancient gladiator who defeats enemies with terrible farts. The story is set in Ancient Rome where teenage boy cousins, Rufus and Cornelius, are pig hunting in the forest before they come across the “greatest and smell(...)

literary

YEAR: 2009

COUNTRY: Australia

TAGS: Architecture Colosseum Gladiator Games Latin (Language) Roman Empire Rome Spartacus

Mark Maciejewski

I am Fartacus

I am Fartacus is told in the first person by its protagonist, Chub (Maciek Trzebiatowski), a sixth-grade student who is an outcast at Alanmoore (sic) Middle School. It focuses on enmity and friendship. Chub is sworn enemies with the school’s golden boy, Archer Norris. At primary school, the duo had been best friends, but an accident with dry-cleaning fluid left Chub without hair, and destroyed the friendship. Now, Archer rules the school, while Chub does his best to ruin his former friend&(...)

literary

YEAR: 2017

COUNTRY: United States of America

TAGS: Spartacus

Gary Northfield

Julius Zebra: Bundle with the Britons!

Julius Zebra: Bundle with the Britons! is the second of the Julius Zebra series of comic novels. Told through a combination of images and text, they feature the adventures of Julius, a kind-hearted but dim-witted zebra, who is taken from Africa to Rome, and becomes a gladiator. The story follows on from the action in Julius Zebra: Rumble with the Romans!. Having defeated the champion gladiators at a circus to celebrate Emperor Hadrian’s birthday, Julius is now famous throughout Rome and is(...)

literary

YEAR: 2016

COUNTRY: United Kingdom

TAGS: Boudicca Circus Maximus Colosseum Gladiator Games Gladiators Hadrian Ostia Roman Britain Roman Empire Rome Spartacus

Gary Northfield

Julius Zebra: Rumble with the Romans!

Julius Zebra: Rumble with the Romans! is the first of the Julius Zebra series of comic novels. Told through a combination of images and text, they feature the adventures of Julius, a kind-hearted but dim-witted zebra, who is captured by the Romans at his home near the “stinky lake” in north-east Africa, and along with a group of other wild animals, is taken to Rome to feature in the Circus. Some of these animals become his friends and appear in later adventures: they include a c(...)

literary

YEAR: 2015

COUNTRY: United Kingdom

TAGS: Circus Maximus Colosseum Gladiator Games Gladiators Hadrian Spartacus

Sherri Winston

President (Series, Book 2): President of the Whole Sixth Grade

Brianna Justice is an African-American 11 year old student from Detroit. In the first book of the series, Brianna aims at being elected as the president of the fifth grade, against the new student, Jasmine Moon. The book focuses on the challenges she faces during the election campaign and the relationship with Jasmine as well as Brianna and her friends. As the title suggests, Brianna is also the president of the whole sixth grade, and she takes her role seriously. Her task in this book is to rai(...)

literary

YEAR: 2015

COUNTRY: United States of America

TAGS: Caesar Gladiators Pandora Pompeii Rome Spartacus

Halina Rudnicka

The Disciples of Spartacus [Uczniowie Spartakusa]

Based on: Katarzyna Marciniak, Elżbieta Olechowska, Joanna Kłos, Michał Kucharski (eds.), Polish Literature for Children & Young Adults Inspired by Classical Antiquity: A Catalogue (accessed: June 11, 2021), Faculty of “Artes Liberales”, Warsaw: University of Warsaw, 2013, 444 pp., section by Helena Płotek, Joanna Grzeszczuk and Michał Kucharski, pp. 311-323.Ancient Rome right before Spartacus’ uprising. The main character is a young Greek boy named Kalias. The story begins(...)

literary

YEAR: 1951

COUNTRY: Poland

TAGS: Achilles Ancient Slavery Chiron / Cheiron Gladiators Heracles Hercules Rome Spartacus